Cydia

     Cydia is a software application for iOS that enables a user to find and install software packages on jailbroken iOS Apple devices such as the iPhone. It also refers to digital distribution platform for software on iOS accessed through Cydia software Some of the software packages available through Cydia are free, and some require purchasing.

 

Jay Freeman(Saurik)

     Cydia is developed by Jay Freeman (also called "Saurik") and his company, SaurikIT The name "Cydia" is an allusion to the Codling Moth, with a scientific name of Cydia pomonella, which is the proverbial "worm in the apple."

Purpose and function

    Cydia provides a graphical user interface to jailbroken users using Advanced Packaging Tool (APT) repositories to install software unavailable on the App Store. Cydia is based on APT, ported to iOS as part of Freeman's Telesphoreo project.

     Software packages are downloaded directly to an iOS device, to the same location as Apple's pre-installed applications, the /Applications directory. Jailbroken devices can also still buy and download apps normally from the official App Store.

     Cydia can be installed during the process of jailbreaking an iOS device.[4] Some Jailbreaking tools (each of them supporting a specific set of devices and iOS versions) install Cydia automatically, while others provide a choice to the user.

Software available through Cydia

     Some of the packages available through Cydia are standard applications, while some packages are extensions and modifications for the iOS interface and for apps in the iOS ecosystem. Cydia enables users to find and install open source packages as well as purchase modifications for jailbroken iPhones. 

     These modifications are based on a framework called MobileSubstrate which makes it relatively easy to install and update said modifications. UNIX command line tools are available on Cydia as well, including bash, coreutils and OpenSSH. After installing those packages the device is essentially turned to a full-fledged UNIX workstation, although without many development tools.

     In March 2009, Tuaw announced that Cydia store is open. The announcement summarized an experience posted by a website that Amazon payments was the only option available.