# Roadmap

## 🎯 Project Vision

**ipsw** aims to be the most comprehensive and user-friendly toolkit for iOS and macOS research, reverse engineering, and device management. Our goal is to democratize Apple platform analysis while maintaining professional-grade capabilities.

## ✅ Major Milestones Achieved

### 🔥 Recent Breakthroughs (2024-2025)
- [x] **AI-Powered Decompiler** - Integration with OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Ollama, and GitHub Copilot
- [x] **Comprehensive Device Support** - Full iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro, and Apple TV support
- [x] **App Store Connect Integration** - Complete API for certificates, devices, and app management
- [x] **Modern iOS Compatibility** - Support for latest iOS versions and features
- [x] **Enhanced Performance** - Significant speed improvements across all tools

### 🏗️ Core Foundation (Completed)
- [x] **MachO Analysis** - Complete read/write support with ARM v9-a disassembly
- [x] **dyld_shared_cache** - Advanced parsing, extraction, and analysis
- [x] **Kernelcache Support** - KEXT extraction, symbolication, and analysis
- [x] **Device Interaction** - Comprehensive `idev` subsystem for iOS device management
- [x] **Multiple Download Sources** - IPSW, OTA, Developer Portal, RSS, and more
- [x] **Firmware Analysis** - IMG4, iBoot, SEP, and co-processor support
- [x] **Cross-Platform** - macOS, Linux, Windows support with native packages

### 🛠️ Infrastructure & Tooling
- [x] **jtool2 Feature Parity** - Complete compatibility and beyond
- [x] **Documentation Site** - Comprehensive guides with Docusaurus
- [x] **REST API** - Full API with OpenAPI/Swagger documentation  
- [x] **Secure Credential Storage** - Multi-platform keyring integration
- [x] **USB Device Detection** - Automatic device discovery and management
- [x] **Modern Database Support** - SQLite/PostgreSQL support with migrations

## 🚧 Current Development

### 🔬 Research & Analysis
- [ ] **Enhanced AI Models** - Integration with newer and specialized models
- [ ] **Automated Vulnerability Detection** - AI-assisted security analysis
- [ ] **Cross-Reference Analysis** - Advanced symbol and function relationship mapping
- [ ] **Pattern Recognition** - AI-powered code pattern detection and classification
- [ ] emulator ideas: [qemu](https://github.com/containers/podman/tree/main/pkg/machine/qemu), [qemu](https://github.com/digitalocean/go-qemu), [lxd](https://github.com/lxc/lxd), [qemu-t8030](https://github.com/TrungNguyen1909/qemu-t8030)
- [ ] finish APFS parser and integrate into partialzip downloader (remove need for apfs-fuse)

### 📱 Device & Platform Support  
- [ ] **Real-time Device Monitoring** - Live system analysis and debugging
- [ ] **Advanced Backup Analysis** - Deep dive into iOS backup structures
- [ ] **CarPlay/HomeKit Analysis** - Extended ecosystem device support

### ⚡ Performance & Scalability
- [ ] **Distributed Analysis** - Multi-core and distributed processing
- [ ] **Memory Optimization** - Handle massive firmware files efficiently
- [ ] **Incremental Analysis** - Smart caching and diff-based updates
- [ ] **Parallel Downloads** - Faster firmware acquisition with [aria2](https://github.com/ynsgnr/aria2go)
- [ ] Speed up JSON encode/decode with [simdjson-go](https://github.com/minio/simdjson-go)

## 🔮 Future Vision

### 🎓 Advanced Features
- [ ] **Visual Analysis Tools** - GUI for complex reverse engineering workflows
- [ ] **Emulation Framework** - Full iOS/macOS system emulation capabilities
- [ ] **Automated Reporting** - Generate comprehensive analysis reports
- [ ] **Plugin Architecture** - Community-driven extensibility

### 🌐 Ecosystem Integration
- [ ] **IDE Plugins** - VSCode, Xcode, and other editor integrations
- [ ] **CI/CD Integration** - Automated firmware analysis in development pipelines
- [ ] **Cloud Analysis** - Distributed processing and collaboration features
- [ ] **Community Platform** - Sharing analysis results and techniques

### 🔍 Research Frontiers
- [ ] **Machine Learning Pipeline** - Custom models trained on Apple binaries
- [ ] **Automated Exploit Detection** - AI-driven vulnerability discovery
- [ ] **Behavioral Analysis** - Dynamic analysis of firmware behavior
- [ ] **Supply Chain Analysis** - Deep component and dependency tracking

## 📊 Success Metrics

- **Adoption**: Used by major security research teams worldwide
- **Performance**: Handle 100GB+ firmware files in reasonable time  
- **Accuracy**: AI decompiler achieves >90% semantic accuracy
- **Community**: Active contributor base and documentation
- **Innovation**: Pioneer new analysis techniques and methodologies

## 🤝 How to Contribute

We welcome contributions in all areas:

- **Core Development** - Enhance parsing, analysis, and AI capabilities
- **Documentation** - Improve guides, examples, and tutorials
- **Testing** - Verify compatibility across devices and iOS versions
- **Research** - Explore new analysis techniques and methodologies
- **Community** - Help users, share knowledge, and spread the word

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*This roadmap is a living document that evolves with the project and community needs. Major items are prioritized based on community feedback, research value, and practical impact.*
