I have no empirical evidence for this of course, because there's no way to really measure this, AND it's getting more moot because of things like Electron.

But you can infer it historically by a few observations:

- More people intentionally get into mac software, than back themselves into it because it was for a job (like Windows/.NET development). So there's a quality vs quantity argument there.

- Just use independent windows applications vs mac applications. There's almost always a much higher level of fit and finish on the Mac side.

- Judging by how quickly a lot of iOS apps start to adopt newer frameworks and technologies

I'm an iOS developer, I've been coding the platform since iOS 3, and I'm a .Net developer coding in C# since Beta 1.

Initially that argument was slightly true. But has long since passed and is completely bullshit now. As soon as it was apparent there was a goldmine in iOS development the floodgates opened wide. There is zero difference between the average Windows developer and the average iOS developer anymore, and there hasn't been since at least iOS 5. (most likely iOS 4)

Sure, iOS software has no bar. How about macOS software, though? Or tvOS, or watchOS? You know, the platforms that aren’t goldmines :)

MacOS apps are mostly made by cross-platform devs, and it's not exactly a great experience. Half the trouble is figuring out how to put something together that makes sense on both Windows and MacOS.

On the Mac, it's a bit different. Take a look a longtime Mac software boutiques like Panic and Rogue Amoeba.

It's interesting that I can't reel off Windows equivalents of those companies. Where are the companies that embrace the and celebrate the Windows platform like Panic or Omni Group?

There really is very little to celebrate in Windows. OSX had/has a belief in quality (even if Apple didn’t always live up to it, and lately they’ve shredded the HIG altogether) that inspired devotion in a way Windows never could.

In addition, OSX has always had a strong culture of customers willing to pay for quality software, that has allowed independent smaller companies to flourish. There is no such equivalent in Windows. The Windows culture appears to be one of providing shareware, that was cracked and used for free by individuals, and developers were ok with it because they actually made money from enterprise users who would pay up.

I disbelieve having software cracked are favorable by any developers who spent countless sleepless nights coding with sweat and blood

Not a multi-person company like the ones mentioned but Bvckup https://bvckup2.com/ and its developer comes to mind, especially for their dedication and attention to detail https://bvckup2.com/wip/

StarDock maybe?

Weren’t they originally an OS/2 shop?

Yes they were that’s how I know them. Object Desktop was quite nice.

They moved away from OS/2 around 2000 I think.

That's likely true for the long tail of mediocre developers (whereas there probably wasn't as much of a long tail before on the Mac side).