ec2-macos-init VS micromdm

I don't think they're using false or duplicate Apple devices for this. I think that it may be likely they are using AWS resources for it: https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/instance-types/mac/

When AWS first came out with these, this was my first thought. People could spin up an EC2 instance and use it for iMessage, and Beeper came to be shortly after this feature went live in AWS.

AWS do have Mac instances you can use, although I'm not sure if you get the full macOS UI experience. https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/instance-types/mac/

If all you really need is to write swift, you could use something like https://github.com/sickcodes/Docker-OSX or https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/instance-types/mac/

AWS https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/instance-types/mac/

I’m pretty sure that terms and conditions thing you’re worrying about is fake news. AWS offer Big Sur instances and they’re charged per second. https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/instance-types/mac/

Have seen that AWS have a mac host option. Perfect for testing environments.

You can also spin up an EC2 instance on AWS, yes: https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/instance-types/mac/

get yourself a VM from AWS, MacStadium, macOS-VM etc.

Not personally used it but have a look at MicroMDM and see if that fits your needs.

Micromdm is a fantastic project, but it's really meant as a framework to build more off of. I think the 'Not a product' section of micromdm's readme sums it up best https://github.com/micromdm/micromdm/blob/main/docs/user-guide/introduction.md

for the printer MDM, maybe https://github.com/micromdm/micromdm

https://micromdm.io/ is a self hosted option.

If you want a free, open source, self-hosted and are willing to do everything from the command line: https://micromdm.io/

Not very - there are several reference ones in various languages and frameworks. The difference I'm upset about is that Profile Manager got the closest to acting like a proper enterprise MDM, but still wouldn't let me supervise devices because I'm not a company. I'm not some weirdo who wants full control to devices I don't deserve it on, but I do want to make sure my grandparents' iPhones are up to date, or have the ability to make it beep when they call (from a land line) that they've lost it, or push family calendars or email accounts to their devices so they don't have to enter passwords. Apple has decided those features are only for the enterprise or schools, and I'm sadly neither.

If you're interested this[0] is the MDM reference I'm most interested in these days.

0 - https://micromdm.io

JAMF and Mosyle offers API, you may also may want to take a look at microMDM https://github.com/micromdm/micromdm