Comments on: Cut the Drama: Private APIs, the App Store & You

By: The Skeptic

The Skeptic — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:20:07 +0000

Apple restricts the iPhone to signed software only to minimise (almost eliminate) the threat of malware to the platform. Given that the iPhone runs in Single User (root) mode the whole time, this is a Very Good Idea, that protects their brand and reputation (not to mention, their customers).

Sometimes…restrictions are beneficial! Part of your purchase is the confidence that applications purchased through the App Store are not malware…

By: Rob Scott

Rob Scott — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:21:21 +0000

Great article. Thank you.

By: KsbjA

KsbjA — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:13:11 +0000

@foresmac – such do-whatever-you-wish-to-the-OS-and-expect-it-to-keep-working is a big fail. No platform, except the iPhone (in most cases), is invulnerable to clumsy 3rd party code, and the approval process is what keeps the platform stable. If you install some “OMG lookie what dis h4CK can do!!~!1!”, or “My First App, hello world!”, or “Still alpha stage, please don’t use” soft, you can’t expect your iPhone to keep running any App Store bought software correctly. The App Store “jail” is actually some kind of “fortress”, there to protect you, not to limit you. Letting people install from other sources renders the protection obso1337.

By: Johann Blake

Johann Blake — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:53:07 +0000

If you believe that by strictly using only the documented APIs is going to ensure compatibility with future versions of the device, then you obviously haven’t been developing software for a long time. Every major software and hardware developer out there has a history of not having a 100% upward compatibility. Even more true is when a company who develops an OS platform introduces “light-weight” versions with certain APIs stripped out entirely. This is true of Microsoft’s .NET Compact Framework. To think that Apple’s OS and APIs are engraved in stone and that your app will run on any future iPhone OS-enabled device is really being naive.

By: Johann Blake

Johann Blake — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:31:09 +0000

Joe, I am developing an app store (codenamed “Jericho”) that addresses a huge number of problems faced by both developers and consumers. I would be interested in knowing the reason why you decided to leave iPhone development. Every developers complaint needs to be heard and a course of action needs to be taken when providing a great app store. Please e-mail me at johann@mobilgistix.com. Thank you.

By: Cut the Drama: Private APIs, the App Store & You « Resources for iPhone and iPod Touch developers

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:53:10 +0000

[...] http://theappleblog.com/2009/11/19/cut-the-drama-people-private-apis-the-app-store-you/ [...]

By: Joe Hewitt

Joe Hewitt — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:57:46 +0000

People keep saying that I decided to leave iPhone development over the Three20 rejections. It had nothing to do with that, and I had decided to leave before the rejections began. I actually have no problem with Apple rejecting apps over the use of private APIs. It was my mistake to leave that code in and I take responsibility for it.

Perhaps you could email me to ask what my reasoning was before making a guess and then taking shots at me based on your guess.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:19:00 +0000

Well said. Play by the rules (admittedly some are a little fuzzy), get approved, break the rules that you agreed to (you did read them didn’t you?), then you have no course for complaint.

Rather than whining, release it on Cydia.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:08:41 +0000

Without any intention of offending, I think the problem is not that they are driving quality developers away, because you have EA, CNN, and a few other Major software labels who have paid programmers to program in whatever they need, in what ever coding language they want to and they aren’t complaining, the problem is with a few, independant programmers who want to get rich quick and easy. And it all started out with google bitching about not getting their software accepted because what harm could it do to change the whole UI of the Iphone. If its too hard to develop software for the iPhone the “correct” (apple) way then maybe you should try making software for any other platform that doesn’t put your skills to the test as much. When it’s your ball and your court you CAN decide who is in and who isn’t.

By: foresmac

foresmac — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:24:08 +0000

I agree that the App Store is better than nothing, and is still better than RIM/Android/webOS et al’s me-too stores. That doesn’t mean it couldn’t—or shouldn’t—be better.