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I wonder how this will affect apps like Apollo, which can still run fine if you use your own API key, but wouldn't be able to publish compliantly on the App Sto

I wonder how this will affect apps like Apollo, which can still run fine if you use your own API key, but wouldn't be able to publish compliantly on the App Store while giving users the capability to use their own key (since it violates Reddit TOS). More generally, will this lead to a resurgence of "unofficial" third-party apps for popular platforms like Instagram and Snapchat? These companies rely on the App Store to be the gatekeeper that stops such apps from proliferating. But if Apple can no longer control that, then I expect we'll see more usage of them. Perhaps Meta already understands this and sees it on the horizon, which is why Threads is built for the Fediverse, where third-party clients are the expected and default mode of operation.

sumuyuda 3y ago
I think so. The AppStore has a policy against developers using private third party APIs and Apple would remove the app if the company complained. Now the company can’t easily have the apps taken down.
anileated 3y ago
> More generally, will [sideloading] lead to a resurgence of "unofficial" third-party apps for popular platforms like Instagram and Snapchat? It will lead to piracy in general. But whom will it affect? Big companies like Meta won’t be worried about unofficial clients much, since the core is at the server anyway. There are many means of ensuring client authenticity, including by constantly changing the APIs, rotating secrets and updating the client. Even social media aside, almost no big company today releases “buy and own forever” apps that don’t tie to servers or use some sort of subscription model. (Affinity is the one exception that comes to mind.) So what sucks is that sideloading is going to eliminate the small indie dev who could make an honest living through the simple model of 1) make software, 2) let the user buy it once and own. Note who lobbied for sideloading (spoiler alert: very big companies).

sumuyuda 3y ago

I think so. The AppStore has a policy against developers using private third party APIs and Apple would remove the app if the company complained. Now the company can’t easily have the apps taken down.

anileated 3y ago

> More generally, will [sideloading] lead to a resurgence of "unofficial" third-party apps for popular platforms like Instagram and Snapchat? It will lead to piracy in general. But whom will it affect? Big companies like Meta won’t be worried about unofficial clients much, since the core is at the server anyway. There are many means of ensuring client authenticity, including by constantly changing the APIs, rotating secrets and updating the client. Even social media aside, almost no big company today releases “buy and own forever” apps that don’t tie to servers or use some sort of subscription model. (Affinity is the one exception that comes to mind.) So what sucks is that sideloading is going to eliminate the small indie dev who could make an honest living through the simple model of 1) make software, 2) let the user buy it once and own. Note who lobbied for sideloading (spoiler alert: very big companies).