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It can download Javascript (or other interpreted language, or config data), but you generally can't download and execute new compiled native code on iOS, due to

by whstl 1mo ago

It can download Javascript (or other interpreted language, or config data), but you generally can't download and execute new compiled native code on iOS, due to iOS code-signing/executable-memory restrictions. Also keep in mind Apple might penalize you for dodging the review process and shipping new features, etc. (btw, one exception to the JIT rule is custom browsers for the EU)

mohamedkoubaa 1mo ago
Pardon my ignorance but can't an iOS app host a WASM runtime without being a browser? And if so it doesn't need to be an interpreted language necessarily.
- sebmellen 1mo ago
  Yeah, but to my understanding that’s not what Shopify is doing.
- svieira 1mo ago
  Yes, it could, but then you would have re-invented React Native. But in WASM.
- apitman 1mo ago
  I am fairly certain this is against Apple's policies. In principle you're not supposed to change the functionality of your app without review.
  - cute_boi 1mo ago
    i don't see any difference between wasm and js? If react native apps can be updated with js, wasm should be allowed.
    - apitman 1mo ago
      I think updating js without review is also against policy.
      - whstl 29d ago
        It's a grey area. App Review Guidelines §2.5.2 says: "Apps should be self-contained in their bundles, and may not read or write data outside the designated container area, nor may they download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps" Technically Apple can punish you for anything but so far it seems to be accepted for small fixes and tweaks.
        myko 29d ago
        Doesn't seem like a grey area at all, pretty clear it is against the policy. Just a ridiculous policy and hard to enforce.
        whstl 26d ago
        It’s not a grey area for features. It’s a grey area for other parts of the code that are not mentioned in the text.
        whstl 26d ago
        It’s not a grey area for features. It’s grey for other parts of the code that are not mentioned in the text.
- spiderice 29d ago
  Could you reinvent OTA updates in another non-native language? Of course. But then you still wouldn't have a native app. You'd just be doing React Native but worse.
  - mohamedkoubaa 29d ago
    My point is that it isn't that RN "removes one of the biggest annoyances of developing for the App Store", it's that a specific technical feature of RN does that, and it's not only available to RN

by whstl 1mo ago

mohamedkoubaa 1mo ago

Pardon my ignorance but can't an iOS app host a WASM runtime without being a browser? And if so it doesn't need to be an interpreted language necessarily.

sebmellen 1mo ago
Yeah, but to my understanding that’s not what Shopify is doing.
svieira 1mo ago
Yes, it could, but then you would have re-invented React Native. But in WASM.
apitman 1mo ago
I am fairly certain this is against Apple's policies. In principle you're not supposed to change the functionality of your app without review.
- cute_boi 1mo ago
  i don't see any difference between wasm and js? If react native apps can be updated with js, wasm should be allowed.
  - apitman 1mo ago
    I think updating js without review is also against policy.
    - whstl 29d ago
      It's a grey area. App Review Guidelines §2.5.2 says: "Apps should be self-contained in their bundles, and may not read or write data outside the designated container area, nor may they download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps" Technically Apple can punish you for anything but so far it seems to be accepted for small fixes and tweaks.
      - myko 29d ago
        Doesn't seem like a grey area at all, pretty clear it is against the policy. Just a ridiculous policy and hard to enforce.
        whstl 26d ago
        It’s not a grey area for features. It’s a grey area for other parts of the code that are not mentioned in the text.
        whstl 26d ago
        It’s not a grey area for features. It’s grey for other parts of the code that are not mentioned in the text.
spiderice 29d ago
Could you reinvent OTA updates in another non-native language? Of course. But then you still wouldn't have a native app. You'd just be doing React Native but worse.
- mohamedkoubaa 29d ago
  My point is that it isn't that RN "removes one of the biggest annoyances of developing for the App Store", it's that a specific technical feature of RN does that, and it's not only available to RN