Apple rejected my dictation app for using the accessibility API
4 hours ago
- #Accessibility Technology
- #App Store Policy
- #Independent Development
- The author developed WhisperPad due to a hand injury that made typing painful, aiming to create a local voice-to-text transcription tool to minimize hand movements.
- Apple rejected an update to WhisperPad under Guideline 2.4.5, arguing its use of the accessibility API for auto-pasting into other apps was not approved, despite earlier versions being accepted.
- After appeals and no resolution, the author split WhisperPad into two versions: a Mac App Store version without auto-paste and a direct-distribution version retaining the original auto-paste functionality.
- Shipping directly required setting up independent payment, update, and licensing systems, using tools like Paddle and Sparkle, which improved the author's technical and business knowledge.
- The experience taught that platform constraints can lead to better product organization and that 'comply here, do the fuller thing elsewhere' is often a viable strategy rather than giving up.