Why Developers Are Struggling on Apple's Increasingly Hostile Platforms
17 days ago
- #Developer Ecosystem
- #Apple
- #App Store
- Apple's relationship with developers has soured, shifting from a symbiotic partnership to a controlling, extractive dynamic.
- Developing for Apple involves navigating endless bureaucracy, shifting rules, poor support, and the risk of being 'Sherlocked'.
- Apple's platforms have become hostile, with burdensome App Store requirements and lack of developer support.
- Undocumented limitations and unclear use cases in Apple's APIs add frustration for developers.
- Apple's rapid OS updates and API changes force developers into constant maintenance without financial reward.
- Competing with Apple on its own platform is risky, as Apple often integrates successful third-party app features into its own systems.
- The App Store's unpredictable rejections and opaque rules make long-term business planning difficult.
- Alternatives to Apple's ecosystem include web development, cross-platform development, or content creation on platforms like YouTube.
- Apple's recent platforms (iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Vision Pro) struggle with developer support due to the toxic relationship.
- For new developers, diversifying away from Apple's ecosystem is advised to avoid high-risk, high-maintenance environments.