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Ask HN: Are 3rd party browsers banned by Apple App Store Guidelines?

5 points by applenerdfan ↗ HN
The guidelines say

Apple's current say

> ### 4.7 HTML5 Games, Bots, etc. > > Apps may contain or run code that is not embedded in the binary (e.g. HTML5-based games, bots, etc.), as long as code distribution isn’t the main purpose of the app, the code is not offered in a store or store-like interface, and provided that the software (1) is free or purchased using in-app purchase; (2) only uses capabilities available in a standard WebKit view (e.g. it must open and run natively in Safari without modifications or additional software); your app must use WebKit and JavaScript Core to run third-party software and should not attempt to extend or expose native platform APIs to third-party software; (3) is offered by developers that have joined the Apple Developer Program and signed the Apple Developer Program License Agreement; (4) does not provide access to real money gaming, lotteries, or charitable donations; (5) adheres to the terms of these App Review Guidelines (e.g. does not include objectionable content); and (6) does not offer digital goods or services for sale. Upon request, you must provide an index of software and metadata available in your app. It must include Apple Developer Program Team IDs for the providers of the software along with a URL which App Review can use to confirm that the software complies with the requirements above.

That sounds like all 3rd party browsers are banned. Breaking it down

> Apps may contain or run code that is not embedded in the binary

> ... provided that the software ...

> (3) is offered by developers that have joined the Apple Developer Program and signed the Apple Developer Program License Agreement

Which means downloading random webpages that run software from users and sites that are not in Apple's Developer Programs is against that rules.

That would mean all 3rd party browsers are banned. What am I missing?

https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#third-party-software

11 comments

[ 3.4 ms ] story [ 48.6 ms ] thread
colejohnson66
I’m not an iOS developer, but the way Firefox and Chrome get around it is by using Safari internally. In addition, JITed code is not allowed, but interpreted is.
applenerdfan
Please read the rules above.

It doesn't matter that Firefox and Chrome use Safari internally. The rules above say all code run in that internal Safari must be written by Apple licensed developers.

Tomte
No, they don't. They say "the software" must be from licensed developers. Not the code itself. All those numbered sentences have "the software" as the subject.
st3fan
Not Safari but WKWebView. Big difference.
applenerdfan
Sorry but the rule makes it clear. WKWebView has the same restrictions. No random webpages allowed. Only content from Apple licensed developers.
floatingatoll
If you already have a set view of how this will go in your mind, then why are you here starting an argument about it disguised as an Ask HN?

Go write a blog post exposing the flaw in their rules, by your interpretation, and post that to HN so that we can see your argument clearly presented and consider its merits.

drannex
Sadly you are required to use their browser rendering engine. This has been their stance since the start, horrible for developers, great for their dominance.
applenerdfan
you're missing the point.

According to the rules above you're not allow to use their browser engine to build a browser. Every piece of software that run in your WebView has to be supplied by Apple licensed developers. So a browser would be banned because the websites visited are not by apple licensed developers.

detaro
By that logic, no app could show a website anywhere. Clearly, Apple doesn't consider websites to be "code" in the sense of that section.
tinus_hn
What is your point? Apple is not bound by these guidelines, they can approve whatever they want. There’s no use in trying to find gotchas.