curious about licensing issues

[Felix Klock]

Can you share whether Apple gave you much trouble trying to get this
app into the App Store?

In particular, did they require you to remove any features, or did you
have to present an argument for why the app did not violate the
infamous "no interpreters" clauses in the SDK license?

(I ask because I am thinking about writing a REPL or two, but am
scared by the experience reported by other developers, such as the
case of BasicMatrix which was later cripped to SmartCalc in order to
get onto the app store...)

Thanks!

[Craig Smith]

Other than waiting from 1 to 3 weeks for app approval, there were no
issues getting the first 3 releases of Frotz into the App Store.
Apple did contact me about 2 months before OS 3.0 came out and
requested that I fix a crash-inducing incompatibility with 3.0. They
were actually very insistent I submit a fix as soon as possible, which
caused me to submit code before I was done working on other features,
which is why 1.2 doesn't have a font size option. Then it still took
3 weeks to be approved.

The version currently "in review" (1.3) has been in limbo for 42 days
now, so I'm worried something bad is afoot, but I haven't actually got
any feedback whatsoever from them.

In your question you seem to presume there's some sort of discussion
that occurs with Apple over app approval. There is no discussion.
It's a black box, where you wait an arbitrary and possibly
interminable amount of time and then get a yes or no answer. From
what I've heard from other devs, if you are rejected, there is no
feedback as to why except a blanket "duplicates features of phone" or
a clause in the ToS your app violates. They don't tell you what
feature or component of your app is in violation, or what you might do
to come into compliance.

Regarding the "no interpreters" clause, based on the C64 app rejection
my current conjecture is that the reviewers have a laypersons view of
what an interpreter is. For example, in the C64 case the problem
appears to be not the interpreter inherently involved in emulating
C64/6502 hardware, but the BASIC interpreter built-in to the C64 ROM.
It actually says "BASIC INTERPRETER" and allows users to type in and
run programs. It seems like if an interpreter is completely behind the
scenes and doesn't provide users with a way to execute their own code,
then it's okay. But a language interpreter like Python, Perl, or .NET/
CLR would be right out. This actually seems like a reasonable place
to draw the line, but it'd sure be nice if Apple was more explicit
about it. But leaving it vague lets them change their mind and be as
arbitrary as they'd like, so that is what they will continue to do.

I'm extremely frustrated with the arbitrary and arrogant nature of the
approval process and the ridiculous amount of time it takes to get an
app approved. My iPhone dev license actually expires in 2 weeks; if
Frotz is not approved in that time period, I'm probably not renewing,
and Frotz development will either end or I'll move to Cydia.

[Christian Sculpher]

Please don't let this app die. I know it's frustrating but - who else
is going to develop such a cool and useful app. Hold the torch high!
(or is it a brass lamp?)

[Donna Glazerman]

With the latest news that they finally rejected the update, I have to
ask that you please switch to Cydia rather than dropping it.
Jailbreaking my iPod touch didn't take much work at all, and if anyone
has a problem, they can always restore. The current text size is just
small enough to give me headaches. I'd personally be willing to pay
if you wished to put a version that I could use on Cydia's store.
(Though, it would be my first time using it.)

[Craig Smith]

The guy from Apple who called me to politely inform me of Frotz's
rejection was non-technical and couldn't explain exactly what it was
that caused Frotz to be suddenly flagged as an interpreter now, when
many other app store programs work using the same methodology
(including recently approved ones such as Secret of Monkey Island
which is even spotlighted by Apple) . If Frotz is an interpreter,
than Monkey Island, which uses an even more powerful VM to script the
game called SCUMM, certainly is, as well as other titles by Namco and
Sega.

Since he couldn't answer my questions, the Apple guy suggested I
contact the iPhone dev program's tech support, which I did. They are
supposed to have a 3-day turn around time, so we'll see how long it
takes to hear back. This is paid support, the only thing tangible you
get for your $99 annual fee, so I expect an actual response.

Until then I'm going to refrain from publicly speculating about my
next moves regarding Frotz. But whatever happens I'm definitely not
going to just let it die.