Apple will take stricter action against developers who build apps via templates

Apple appears to be planning to enforce its ban on using templates to build applications more rigorously. Several companies have been warned that their applications will no longer pass scrutiny from next year.

TechCrunch reports this based on experiences from several companies, which have been contacted by Apple. In the said correspondence, Apple informs developers that they have until January 1 to adjust their applications. After that, new versions will not pass the check when submitted, and so will likely be removed from the App Store. This concerns applications that use a commercially available template for building apps, or applications that are built with a so-called app generator.

Although Apple already had rules that should prevent the use of such tools for building applications, this was not so strictly observed before. The Cupertino company therefore seems to have the intention to take stricter action here from next year and to remove applications from the App Store more quickly.

TechCrunch argues that the stricter rules may affect small businesses, who may not have the capabilities to develop an application completely independently or hire a company to build the software. For example, the tech site spoke with Shoutem, which closed its doors a few weeks ago because it could no longer offer its software due to Apple’s rules.

Apple does not allow the use of templates and app generators to maintain the quality of the applications. Apps built in this way are more likely to be of low quality than software built completely independently.