Question

Apple’s guidelines for their new Mac App Store say that you cannot use deprecated libraries such as Apple’s Java framework. But will Apple allow apps which come with a third-party Java runtime, such as SoyLatte?

Answer 1

Yes, provided everything needed to run your app is part of the app bundle and your UI looks and behaves completely natively. You are barred from relying on users to have already installed optional or deprecated technologies (libraries, runtimes, or what have you).

Specifically, the rules most likely to be relevant state (PDF):

2. Functionality

2.22 Apps must contain all language support in a single app bundle (single binary multiple language)

2.24 Apps that use deprecated or optionally installed technologies (e.g., Java, Rosetta) will be rejected

6. User Interface

6.3 Apps that do not use system provided items, such as buttons and icons, correctly and as described in the Apple Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines will be rejected
6.5 Apps that change the native user interface elements or behaviors of Mac OS X will be rejected

Taken together, the two functionality rules quoted seem to indicate that you are free to use a third-party Java runtime provided everything needed to run your app is contained in your app bundle.

The user interface rules would bar any but the most flawless emulations of all the native UI widgets. Realistically, you would need some way to use native UI widgets from your Java application. Eclipse’s Standard Widget Toolkit might meet the UI requirements, for example.