Question

I saw this in the Mac App Store guidelines:

2.16: Apps that download or install additional code or resources to add
functionality or change their primary
purpose will be rejected

Does this mean that applications that use plug-ins would be rejected? I did some research and couldn’t come up with anything, but apps like Opera on the App Store supports extensions, so I’m thinking either it’s allowed (to a certain extent) or there’s inside deals going on. The clause seems to be rather specific to code that the app itself downloads and installs, not 3rd party plugins installed by users.

Does anyone have an app in the store with plugin support? Or can someone clarify this clause?

Thanks

Answer 1

I have to disagree with @Anomie’s answer.

The Mac App Store Review Guidelines at point 2.16 states

Apps that download or install additional code or resources to add
functionality or change their primary purpose will be rejected

that seems to affirm that you cannot include plugin systems.

But the Mac Developer Agreement at point 3.3.2 states

An Application may install or run additional interpreted or executable code (e.g., plug-ins and extensions) for use in conjunction with the Application as long as such code:

• does not change the Application’s submitted binary or would not otherwise be considered an Update (as determined in Apple’s sole discretion); and

• does not change the primary purpose of the Application by providing features or functionality that are inconsistent with the intended and advertised purpose of the Application as submitted to the Mac App Store.

I’ve collected some informations and there are applications in the Mac App Store (Courier is one of them) that have a plugin system. The key point is that the user action is required.

Courier doesn’t have any included plugin list or integrated downloader, but you can go to their website and download the plugins. Then double click on the downloaded icon and it will automatically add the plugin to the mac app.