Custom iOS SDK's approval from Apple - ios

I am creating my own custom SDK. Cocoa touch framework I will be creating. I want to be sure that my code is as per the apple guideline's and it is not violating any rules of it. So like any iOS app goes under approval, I want my SDK also approved by apple. Is it possible?

No, Apple only reviews complete Apps.

Related

IOS - Is is required to implement ATT into app before publishing

I am about to submit my app to App Store, but just wondered if it is required to implement the ATT alert into apps to publish in App Store. I looked into it and found that Apple postponed that until early next year. So to make sure, I called the Apple Developer Support, a guy said that it's required. I am confused not. Again, is it required to implement the APP alert at this point?
Thanks,
Yes you have to implement ATT into your app otherwise your app will be rejected by Apple.
We are talking about this guy :
If you interest this links are useful for this topic as well:
article about Apple policy for tracking change
apple document

Web view deprecation issue iOS

We were using web view previously in our app so that we received the web view depreciation mail from apple.
So now we completely removed web view from our code and also we don't use WebKit at the place of the web view.
But still, we getting the depreciation mail from apple whenever I upload the build to the test flight.
Note: We are using Firebase SDK, Crashlytics SDK and fabric SDK.
All pod files are updated.
Please help me with this.
If you use any third parties SDK which is used UIWebView internally, Then no need to worry at all because currently, it is not mandatory. Once apple provide the official timelines regarding the deprecation of UIWebView then all SDK required migration.
In June 2018, Apple announced their intent to deprecate a class called
UIWebView.
Apple did not provide a concrete timeline for implementing this change
in policy, but with this recent notification, we wanted to make sure
you are prepared for when it does take effect.
Thank you.

Steps to have a framework approved by Apple

Say I have created a framework and want to publish it to github. In what circumstances will this framework be rejected by Apple / won't be allowed to publish to github...? Also, when will my framework be accepted by Apple..? Or is there any step as such at all...?
I have referred this (https://www.raywenderlich.com/5109-creating-a-framework-for-ios) link and this (Steps in creating custom frameworks) also. Though the first one showed how to make a framework it didn't tell when a framework will be accepted or rejected. The second one also didn't help...
Apple doesn't approve or reject frameworks. You can publish anything you want on GitHub.
Apple reviews apps. People can use your framework in their apps if they like. If your framework does something wrong (say, uses private API) then those people may get their app rejected.
Frameworks are not published on App Store. So there is no point on its rejection.
Its Apps which can get rejected because of some framework. And people will stop using your framework, if apple rejects app because of something wrong in it.

Ad-ID (IDFA) and Google Framework

I am currently developing an App for iOS for iPhone with Google AdMob intergrated within it. I implementetd other Firebase functions like Firebase Messaging, because I am planning to push notifications.
As stated by Google, Google uses the Apple IDFA and conforms to its guidelines. Therefore, I assume by submitting this App, I should select IDFA.
But in the same time, I am planning to bring the exact same app without Ads, but still with Google Framework being integrated within it, because, as I said, I am planning to push notifications.
My question is: should I remove the Google AdMob interface before submitting the Ad-Free app? If no need to do so, should I select IDFA on submission? If it has to be removed, what and from where should I exactly remove?
Thanks a lot!
Here is what I have done:
In the Ad-Free version, I removed the complete framework and reinstalled it using "pod install" but this time installing only 'Firbase', 'Firebase/Core' and 'Firebase/Messaging" without AdMob.
My app got accepted without selecting IDFA upon submission.

Does this app use the Advertising Identifier (IDFA)? - AdMob 6.8.0

I'm currently uploading my App to the App Store and Apple is asking me if this app users IDFA. I'm using the latest Admob SDK or 6.8.0 and I don't know if it uses IDFA or not, and if it does which check boxes should I hit X.X
Image http://i.gyazo.com/a7d36f95ac0cc066e5654517d4ec2f3f.png
I'm having the same issue here and I was a bit afraid of checking the last box, since I have no idea what the 3rd party SDK will do with the data collected and if they will respect the Limit Ad Settings.
But I found a post by a Google Admob programmer, Eric Leichtenschlag, on their forums:
The Google Mobile Ads SDK and the Google Conversion Tracking SDK utilize Apple's advertising identifier introduced in iOS 6 (IDFA). While each developer is responsible for how they access device data, the SDKs use IDFA under the guidelines laid out in the iOS developer program license agreement, including Limit Ad Tracking.
Including Limit Ad Tracking. This is what the last box is all about. So you must check the that box if you use AdMob. If you use other SDK I strongly recommend checking if they respect the guidelines as well.
Since I run only ads (Google AdMob), I checked the first (Serve ads...) and last box (I, ___, confirm...). App was approved and released, no issues.
Source: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/google-admob-ads-sdk/BsGRSZ-gLmk
If you are lazy to check on each third party SDK if they use or not the IDFA you can use this command:
fgrep -R advertisingIdentifier . (don't forget the dot at the end of the command)
Go to your project/workspace folder and run the command to find which files are using the advertising identifier.
Then you just have to look in the guidelines of those SDKs to see what you need to do about the IDFA.
I recently submitted an app to Apple's App Store. My app was built using iOS 12, Xcode 10, and Swift 4.2. My app uses Google AdMob for the sole purpose of showing Interstitial Ads. When prompted these question, this is what I did:
1) Does this app use the Advertising Identifier (IDFA)? ANSWER: YES
a) Serve advertisements within the app - CHECKED
b) Attribute this app ... - NOT CHECKED
c) Attribute an action ... - NOT CHECKED
I, (my name), confirm that this app ... - CHECKED
My app was accepted and "Ready for Sale" in less than 24 hrs.
You can track all calls to [ASIdentifierManager advertisingIdentifier] with symbolic breakpoint in Xcode:
Yes, it does. From the AdMob page:
The Mobile Ads SDK for iOS utilizes Apple's advertising identifier (IDFA). The SDK uses IDFA under the guidelines laid out in the iOS developer program license agreement. You must ensure you are in compliance with the iOS developer program license agreement policies governing the use of this identifier.
If you have Google analytics or Facebook api in you app, you need to check all of them to make sure it works!
Edit: This is an old answer - see comments or other answers for an exact answer.
In app store connect now if we are using ads in our app then we will answer as yes to Does this app use the Advertising Identifier (IDFA)?
further 3 questions will be asked as
if your using just admob then check the first one and leave other two unchecked. Other two options (2nd , 3rd ) will be checked if your using app flyer to show ads.
all options are explained with detail here
BTW, Yandex Metrica also uses IDFA.
./Pods/YandexMobileMetrica/libYandexMobileMetrica.a
They say on their GitHub page that
"Starting from version 1.6.0 Yandex AppMetrica became also a tracking instrument and uses Apple idfa to attribute installs. Because of that during submitting your application to the AppStore you will be prompted with three checkboxes to state your intentions for idfa usage. As Yandex AppMetrica uses idfa for attributing app installations you need to select Attribute this app installation to a previously served advertisement."
So, I will try to select this checkbox and send my app without actually no any ads in it.
It seems many indie developers like me are desperately looking for an answer to these questions for years. Strangely, even after 5 years this question was asked, it seems the answer to this question is still not clear.
As far as I can see, there is not any official statement in Google AdMob documentation or website about how a developer can safely answer these questions. It seems developers are left on their own in the mystery about answering some legally binding questions about the SDK.
In their support forums they can advice questioners to reach out to Apple Support:
Hi there,
I believe it would be best for you to reach out to Apple Support for
your concern as it tackles with Apple Submission Guidelines rather
than our SDK.
Regards, Joshua Lagonera Mobile Ads SDK Team
Or they can say that it is out of their scope of support:
Hello Robert,
On this forum, we deal with Mobile Ads SDK related technical concerns
only. We would not be able to address you question as this is out of
scope for our team.
Regards, Deepika Uragayala Mobile Ads SDK Team
The only answer I could find from a "Google person" is about the 4th question. It is not in the AdMob forum but in the "Tag Manager" forum but still related. It is like so:
Hi Jorn,
Apple asks you about your use of IDFA when submitting your application
(https://developer.apple.com/Library/ios/documentation/LanguagesUtilities/Conceptual/iTunesConnect_Guide/Chapters/SubmittingTheApp.html).
For an app that doesn't display advertising, but includes the
AdSupport framework for conversion attribution, you would select the
appropriate checkbox(es). In respect to the Limit Ad Tracking
stipulation, all of GTM's tags that utilize IDFA respect the limit ad
tracking stipulations of the SDK.
Thanks,
Eric Burley Google Tag Manager.
Here is an Internet Archive link in case they remove this page.
Lastly, let me mention about AdMob's only statement I've seen about this issue (here is the Internet Archive link):
The Mobile Ads SDK for iOS utilizes Apple's advertising identifier
(IDFA). The SDK uses IDFA under the guidelines laid out in the iOS
developer program license agreement. You must ensure you are in
compliance with the iOS developer program license agreement policies
governing the use of this identifier.
In conclusion, it seems most developers using AdMob simply checks 1st and 4th checkmarks and submit their apps without being completely sure about what Google exactly does in its SDK and without any official information about it. I wish good luck to us all.

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