Forums » Help » Dynamic js code loading and the iOS license

Hello, I want to make a system with Ejecta that dynamically loads little artistic interactive scenes from the web. However, since it will be community based, I can't bake all of the scenes into the app as new ones will be continuously created. Thus I've made a slight tweak to the Ejecta code that allows it to load js scripts from a URL instead of from a local file. It works fine, but my question is: will it be accepted in the store? I know that the iOS license says this:

3.3.2 An Application may not download or install executable code. Interpreted code may only be used in an Application if all scripts, code and interpreters are packaged in the Application and not downloaded. The only exception to the foregoing is scripts and code downloaded and run by Apple's built- in WebKit framework, provided that such scripts and code do 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 App Store.

This sounds like it would be a huge NO, but if I could prove to them that the downloaded code is run in a restricted environment, just like the WebKit framework...could it -potentially- be accepted? Any advice would be most appreciated!

Thanks,

Rob

My reason for this feeling of hope is mobile browser apps: the app store accepts other web browser apps, which presumably all have in built js engines and thus dynamic code loading. Why are they allowed?

Actually it probably doesn't accept completely separate browsers because even Chrome for iOS uses the iOS UIWebView.

The iOS license is pretty clear on this the only exception to the foregoing is scripts and code downloaded and run by Apple's built- in WebKit framework. Ejecta doesn't use the built-in WebKit framework, so strictly speaking it wouldn't be allowed.

My guess however, is that downloading "levels" will still be ok and no one at Apple would care that the level format is JavaScript.

Sadly, the only way to get a definite answer is to try it :/

Great, thanks for the advice Dominic. I see if I can package them up in the form of scripted 'scenes' then. Cheers!

I have worked on a few games written with coronasdk that remotely load resources and they are approved in the App Store.

I do know that PlantsVsZombies and DOT are both games that gather the majority of resources remotely and have game updates that are not always updated through a new App Store release. These games are produced from large companies, so maybe Apple looks the other way.