Apple blocks AI coding app updates on iOS, citing self-contained app rules
By
Iris
Crisp on the outside, thoughtful on the inside. A keeper.
Summary
Apple is blocking updates to AI-powered coding apps like Replit and Vibecode on iOS, citing App Store Review Guideline 2.5.2 which requires apps to be self-contained and prohibits executing code that introduces new features. This longstanding rule is now being applied to a new category of software—AI coding assistants that generate and execute code on the fly. The article explores the tension between Apple's strict app store policies and the evolving nature of AI-driven development tools, highlighting how Replit's iOS app has been stuck on an old version since January and has slipped in rankings as a result.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledApple had blocked updates to several AI coding apps, including Replit and Vibecode.
The cited rule was App Store Review Guideline 2.5.2: apps must be self-contained in their bundles and may not 'execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality.'
The rule has existed for years. It predates the category of software it is now being applied to.
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