>> Here I disagree. A direct snub would be actively doing something >> against us. However, they're simply focusing their resources. >> Apple is not a charity. Never have been. Don't see everything >> as an attack on you. > > I think it's fair to say that stripping the ADA of a Mac category was > actively doing something against Mac developers. It says to the world > - we will not recognize excellence in Mac apps. > > Perhaps (I hope) it is only this year. But it was a very proactive > step to take on their part. > > Yes, they are a business. But 3rd party developers are part of that > business. What is Apple without all the 3rd party products? Certainly > not the platform it is today. 3rd party devs are part of the eco > system. Yes, Apple drives the hardware and OS, but Apple needs > developers to take advantage of that hardware and OS to make them look > good. They have limited resources, so there is a dependency there that > doesn't appear to be acknowledged by Apple. > > Fact is that Apple does a crap job communicating with developers. > Always has. Apple has returned to a very arrogant state where it feels > it no longer needs to actively listen to developers. I saw this in the > 90s as well. From my perspective, there is a real sense of déjà vu > here. > > Apple has the right to do what is wants, but is should be upfront and > honest with its developers. There is no excuse for that, plain and > simple. > > btw.. the Apple is a business argument was the *very* same one used > back then. Like I said, déjà vu.
As bad as I had to admit it, I'm forced to agree with this. Apple has never had a great reputation for supporting its developer community, at least where it concerns *direct* support (there are varying ways to describe support). Apple was very cool and wise to include Xcode/development with the OS X install (everything is free for a nominal fee). Then they turn around and charge us to be members of the ADA just so we can get builds. Perhaps they felt that by charging would only attract serious developers. Then again, it could be just another way to earn a buck - and a lot of them. Was it a conscience decision for Apple to bail from MacWorld for financial reasons? Or were they too much "on themselves" thinking it was unworthy to go to? Or both? Without concrete answers, we can only assume. My point is simply that. Given the content of this thread, we are simply left to assume what Apple is up to. And it's almost always the decision is made, and the idea is implemented before anyone has any input. By then, we're left to either embrace it, or resign. I shudder to think the latter. Regrettably, Apple is tending to its shareholders more than its tending to its developer nation. (Hmmm ... Reminds me of some Big government I know :) It seems to me, they could (rather effortlessly) start up a new community where they directly support developers. This could be in the shape of a forum, inside your ADC account, for example. It would provide the avenue that developers need to cite their concerns, answer questions, etc, as well as offer a conduit for Apple to reply directly to developers concerns. And there are many. Just my two cents from the cheap seats Ray Barber CEO / Director of Operations MacScripter, LLC | macscripter.net
