Be patient with developers, as a one-day warning before the full iOS 14 release is too sho...
In seconds, Apple CEO Tim Cook disrupted the normal flow of the iOS beta cycle, in announcing that iOS 14 and others would be released on Wednesday after a one-day GM period. Chaos is ensuing in the developer community, and users will need to be patient for a week or two. Here's why.
Tim Cook looks more relaxed about the fast release of iOS 14 than most developers.
There were probably some coffees spilt during Apple's September 15 event, definitely a lot of lunches skipped, and seemingly a great deal of complaining from developers. For starting later today, users will be able to download the brand new versions of just about every Apple operating system bar macOS Big Sur -- and few developers can possibly be ready.
All developers have had the various beta versions, surely all are well along the path of ensuring compatibility. But final testing, and fixing hopefully final bugs, happens once developers get the Gold Master (GM) of the operating systems as they will ship.
Apple has released this GM version to developers, but it did so after Tim Cook's announcement. From later today, practically all iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV owners can and will be downloading iOS 14, iPadOS 14, watchOS 7, and tvOS 14 for free.
There are major changes in each of them and any operating system change means apps can break. Having your software work on the newest Apple operating systems is crucial for developers -- and Apple is a developer itself.
Those operating system releases bring needed compatibility for all the "Time Flies"-announced devices. This is obviously an unavoidable requirement for Apple.
But, the reaction from developers was swift, and harsh. And, they're right to be angry.
Aside from the short time, which would be enough by itself, there were immediately errors in Xcode. There were a series of Xcode downloads that either didn't decompress, or weren't running. This was "fixed" in relatively short order -- read hours. But, it still took a few more hours for the correct download to spread across the content distribution network.
Although a short while afterwards, Watchsmith developer David Smith did add that despite the shock of the announcement, he likes the "fast turnaround launch."
"There is no longer a 'Day One'," he said, "we are all launching 'Day 1+Something. Which is a bit more chill."
Others just threw their hands up and said their apps would not be updated to iOS 14 in time this year.
In Apple's own developer forums, there were complaints as recently as 5:00 A.M. Eastern time from users saying that Xcode was failing to upload apps. Other developers are reporting error messages when they try to submit an app for review.
We get it. Apple tries to hide product features as best as it can with security and removed features in betas, meaning that some roll-outs and testing code need to wait for full OS releases. It's been a challenging year for everybody, and perhaps short windows between the GM and the full release was to be expected.
One day doesn't really serve anybody, other than Apple, though. And it arguably doesn't serve Apple, either. Not when it can claim there are great new iOS and watchOS features, but at best key apps can't use them -- and at worst, they break.
Developers are scrambling for release day availability. Some will make it. Some won't, though. Missing features for iOS 14 is one thing, but some apps will stop working the way they should. This is clearly bad for consumers and users.
If you're a developer, something like this is now burnt into your retina -- it's the main screen of app development software Xcode
Yes, developers have had all summer to start making this move, and nearly everybody -- including AppleInsider's stalwart developer -- has been on the road to an update. However, as it is with any beta process, the final operating system is a moving target. Practically, this means that with every increment of the beta, what you just changed for the last beta may need to be changed again.
Apple dropped a one-day GM period on developers. It has never done this before. Apple has typically given at least one week, but two weeks isn't unheard of.
Instead, Tim Cook dumped this on all of us yesterday, 23 hours before the full release. It's going to take more than a few hours for developers to set everything right.
Your patience will be rewarded.
Tim Cook looks more relaxed about the fast release of iOS 14 than most developers.
There were probably some coffees spilt during Apple's September 15 event, definitely a lot of lunches skipped, and seemingly a great deal of complaining from developers. For starting later today, users will be able to download the brand new versions of just about every Apple operating system bar macOS Big Sur -- and few developers can possibly be ready.
All developers have had the various beta versions, surely all are well along the path of ensuring compatibility. But final testing, and fixing hopefully final bugs, happens once developers get the Gold Master (GM) of the operating systems as they will ship.
Apple has released this GM version to developers, but it did so after Tim Cook's announcement. From later today, practically all iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV owners can and will be downloading iOS 14, iPadOS 14, watchOS 7, and tvOS 14 for free.
There are major changes in each of them and any operating system change means apps can break. Having your software work on the newest Apple operating systems is crucial for developers -- and Apple is a developer itself.
Those operating system releases bring needed compatibility for all the "Time Flies"-announced devices. This is obviously an unavoidable requirement for Apple.
But, the reaction from developers was swift, and harsh. And, they're right to be angry.
What the developers are saying
Tumult started quickly. Cook made the announcement about the Wednesday OS full releases, and it was off to the races -- even before developers hit problems.Aside from the short time, which would be enough by itself, there were immediately errors in Xcode. There were a series of Xcode downloads that either didn't decompress, or weren't running. This was "fixed" in relatively short order -- read hours. But, it still took a few more hours for the correct download to spread across the content distribution network.
Oh boy...that is quite a bit soon than I was expecting...hoping for. pic.twitter.com/4STAa9UL5d
-- David Smith (@_DavidSmith)
Although a short while afterwards, Watchsmith developer David Smith did add that despite the shock of the announcement, he likes the "fast turnaround launch."
"There is no longer a 'Day One'," he said, "we are all launching 'Day 1+Something. Which is a bit more chill."
Others just threw their hands up and said their apps would not be updated to iOS 14 in time this year.
Sorry, my iOS 14 features aren't ready yet.
Since it'll be a while before most of my customers use iOS 14, I spent the summer prioritizing bug fixes and my family's pandemic/school logistics (we're OK, just busy).
Like you all, I'm just doing what I can this year. More soon.-- Overcast (@OvercastFM)
In Apple's own developer forums, there were complaints as recently as 5:00 A.M. Eastern time from users saying that Xcode was failing to upload apps. Other developers are reporting error messages when they try to submit an app for review.
We get it. Apple tries to hide product features as best as it can with security and removed features in betas, meaning that some roll-outs and testing code need to wait for full OS releases. It's been a challenging year for everybody, and perhaps short windows between the GM and the full release was to be expected.
One day doesn't really serve anybody, other than Apple, though. And it arguably doesn't serve Apple, either. Not when it can claim there are great new iOS and watchOS features, but at best key apps can't use them -- and at worst, they break.
Developers are scrambling for release day availability. Some will make it. Some won't, though. Missing features for iOS 14 is one thing, but some apps will stop working the way they should. This is clearly bad for consumers and users.
If you're a developer, something like this is now burnt into your retina -- it's the main screen of app development software Xcode
This year, more than any other, be patient with developers and iOS 14
We normally suggest caution and some scouting out of the situation before you make the jump to a new, big version of any of Apple's operating systems. This year, more than any other before, making sure that your favorite apps run in iOS properly before upgrading your own devices is essential.Yes, developers have had all summer to start making this move, and nearly everybody -- including AppleInsider's stalwart developer -- has been on the road to an update. However, as it is with any beta process, the final operating system is a moving target. Practically, this means that with every increment of the beta, what you just changed for the last beta may need to be changed again.
Apple dropped a one-day GM period on developers. It has never done this before. Apple has typically given at least one week, but two weeks isn't unheard of.
Instead, Tim Cook dumped this on all of us yesterday, 23 hours before the full release. It's going to take more than a few hours for developers to set everything right.
Your patience will be rewarded.
Comments
Who could have POSSIBLY foreseen a mid-September launch for iOS 14?!? There have been a lot of curve balls thrown at developers (and everyone else) this year, to be sure, but the release date of iOS 14 is not one of them.
Instead of 23 hours, like today. It isn't about having iOS 14 in-hand, it's about having the FINAL iOS 14 in hand to test against.
Why are we supposed to be all forgiving when Apple stumble all the time with OS upgrades?
As for the developers and their complaints: Um, how long have there been beta releases available for iOS 14? Since the official announcement of iOS 14?
Covid-19 aside (because this computer industry bullshit happens constantly, every year, with or without pandemics):
The degree of special pleading that is constantly used to defend this industry’s perpetual bullshit is grotesque. It’s even more maddening being one of a tiny minority of tech people willing to acknowledge it and call it out...
...and not be eager to lick the corporate boot, defending every company & developer, as users are tossed incomplete products (and, no, don’t give me the BS special pleading excuse “users should know not to be early adopters”), being thrown into usability chaos with broken and incomplete features, device slowdowns, app incompatibilities (no, end users shouldn’t have to “know not to accept the update until later”, when it’s literally pushed at them daily by Apple)...
... all because Apple are focused only on pushing new devices onto market, at rigidly set dates, to feed the dogdamned stock market pundits their fresh meat...
... and when developers are behind on updating for new OS releases & platform changes that have been telegraphed for years - looking at you, 32-bit holdovers (few have excuses, most don’t).
Everyone is in the wrong here, AFAIC:
• Apple, for their focus on Wall Street, perpetually shitty release cycles, unwillingness to do proper QA, bugs, & generally incomplete development at release day.
• Developers, for acting like they were taken by surprise when long-announced changes were finalized, well after betas were made available.
• Fanatics, for defending the behavior of one or both of them, and pulling out their “us vs them” tribalism bullshit responses to legitimate criticism of Apple and/or developers.
No industry is as bad as those based on computer tech and its perpetual abuse of (and scapegoating of) their own customers and endless logical fallacy excuses.
Less than a day’s notice is bad form from Apple.
It also removed at least two APIs that were in the previous beta. This is why 25 or so hours between the GM and the full release is bad for developers.
That said, Apple never said 1PM ET for release time. This morning's PR was just clear about "today" in the US, and we've seen "late" releases for X.0 releases before.