Releases outside of App Store?

[Miaourt]

Hi ! I don't have AppleID and so really can't use App Store but would love to use passpartout too, would it be possible to have a version outside of App Store ?

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EDIT: a related discussion about Homebrek Cask here https://github.com/orgs/passepartoutvpn/discussions/1244

[keeshux]

The app relies on a VPN framework that enforces App Store distribution. So, unfortunately, this is not possible.

[Miaourt]

Is this "VPN framework" this one https://github.com/passepartoutvpn/tunnelkit ?
Shall I raise an issue down there to investigate this, or does it simply mean you're not interested into making something that works outside the App Store ?

[keeshux]

Nope, framework is NetworkExtension.

[Miaourt]

Hello, sorry to resurrect the issue!
Took a look at Apple's docs on NetworkExtension, and now they do provide a couple of step for app released outside the app store... so NetworkExtension is now usable without being distributed thru the app store!
Could releasing it on Github releases be considered again? 👀

[keeshux]

@Miaourt thanks for bringing this up, this is awesome! Another "meta" issue with such a release, however, is in-app purchases.

[Miaourt]

Awesome that you're considering it again!

Yeah it might be an issue and maintaining a "license" server somewhere (to do like Viscosity for example) where we additional features is, while not that difficult, a non-zero additional work I guess.

If you'd consider making a licensing server open source I'll be glad to help on this point.

[Miaourt]

To be more clear, this way of activating additional features would be lock to the version outside of App Store, to not conflict with Apple's policies.