just so this doesn’t overwhelm our front page too much, i think now’s a good time to start consolidating discussions. existing threads will be kept up, but unless a big update comes let’s try to keep what’s happening in this thread instead of across 10.
developments to this point:
- Apollo for Reddit is shutting down
- Reddit is Fun will also shut down
- Reddit CEO (/u/spez) is going to hold a AMA about the API update
- Sync has announced it is shutting down
- ReddPlanet has announced it is shutting down
- Reddit creates an API exemption for noncommercial accessibility apps
- /r/videos is planning to shut down indefinitely, beginning June 11
- A subreddit dedicated to migrating to kbin.social has been closed by Reddit
The Verge is on it as usual, also–here’s their latest coverage (h/t @dirtmayor@beehaw.org):
other media coverage:
I feel like that’s gone a bit under reported. Reddit is basically saying that their current apps aren’t usable for users who need accessibility features, so they’re relaxing rules for apps that have better accessibility features, but those apps can’t be “commercial”.
So basically they don’t want to improve their own apps, and they don’t want to allow people who build apps with good accessibility to make any money, which means the only conclusion is that they put literally zero value on users who require those apps. Or, alternatively, they put zero value on developers of those apps, which makes their decision to charge other developers tens of millions of dollars to use the API almost inconceivably hypocritcal.
Yeah, but I’m sure that that’s only until the official app can add those features, and they’ve already stated that they’re actively working on that. Even for apps like RedReader, their days are numbered. Maybe a larger number than the rest of the apps, but still numbered.
What I struggle with a bit is that making apps accessible on iOS is pretty straight forward. You almost have to go out of your way to not do it. I don’t have experience in Android development, but would imagine it’s at least similar? So I can only conclude that it’s something reddit really doesn’t care about. Not even an after-thought. So I’m sceptical of any company with that sort of mindset being able to do a good job.
Agreed on RedReader. I wouldn’t be putting any time, effort, or money in to developing a reddit app or bot right now. The writing’s on the wall.
I haven’t compiled for Android in years, so can’t speak to the present, but in the past it wasn’t too terribly hard to make an app accessible, just adding a few libraries and linking them properly. So, yeah, they’re just not caring to do any of that. Iirc, they didn’t even build their “official app” anyway, they bought it and rebranded it.
I hadn’t thought about it that way, but you’re right. It’s consistent with Reddit’s past philosophy too: if Reddit doesn’t want to devote the resources to add a feature, they let third party developers do it for them for free.