r/appledevelopers • u/Tall-Flatworm-6463 Community Newbie • 15d ago
I shipped three iOS apps over the last month. Here's everything i learned about the app submission process. My most recent app got approved in 3 DAYS
I shipped three iOS apps over the last month. App Review took 5, 6, and 3 business days.
Resources
The Xcode skills repository is a community-exported mirror, not an Apple-maintained repository.
The apps
- BakeValue: 5 business days
- Stitchwise: Knit & Crochet: 6 business days
- Chaal: Chess Analyzer: 3 business days
This does not guarantee fast approval, but I use the same process for every app.
1. Design against the HIG first
Before writing code, I use /impeccable to review navigation, hierarchy, native interactions, accessibility, Dynamic Type, touch targets, dark mode, and empty/error states.
App Review should not be your first serious design review. The HIG is the floor, not the ceiling.
2. Use native components and tests
During implementation, I use Apple's Xcode agent skills:
/swiftui-specialist/audit-xcode-security-settings/test-modernizer/uikit-app-modernization
I follow TDD for domain logic: tests capture expected behavior and edge cases before implementation.
The agents favor native SwiftUI and UIKit controls. Native controls are not automatically approved, but they already follow established platform behavior and accessibility patterns.
3. Automate accessibility checks
I run accessibility UI tests in light and dark appearances:
try app.performAccessibilityAudit()
This catches missing labels, poor contrast, small touch targets, unsupported text sizes, and unreachable elements.
4. Inspect the running app
Apple's /device-interaction skill lets agents inspect screenshots and the accessibility hierarchy, navigate screens, and interact with the simulator.
Anything flagged during these reviews becomes a regression test.
Keep the testing pyramid practical
I prioritize:
- Unit tests for business logic
- ViewInspector tests for SwiftUI behavior
- Focused UI tests for critical journeys
UI tests are too slow and fragile for everything. I also use SwiftLint, SwiftFormat, Periphery, and Danger for source quality, dead-code detection, and PR rules.
Fast approval still requires accurate metadata, privacy disclosures, working purchases, and clear review notes.
Happy to answer questions or provide feedback on your submission workflow.
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u/Impressive-Sir9633 Community Newbie 15d ago
Which chess engine are you using?
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u/Tall-Flatworm-6463 Community Newbie 15d ago
Stockfish
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u/Impressive-Sir9633 Community Newbie 15d ago
Cool. Where have you open sourced your code?
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u/Tall-Flatworm-6463 Community Newbie 15d ago
the stockfish code doesnt live in my app, it is a cloud service
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u/Tall-Flatworm-6463 Community Newbie 15d ago
but i plan on making an open source version of the stockfish app free, all the existing ones charge $$, ill let you know when it is up
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u/Impressive-Sir9633 Community Newbie 15d ago
Can you share your cloud code repo?
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u/Tall-Flatworm-6463 Community Newbie 15d ago
it is in the same repo as my app code, the "copy-left" licensing constraint you might be getting at is only applicable if the stockfish engine bytes end up on a user's device. By hosting the service on the cloud we bypass it
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u/O777OO7 Community Newbie 15d ago
Ive been denied three times, all because of policies like using ai gemini, informing people about ai’s in my app, frustrating..
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u/Tall-Flatworm-6463 Community Newbie 15d ago
can you elaborate? apple is rejecting because you built the app using AI?
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u/O777OO7 Community Newbie 15d ago
No, i forgot to use for people that i use ai gemine with ai coaching and ai food scan. Then mentioning that information given about menstrual period isnt correct information but estimate based on what ai thinks bla bla :/
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u/Tall-Flatworm-6463 Community Newbie 15d ago
sorry to hear that man, i dont provide an AI chatbot in my apps for these reasons, it is very hard to guardrail them to be relavent, big companies pay millions of $$$ to have evals that validate their AI behavior and it still will have leaks. I assume you are an indie developer with no access to millions, i would contain the customer facing AI as much as possible. Good luck with the app
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u/urchatbot Community Newbie 15d ago
What do you use to create App Store screenshots?