Apple introduces new ‘Ask’ Q&A help for developers
Apple has introduced a new series of interactive support resources for developers, including Q&As and one-to-one sessions. It is calling these, Ask Apple.
What is Ask Apple?
The aim is to provide developers with the opportunity to connect with Apple evangelists, engineers, and designers to get their questions answered. Developers can request code-level assistance, help with design or assistance to implement technologies and frameworks, or help with App Review Guidelines and distribution tools.
“We’ve been listening to feedback from developers around the world about what will be most helpful to them as they build innovative apps, and we’ve seen an increased appetite for one-on-one support and conversation with Apple experts,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations and Enterprise and Education Marketing.
Apple said that developers who take part in the free to developer Ask Apple scheme can inquire about a variety of topics, such as testing on the latest seeds; new and updated frameworks; features such as Dynamic Island; moving to Swift, SwiftUI, and accessibility; and preparing apps for new OS and hardware releases.
The program is open to everyone who is part of the Apple Developer Program or Apple Developer Enterprise Program.
Developers can request advice from Apple team members via Q&A, Slack or on a one-to-one basis at certain ‘Office Hours’. Office Hours will shift in different nations to fit local time zones – you won’t always need to meet in Cupertino time!
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“Our team is committed to continuously evolving our support for our diverse global developer community, and we’re excited to offer Ask Apple as another new resource,” said Prescott.
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What the developers said
Jordi Bruin, an iOS developer from Amsterdam, has launched over 20 apps on the App Store, attended over 50 Apple developer sessions and labs including Tech Talks and during Apple’s annual WWDC. One of his latest apps, Posture Pal, aims to help users improve their posture by leveraging the motion sensors in AirPods.
“Early on in the development of Posture Pal, I attended a Tech Talk focused on the motion sensors in the AirPods. I spoke to a technology evangelist who not only helped me understand the parameters and possibilities of the technology, but who also helped me brainstorm more advanced features and use cases that I had not considered before,” he said.
“A designer at Apple also did a complete rundown of Posture Pal’s onboarding experience, highlighting the aspects that could be improved. Based on the feedback, I removed redundant information and simplified the design of key screens in the app. Hearing from an expert in UX design has helped me in coming up with design guidelines for my projects overall,” he explained.
Ask Apple will be an ongoing series beginning October 17-21. Current members of the Apple Developer Program and the Apple Developer Enterprise Program can register and find information on the schedule by visiting developer.apple.com/events/ask-apple.
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