Joining a broader change in the industry, Apple announced that it is working to replace the exclusion language in its API and developer documentation with alternative terminology.
Renaming things takes time and effort, as much of the infrastructure must migrate in response. For third-party developers on the App Store, Apple will change the names of the APIs used in its code when appropriate, which will also require engineering work to migrate.
Examples of mutually exclusive terminology include the use of a name such as ‘master’ to describe the primary code repository. Apple’s source control functions in Xcode, starting with Xcode 12, now name the default branch ‘main’ by default. Github and other companies announced similar policy changes earlier this year.
Similarly, Apple is replacing the use of ‘white list’ and ‘black list’ in its documentation with ‘allow list’ and ‘deny list’, to eradicate possible discriminatory connotations. These phrases have long-established technical definitions, but switching to alternative words eliminates any possibility of confusion or misinterpretation.
As a company, Apple is auditing its frameworks for similar language that warrants the adjustment. Developers can expect to see the introduction of renowned APIs in future versions of iOS 14, macOS Big Sur, and the like.
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