Release Review for Apple Platforms
Performs a comprehensive pre-release audit of macOS and iOS applications from a senior developer's perspective. Identifies critical issues that could cause rejection, security vulnerabilities, privacy concerns, and UX problems—with actionable fixes.
When This Skill Activates
Use this skill when the user:
- Says "review for release", "release review", or "pre-release audit"
- Asks for "senior developer review" or "critical review"
- Mentions preparing for "App Store", "TestFlight", or "notarization"
- Wants to know what "power users might complain about"
- Asks to "review before shipping" or "check before release"
Review Process
Phase 1: Project Discovery
First, understand the project:
# Find project type
Glob: **/*.xcodeproj or **/*.xcworkspace
Glob: **/Info.plist
Glob: **/project.pbxprojIdentify:
- Platform (macOS, iOS, or both)
- App type (standard app, menu bar app, widget, extension)
- Distribution method (App Store, direct download, TestFlight)
Phase 2: Security Review
Load and apply: security-checklist.md
Key areas:
- Credential storage (Keychain patterns, no hardcoded secrets)
- Data transmission (HTTPS, certificate validation)
- Input validation (injection prevention)
- Entitlements audit
- Hardened runtime (macOS)
Phase 3: Privacy Review
Load and apply: privacy-checklist.md
Key areas:
- Data collection transparency
- Privacy manifest (iOS 17+)
- User consent flows
- Third-party SDK disclosure
- GDPR compliance basics
Phase 4: UX Polish Review
Load and apply: ux-polish-checklist.md
Key areas:
- First launch / onboarding
- Empty states and error handling
- Loading states
- Text truncation and accessibility
- Platform-specific UX patterns
Phase 5: Distribution Review
Load and apply: distribution-checklist.md
Key areas:
- Bundle identifier format
- Code signing configuration
- Info.plist completeness
- App icons
- Platform-specific requirements (notarization, App Store)
Phase 6: API Design Review
Load and apply: api-design-checklist.md
Key areas:
- User-Agent headers (honest identification)
- Error handling patterns
- Token expiration handling
- Rate limiting
- Offline handling
Output Format
Present findings in this structure:
# Release Review: [App Name]
**Platform**: macOS / iOS / Universal
**Distribution**: App Store / Direct Download / TestFlight
**Review Date**: [Date]
## Summary
| Priority | Count |
|----------|-------|
| Critical | X |
| High | X |
| Medium | X |
| Low | X |
---
## 🔴 Critical Issues (Must Fix)
Issues that will cause rejection, crashes, or security vulnerabilities.
### [Category]: [Issue Title]
**File**: `path/to/file.swift:123`
**Impact**: [Why this matters]
**Current Code**:// problematic code
**Suggested Fix**:
// fixed code
---
## 🟠 High Priority (Should Fix)
Issues that significantly impact user experience or trust.
[Same format as above]
---
## 🟡 Medium Priority (Fix Soon)
Issues that should be addressed but won't block release.
[Same format as above]
---
## 🟢 Low Priority / Suggestions
Nice-to-have improvements and polish.
[Same format as above]
---
## ✅ Strengths
What the app does well:
- [Strength 1]
- [Strength 2]
- [Strength 3]
---
## Recommended Action Plan
1. **[Critical]** [First thing to fix]
2. **[Critical]** [Second thing to fix]
3. **[High]** [Third thing to fix]...
Priority Classification
🔴 Critical
- Security vulnerabilities (credential exposure, injection)
- Crashes or data loss scenarios
- App Store rejection causes
- Privacy violations
- Hardcoded secrets or spoofed identifiers
🟠 High
- Poor error handling (silent failures)
- Missing user consent or transparency
- Accessibility blockers
- Missing required Info.plist keys
- Broken functionality
🟡 Medium
- Incomplete onboarding
- Suboptimal UX patterns
- Missing empty states
- Performance concerns
- Minor accessibility issues
🟢 Low
- Code style improvements
- Additional features
- Polish and refinement
- Documentation improvements
Platform-Specific Considerations
macOS
- Menu bar app window activation (
NSApp.activate) - Sandbox exceptions justification
- Notarization requirements
- Hardened runtime
- Developer ID signing
- DMG/installer considerations
iOS
- App Tracking Transparency
- Privacy nutrition labels
- Launch screen requirements
- Export compliance
- In-app purchase requirements
- TestFlight configuration
References
- security-checklist.md - Detailed security review items
- privacy-checklist.md - Privacy and data handling
- ux-polish-checklist.md - User experience review
- distribution-checklist.md - Release and distribution
- api-design-checklist.md - Network and API patterns