Joe Hewitt, developer of the popular Facebook iPhone app, has decided to stop iPhone development because of Apples policies.

In a recent interview with TechCrunch, Hewitt said is reason for leaving the iPhone development scene, "had everything to do with Apple’s policies.”

He went on to say, "I respect their right to manage their platform however they want, however I am philosophically opposed to the existence of their review process. I am very concerned that they are setting a horrible precedent for other software platforms, and soon gatekeepers will start infesting the lives of every software developer." 

"The web is still unrestricted and free, and so I am returning to my roots as a web developer. In the long term, I would like to be able to say that I helped to make the web the best mobile platform available, rather than being part of the transition to a world where every developer must go through a middleman to get their software in the hands of users,” Hewitt said.

Hewitt is among the growing number of iPhone developers who are leaving the platform because of Apples application review process. Many are leaving not because of the great SDK Apple provides to all developers, or the programming language, but because of the long review process, the lack of communication between the reviewers and developers, and also the possibility of getting turned down after spending development time.

Apple's review process has definitely improved over the past year, but more improvements still need to happen. If Apple doesn't take hold of their App Store and review process, it could mean that another phone company could step in and take over the area that Apple pioneered. 

The latest Google Android-based phones could prove to be a better development platform because developers have two options: Submit their app to an application store or sell it on their own site and allow the user install it themselves. This model could prove to be better for both the developer and consumer because it can give the developer a no-hassle app distribution place and give the consumer the applications they want. 

After all, developers do development for a reason: It's their main job. They have to make a living just like everyone else and they will choose the platform that allows them to do this. 

You can read the full interview with Joe Hewitt on TechCrunch.

via The Apple Blog