I'm not sure this article has the slam dunk it thinks it does. Those aren't "apps" they are at best "web apps". They use a JS framework and some special markup from what I can tell. In this sense WeChat is more akin to a web browser than having multiple "apps" inside it.
> Since these are “apps within an app”, many of these mini-programs are flouting the App Store rules since they were not downloaded from the App Store.
I mean Drafts has the ability to download actions (not sure if that is the right term) which are JS that run inside the app. I think this is fine and doesn't skirt any rules, I don't see why WeChat is all that different.
All that said, of course Apple is going to make exceptions for WeChat the same way it makes various concessions to other countries.
> Since these are “apps within an app”, many of these mini-programs are flouting the App Store rules since they were not downloaded from the App Store.
I mean Drafts has the ability to download actions (not sure if that is the right term) which are JS that run inside the app. I think this is fine and doesn't skirt any rules, I don't see why WeChat is all that different.
All that said, of course Apple is going to make exceptions for WeChat the same way it makes various concessions to other countries.