14 DAY TRIAL // Panic Inc. says it has struggled to make Coda 2.5 compatible with the Mac App Store’s sandboxing requirements but regrets to inform that they’re running out of time and will proceed with making the coding software available outside Apple’s venue.
A powerful developer tool that offers a comprehensive code editor, terminal, CSS, file management, and SVN, Coda is preparing for a new promotion featuring a bunch of new things that Panic hopes will delight veterans and newcomers alike.
Version 2.5 is on the launch pad and, while Panic initially strived to sandbox it for the Mac App Store, the developer now says it has hit a major roadblock. In a nutshell, Coda 2.5 won’t be making an appearance in Apple’s digital distribution venue.
The company writes on the Panic Blog, “As we continued to work on Coda 2.5—a significant update that we’re really excited about—we continued to discover new corners of the app that presented challenges under sandboxing. Coda, to be fair, is a very complex developer tool and is something of a sandboxing worst-case scenario.”
Panic credits Apple for lending a helping hand (more like a dozen helping hands) in trying to get Coda 2.5 to meet the Mac App Store’s sandboxing requirements, but regretfully informs its customers that the efforts have been in vain.
“Apple, to their considerable credit, spent a lot of energy assisting us with ideas, workarounds, and temporary exemptions we might be able to use to get around some of the issues. Apple genuinely went above and beyond the call of duty, and we’re really thankful for their help. We got extremely close and jumped over a lot of tricky hurdles thanks to them. Unfortunately, though, we’ve run out of time.”
“Coda 2.5 is essentially complete. But, we’re still encountering sandboxing challenges. So, in the interest of finally getting Coda 2.5 out the door and in the hands of you, our very eager and patient customers, we’ve decided it’s time to move on—for now.”
What this means is that Code 2.5 will be released shortly, but not through the Mac App Store. Panic asks users to note that this doesn’t constitute a rejection from Apple, and that it is their choice to go down this path. Also, Coda 2 will remain where it is in the Mac App Store, and those who will want to upgrade to Coda 2.5 will have no trouble doing so whatsoever.
Again, the company explains, “when Coda 2.5 is released, you’ll simply download Coda 2.5 directly from our website. It’ll locate your installed Mac App Store copy, and it will unlock. That’s it. You’ve transitioned. Free of charge.”