Facebook software development kit (SDK) caused a lot of launching problems for many Ios apps for over an hour on Wednesday evening. Subsequently, these apps crashed for hundreds of thousands of users.
Users on both Twitter and GitHub stated that the new software development kit, or SDK, caused a range of apps to crash including major apps like Venmo, Waze, Spotify, and more. The SDK essentially allows those apps to connect to Facebook and use some of its features, like allowing users to log in using their Facebook account. The issue though seems to have been fixed.
According to DownDetector, there were upticks in crashes on many major apps, including Spotify, TikTok, Tinder, Viber, and more. Based on tweets, it seems as though the Spotify app had been down for almost two hours starting at 3 p.m. PT.
The issue itself simply caused apps to crash right after opening, essentially rendering them useless. While there were unofficial workarounds, like blocking the “facebook.com” domain in a routers DNS settings, those fixes were complicated and wouldn’t work when not connected to Wi-Fi.
The SDK allows users to gain access to an app through Facebook. Even people who don’t use Facebook to sign in to apps and services may still have been affected. That’s because the apps still have that feature an option, and as such still include the Facebook SDK code.
The apps affected by the Facebook SDK include Spotify, Venmo, TikTok, Pinterest, Waze, Calm, Postmates, and Viber.
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