[ceejayoz]

I'm fairly certain you have to agree to some to join the Apple Developer Program, which is (sort-of) required if you want people to be able to run your app.

[scarface74]

You don’t have to be in the developer program ftp distribute your app on the Mac.

[ceejayoz]

Technically? No.

It'll largely refuse to run ("App can't be opened because it is from an unidentified developer") if it's not signed via Gatekeeper, though.

There's a procedure to bypass that, but it's hardly user-friendly. https://support.apple.com/kb/ph25088?locale=en_US

[scarface74]

Yes control click is really complicated.

[ceejayoz]

First, the dialog doesn't give any indication it can be bypassed in that fashion. Second, users should rightfully be suspicious of "just bypass the security!" install instructions - especially non-technical ones.

[scarface74]

Because users got a lot of security installing Zoom and BlueJeans since it was signed....

This isn’t unique to these two. Dropbox does some ungodly things when installed on the Mac....