Historically our company (a 3PL/Fulfillment Service with a Public, Unlisted app) had always maintained a “sandbox” version of our app, completely separate from our production app but running the same code and pointing to a completely separate environment where there was no risk of accidental overlap with production. Our clients could install it on their stores if they wanted, or they could install it on their separate dev stores.
When the rules changed about all Public apps needing to be reviewed before they can be installed on a client’s store this forced us to change our process because the Review Team determined that the “sandbox” version of our app was “too similar” to our production app so they refused to approve it. We changed our process such that a client could reach out to us about sandbox access, we would quickly spin up a dev store under our org umbrella with our sandbox app (now a “Draft” app) installed, then give them full access to that shop for whatever testing/duration they need.
With the introduction of “Staging Stores” which seem to blur the line between a production store and a dev store we’re wondering if this means we need to change our “sandbox” process once again to accommodate this additional scenario. Everything we’ve seen thus far (including the linked post from a Shopify employee) say App installations: All. Does this mean that a “Draft” app can be installed on a client’s staging store (i.e. a shop that our organization does not own)?