"Why publish" docs about stores are super confusing

[rgwood]

I am trying to understand the different options for publishing an Excel add-in, and these docs left me more confused than when I started. I'll try to explain why.

Your app can be distributed directly through the Microsoft 365 app stores inside of Outlook, Excel...

I have never seen those and I had no idea where to find them in Excel. I eventually found "Get Add-ins" under the Insert ribbon (very unexpected location); I think that's the Microsoft 365 app store but nowhere in the UI does it say "Microsoft 365 app store".

In addition to the Microsoft 365 app store, Microsoft AppSource is another distribution point for your app. It is the official app store for Microsoft 365 apps and solutions.

So the "Microsoft 365 app store" is not the official app store for Microsoft 365 apps, AppSource is? That's super confusing. This document could really also use a link to AppSource.

When you submit your app for validation and it is approved, your app is automatically added to both the Office and Microsoft AppSource stores.

This seems like the terminology changed partway through the document. What was previously described as the "Microsoft 365 app stores" is now the "Office stores"?

Finally, if I read the "Deploy and publish Office Add-ins" page it doesn't mention the "Microsoft 365 app stores". So I am left with the suspicion that the "Microsoft 365 app stores" are somewhat deprecated.

I think any developer who reads this doc is going to be left with multiple unanswered questions:

1. Why are there multiple stores?
2. Do I need to worry about any differences between the stores? It really sounds like the "Microsoft 365 app stores" are different from AppSource in some meaningful way (beyond installation UI) but the docs don't offer any clarity there.
3. Do these stores have any relation to the Microsoft Store included with Windows?

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Document Details

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• ID: 0b4424fa-be94-e829-52a1-5eb948301750
• Version Independent ID: 236f068c-fcf2-7155-d767-f53616b65696
• Content: Publish your app to the Microsoft app stores - Microsoft AppSource
• Content Source: docs/why-publish.md
• Product: office
• Technology: ****
• GitHub Login: @o365devx
• Microsoft Alias: mingshen