Publish an outsourced app - iOS - ios

I work in a government company that purchased the development(outsourced) of an iOS app and I was designated to publish at app store. What is the best way to receive this app from the developer and do it? Does he has to package(.app) and send to me?

The developer should send you an .xcarchive of the build. Once you have the .xcarchive, you can use Xcode to publish to the store. Open Organizer (Xcode > Window > Organizer), select the .xcarchive and click "Upload to App Store". Xcode will walk you through a few steps to package the .app that's inside the .xcarchive into an ipa and start the upload process to iTunesConnect.
Beforehand: You will need to make sure you have the correct code signing certificates and provisioning profiles set up in your developer account. You will also need to create a record in iTunesConnect for the app to upload to.

take a look at this answer: Is it possible to let somebody else upload and distribute my app in Apple's App Store?
In fact you have two options, also depending on your expertise and contract with the developers, but in the end you need a (company) developer account if you want that you are also listed as the developer of the app.
If that is not the case you should let the developers deploy the app to the appstore on behalf of your department.
IF you want to be also listed as developer of the app you have to do it like suggested in the link above, you create an account and add the external developer as a team member - but this will be more complicated.

Related

Create a downloadable ios link of app not working

I'm trying to upload my flutter app to either deployninja, diawi, or testflight.
I currently have an expired apple developers membership.
In Xcode I went to Product > Archive > Distribute. When ic click on any of the export options, I get an error saying
Team "Jessica (Personal Team)" is not enrolled in the Apple Developer Program.
Distribution requires enrollment in the Apple Developer Program. Visit https://developer.apple.com/account to enroll.
How can I create a downloadable link for my app without uploading it to the app store yet?
I don't think that's possible. You need to have an app created in itunes connect to get the appstore link (app id).
You need an Apple Developer account. If you have it, you can use test flight to send your app to people without making it on the app store.
Another option is this: Your app is in the product section in Xcode
I don't know how to download this on iPhone but that is the application file.

how to Install App on device remotely iOS

I am android developer but I have just started the iOS development it was quite a fun until and unless i faced the distribution time.
My app is completed. now I have to give/send demo of the app to my client, I did R&D and found that to install app on device I need a UDID. I have one device also with me I have already added its UDID in my profile, so I can test on it.
Now tell me if I ask my client for UDID and if he supply me UDID, then after it how can I run app on his device. I can not access the client device physically.
I know this has been asked so many times and I have read those question. but most of them are outdated as I can not find those options in xcode
I am using xcode 9.2 and swft 4.2 . Please suggest me a batter way of doing that......
There are many options:-
Create adhoc profile then add UDID of client, then create IPA.Now create diawi link and share to client
Create enterprise profile, Create diawi and then create diawi and share it.
Go with testflight.
Useful Links:-
How create diawi
Create adhox
Use of test
Thanks
If you have client's device UDID then you can send build using Diawi link, Simply follow this steps.
First of all add client's UDID in developer.apple account.
Then Create "Provisioning profile -> AdHoc" profile. when you create AdHoc profile at that time select Client's UDID. (See more details https://support.magplus.com/hc/en-us/articles/204270188-iOS-Creating-an-Ad-Hoc-Distribution-Provisioning-Profile)
Using AdHoc profile archive project in xcode and export .ipa of application.
Upload exported .ipa file in https://www.diawi.com/
After finishing upload you can share build link with client.
Open this build link in safari browser(in device) to install application.
I suggest you use TestFlight.
You can create App on Appstore Connect and then upload one build to the Appstore using Xcode. After that you can simply use TestFlight to allow Internal or External Testers to download the app using TestFlight.
Advantages of TestFlight is that you don't need to have UDIDs of users, you can invite them using their email addresses. Also, you can invite external testers by using the Public Link now. You don't need email addresses of users if you create a Public Link and share the links with the users.
Apple beta distribution options are following,
You must have apple developer account enrolled to give away beta app.
1) TestFlight internal testers:- We can direct distribute by adding testers apple email to TestFlight section in AppStoreConnect.
2) TestFlight External Testers:-
We need to add any email ids of testers, they will get invitation with a redeem code, testers will have to redeem it using TestFlight app. User will notify for every build through TestFlight app. For External we have to submit for review for the first time only for every app version. Recently apple released feature to create a Public Link to invite testers, which you can share to any tester and tester can insert details directly from a web page.
3) Diawi Link:- You can upload build directly to Diawi, and distribute to testers whose UDIDS are attached with provisioning profile. There are some limitations to upload to Diawi like max ipa size is 100mb, expiration time 1day,....
4) AppBox:- To get rid if Diawi limitations, Some one introduce AppBox. AppBox is an open source GitHub repo, I found it some time ago, not using it regularly so I don't have deeper idea. AppBox is using dropbox to upload and using link to share with testers, we can directly upload to AppStore as-well.
Hope it covers all options of beta distribution for iOS, will update answer for AppBox as I will use more.

iOS app developed from one Developer account and distribute it as enterprise app from another Enterprise account

I am developing an app from one developer account and it was going on for the last few months. But now the client want to distribute it to a few customers Off-Store. We have an enterprise account ready to use but my question is Should I do everything from the start again right from creating the App ID? Or any other way around?
I looked around internet for answers but I could find anything effective.
This one was quite related to my question but I was looking for Off-Store distribution only. I just want to know if its possible.
If the app is already configured in iTunes connect then you can transfer the app from one account to another account from iTunes Connect. Refer this and see if it helps your cause.
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/LanguagesUtilities/Conceptual/iTunesConnect_Guide/Chapters/TransferringAndDeletingApps.html
You can use developer provisioning profile for it.
Add UDID of device in developer provisioning profile.
Download and install developer provisioning profile.
After that build IPA by using this developer provisioning profile.
Upload the generated IPA to https://www.diawi.com and click send.
This will give you a link, from which you can download the app.
So you can share this link with anyone.

Publish iOS app to App Store on behalf of client

I have
An apple id
The source code
A Distribution Certificate generated for my apple id using client's developer portal
A Provisioning profile for the newly created App ID and my distribution certificate
My client dont want to share his apple id credentials with me. I am able to archive the product in Xcode, but am not able to submit it to App Store.
Can i directly submit it to the store with the above details i've got?
Or Can i build IPA file and share it with client, so he can submit to App Store?
Is there any other alternative ways we can submit the app to store (other than sharing his credentials)
Kindly explain the answer (with step by step guide if possible).
Thanks
For those who needs to do the same on behalf of clients, here are the steps i've followed...
What i had
An apple developer account (with no Developer Program Enrollment)
What client had
An apple developer account (with Apple Developer Program Enrollment for Company)
As far as app distribution is concerned, apple have 2 systems: Member Center (for Certificates, Profiles, App IDs etc) and ITunes Connect (for publishing your app to app store and further management of the app).
I need access to both ITunes Connect & Member center for distributing on behalf of client.
In Member Center, client should give you Team Admin Role. [steps]
In ITunes connect, client should give you Developer Role / Admin Role for the app. If Developer Role, given u can only upload the build, to submit app for review you'll need to ask the client. If Admin role, basically you can do almost everything upto Submitting the app for review. [steps]
Now you can create certificates, profiles, app ids through Member Center (you can create certificates & profiles in Xcode also. But App IDS should be created through Member Center).
Create App Record in ITunes Connect using the same bundle ID used for App ID creation.
Upload your build through Xcode
Submit for review through Itunes Connect
This is what i did for submitting the app. If you find any mistakes/better alternatives, pls comment below, so i'll update the answer.
You'll need to do the following:
Build the app using the distribution cert of the client
Archive the app using XCode (it's in the same menu as the build
options)
When the archive is done it will open the Archive
Organizer
Select the newly created archive and export it. The
first option in exporting is the 'Save for iOS App Store
Deployment'.
This will create a directory on your mac that contains the bits
and pieces your client will need to upload it.
Zip that directory and transfer to your client. They should be able
to use the web-interface in iTunes connect to upload the app and
complete the app submission process.
... Or Can i build IPA file and share it with client, so he can submit to App Store?
To answer your question, you can build the app and provide to your client for them to submit the app.
For building the app (.ipa) you need to get the Provisioning profile & Certificate (.p12) corresponds to Apple developer program from the client.
I have done this for many of our clients and solution is working. In fact few of the clients they have an internal portal with the predefined process.
In case, if anyone of you have queries on this response comment below and I shall try to answer.
Note: when signing remember to choose use local signing assets in order to avoid giving apple id credentials.
The easiest way would be to have your client add you under User and Roles in iTunes Connect. There is a developer role now that can limit access to a certain app and restricts it to the below:
As of Summer of 2017, Which is after this was initially asked) The developer and the app producer name must be the same. Thus just have them spend the
$99 a year and get a Dev account that they add you to to Develop / manage.
Here is a short and detailed explanation: [1]: http://www.goodbarber.com/blog/your-client-s-developer-accounts-vs-your-own-a856/
Here is how to tranfer if already in app Store under your account:[1]: https://support.appmachine.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000012284-Transfer-your-app-to-another-iOS-Developer-Account
You need to use IP distribution with iOS to build IPA to upload to the App Store
According to the description the simplest way would be to submit the app on your own behalf and as soon as you pass the certification to transfer the published app to your client from iTunes Connect dashboard.

How to create an IOS app that could install without the Apple Store?

I find out some app on internet that it installed my phone not through Apple Store. When i clicked "Download App" on the website, it will install automatically on the phone. I wonder why this way is available with Apple Security.
Please, give me a reason. ^_^
Read this article:
http://mobiledan.net/2012/03/02/5-options-for-distributing-ios-apps-to-a-limited-audience-legally/
You can do what you want with iOS Developer Enterprise Program -- In-house app distributing.
Compile your Application with Enterprise Account -> Upload on third party site like http://www.diawi.com & share generated link with others
If you don't know about build types then let me tell you there are 3 types of iOS ipa files that can run on iPhone
1-Developer Mode
2-AdHoc Distribution
3-App Store Submission
Developer Mode: it will only run on debugging device
AdHoc : two types of this build
i) Simple account:
for this build you have to add your mobile Udid into the provisioning profile it will only run on that device whose udid is included in the profile.
ii) Premium account:
for this build you don't have to do any thing it will run on every device without adding its udid to provisioning profile.
App Store Submission : for submitting to apple store you have to make this type of build.
//udid means your mobile device id.
Purchase Enterprise account(299 dollars) or simply create ipa and share on TestFlight but you will still need developer account (99 dollars). In developer account you can register only 100 devices so you cant send ipa to many users. In your case Enterprise account is better. It is your choice.
You are correct,
Some apps don't need to go through APP-Store
There is two types of Developer account by Apple,
If you go with "Enterprise Program" (need to pay more), and you have to create Ad-HOC app and upload on 3rd party server, and you can download it from there.

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