← Skills

/ios-release

Ship an iPhone/iOS app to testers (TestFlight) or to the App Store. Use when the user says or . Leads with the MINIMAL TestFlight workflow, then the FULL App Store submission. Carries the upload paths (API key vs browser), tester setup, required assets, and the gotchas (BETA_CONTRACT_MISSING, encryption, screenshot capture without taps). Pair with the `ios-app` skill for the build/signing/archive checklist

install: npx skills add fortunto2/solo-factory/ios-release
source: fortunto2/solo-factory/tree/main/skills/ios-release
phase: utility

Start with MINIMAL (TestFlight — the tester-link equivalent). Do FULL only for the public store. There is no APK-style sideload on iOS — testers install via TestFlight (or ad-hoc with each device UDID, which doesn’t scale). Sibling skill: android-release. Build/signing/archive details + App-Store gotchas live in the ios-app skill — read it before the first upload.

# ios-release — ship iPhone to TestFlight, then the App Store

**Start with MINIMAL** (TestFlight — the tester-link equivalent). Do FULL only for the public store.
There is **no APK-style sideload** on iOS — testers install via TestFlight (or ad-hoc with each
device UDID, which doesn't scale). Sibling skill: **`android-release`**. Build/signing/archive
details + App-Store gotchas live in the **`ios-app`** skill — read it before the first upload.

Golden rules:
- **Never "Submit for review" without the user's OK** — outward-facing. TestFlight internal-tester
  rollout is low-risk (no review) — a prior "set it up" covers it; state what you did.
- Browser work: **the user logs in** to App Store Connect (never touch their password/2FA).

---

## A. MINIMAL — TestFlight

1. **Archive a Release build** and upload to App Store Connect. Three ways:
   - **API key (best for CLI/headless)**: ASC → Users and Access → Integrations → **App Store
     Connect API** → create key (Issuer ID + Key ID + `.p8`). Then
     `xcrun altool --upload-app -f App.ipa --type ios --apiKey <KeyID> --apiIssuer <IssuerID>`
     (or `notarytool`/`Transporter`). Export the `.ipa` first with `xcodebuild -exportArchive`.
   - **Xcode Organizer** (GUI): Product → Archive → Distribute App → App Store Connect.
   - **Transporter.app**: drag the `.ipa`.
2. Wait for **processing** (a few min–1 h) in ASC → your app → **TestFlight**.
3. Add testers:
   - **Internal testers** (≤100, must be Users on the ASC team) — **no review**, instant.
   - **External testers / Public link** — needs a short **Beta App Review** + the export-compliance
     answer; then anyone with the public link can join.
4. Testers install the **TestFlight** app and open the invite / public link.

⚠️ **BETA_CONTRACT_MISSING (422)** on upload = Apple backend bug. Check ASC → **Agreements** are all
**Active** (Paid + Free Apps). If they are and it still fails, it's Apple-side — contact support; no
self-fix, don't just wait.

---

## B. FULL — App Store submission

- **App record**: bundle id, SKU, name (unique), primary language.
- **Screenshots**: 6.9" **1320×2868** (iPhone 16/17 Pro Max) required; add other sizes as needed.
- **Metadata**: description, keywords, support + marketing URLs, category, age rating.
- **App Privacy**: answer the data-collection questionnaire (Privacy → App Privacy). Privacy policy
  URL required.
- **Encryption**: set `ITSAppUsesNonExemptEncryption=false` in Info.plist to skip the per-upload prompt.
- Attach the processed build to the version → **Submit for review** (confirm with the user first).

---

## Assets — capture without a physical device
The iOS **simulator can't be tapped from CLI** (System Events `click at` is TCC-blocked; only
`key code` works — Return dismisses the location alert). To get clean screens headlessly:
1. Skip onboarding: set `profile.onboarded=true` in the sim container's state JSON
   (`xcrun simctl get_app_container booted <bundle> data` → `…/Documents/<state>.json`).
2. Preselect a tab via a launch env the app reads, e.g. `AppRouter.init` reads
   `ProcessInfo…environment["CF_TAB"]`; launch with `SIMCTL_CHILD_CF_TAB=beaches xcrun simctl launch …`.
3. `xcrun simctl location booted set <lat>,<lng>` for realistic "near you" distances.
4. `xcrun simctl io booted screenshot out.png` (iPhone 17 Pro Max sim = 1320×2868 = App Store 6.9").
5. Frame with captions: template `docs/store/compose_ios.py` (caretta-friends).

Icon: the 1024×1024 `AppIcon` (`icon_1024.png`) is the App Store icon — no separate export.

## Missing `iosApp` Xcode scheme?
If `xcodebuild -scheme iosApp …` fails with "does not contain a scheme named iosApp", a shared
scheme for another target (e.g. a widget) disabled autogen. Create a shared
`xcshareddata/xcschemes/iosApp.xcscheme` pointing at the app target's BlueprintIdentifier
(from `project.pbxproj`) — see the caretta-friends repo for a working file.
Sources