abanoub-ashraf/ios-app-store

iOS App Store & CI/CD Expert

You are an expert in iOS app distribution, App Store submission, and build automation. When this skill activates, help streamline the release process.

Fastlane Setup

Installation

# Install via Homebrew
brew install fastlane

# Or via RubyGems
gem install fastlane

# Initialize in project
cd ios  # or your iOS directory
fastlane init

Fastfile Configuration

# fastlane/Fastfile
default_platform(:ios)

platform :ios do
  # Before all lanes
  before_all do
    setup_ci if is_ci
  end

  # Run tests
  desc "Run all tests"
  lane :test do
    run_tests(
      scheme: "MyApp",
      devices: ["iPhone 15"],
      clean: true,
      code_coverage: true
    )
  end

  # Build for TestFlight
  desc "Build and upload to TestFlight"
  lane :beta do
    increment_build_number(xcodeproj: "MyApp.xcodeproj")

    build_app(
      scheme: "MyApp",
      export_method: "app-store",
      output_directory: "./build",
      output_name: "MyApp.ipa"
    )

    upload_to_testflight(
      skip_waiting_for_build_processing: true,
      changelog: changelog_from_git_commits
    )

    slack(message: "New beta build uploaded! 🚀") if is_ci
  end

  # Release to App Store
  desc "Release to App Store"
  lane :release do
    ensure_git_status_clean
    ensure_git_branch(branch: "main")

    increment_version_number(bump_type: "patch")
    increment_build_number

    build_app(
      scheme: "MyApp",
      export_method: "app-store"
    )

    upload_to_app_store(
      submit_for_review: true,
      automatic_release: true,
      force: true,
      precheck_include_in_app_purchases: false
    )

    commit_version_bump
    add_git_tag
    push_to_git_remote
  end

  # Screenshots
  desc "Capture screenshots"
  lane :screenshots do
    capture_screenshots(
      scheme: "MyAppUITests",
      devices: [
        "iPhone 15 Pro Max",
        "iPhone 15",
        "iPhone SE (3rd generation)",
        "iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (6th generation)"
      ],
      languages: ["en-US", "es-ES", "de-DE"],
      clear_previous_screenshots: true
    )

    frame_screenshots(white: true)
    upload_to_app_store(skip_binary_upload: true)
  end
end

Matchfile (Code Signing)

# fastlane/Matchfile
git_url("[email protected]:yourteam/certificates.git")
storage_mode("git")

type("appstore")
app_identifier(["com.company.app", "com.company.app.widget"])
username("[email protected]")

# For CI
readonly(is_ci)

Appfile

# fastlane/Appfile
app_identifier("com.company.app")
apple_id("[email protected]")
itc_team_id("123456789")
team_id("ABCDEF1234")

GitHub Actions CI/CD

Basic Build & Test

# .github/workflows/ios.yml
name: iOS CI

on:
  push:
    branches: [main, develop]
  pull_request:
    branches: [main]

jobs:
  build-and-test:
    runs-on: macos-14
    timeout-minutes: 30

    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Select Xcode
        run: sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode_15.2.app

      - name: Cache SPM
        uses: actions/cache@v4
        with:
          path: .build
          key: ${{ runner.os }}-spm-${{ hashFiles('**/Package.resolved') }}

      - name: Build
        run: |
          xcodebuild build \
            -scheme MyApp \
            -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 15' \
            -configuration Debug \
            CODE_SIGNING_ALLOWED=NO

      - name: Test
        run: |
          xcodebuild test \
            -scheme MyApp \
            -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 15' \
            -resultBundlePath TestResults.xcresult \
            CODE_SIGNING_ALLOWED=NO

      - name: Upload Test Results
        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
        if: always()
        with:
          name: test-results
          path: TestResults.xcresult

TestFlight Deployment

# .github/workflows/testflight.yml
name: Deploy to TestFlight

on:
  push:
    branches: [main]

jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: macos-14
    timeout-minutes: 45

    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Select Xcode
        run: sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode_15.2.app

      - name: Install Fastlane
        run: brew install fastlane

      - name: Setup Signing
        env:
          MATCH_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MATCH_PASSWORD }}
          MATCH_GIT_BASIC_AUTHORIZATION: ${{ secrets.MATCH_GIT_TOKEN }}
        run: fastlane match appstore --readonly

      - name: Build and Upload
        env:
          APP_STORE_CONNECT_API_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.ASC_KEY_ID }}
          APP_STORE_CONNECT_API_ISSUER_ID: ${{ secrets.ASC_ISSUER_ID }}
          APP_STORE_CONNECT_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.ASC_PRIVATE_KEY }}
        run: fastlane beta

      - name: Notify Slack
        if: success()
        run: |
          curl -X POST -H 'Content-type: application/json' \
            --data '{"text":"iOS build deployed to TestFlight! 🚀"}' \
            ${{ secrets.SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL }}

App Store Connect API

API Key Setup

# In Fastfile or Appfile
app_store_connect_api_key(
  key_id: ENV["ASC_KEY_ID"],
  issuer_id: ENV["ASC_ISSUER_ID"],
  key_content: ENV["ASC_PRIVATE_KEY"],
  is_key_content_base64: true
)

Store Key as Secret

# Encode the .p8 file
base64 -i AuthKey_XXXXXXXXXX.p8 | pbcopy

# Add to GitHub Secrets as ASC_PRIVATE_KEY

Screenshots Automation

Snapshot Configuration

// SnapshotHelper.swift is added automatically
// In your UI test:

func testScreenshots() {
    let app = XCUIApplication()
    setupSnapshot(app)
    app.launch()

    // Navigate and capture
    snapshot("01-HomeScreen")

    app.buttons["Settings"].tap()
    snapshot("02-Settings")

    app.buttons["Profile"].tap()
    snapshot("03-Profile")
}

Snapfile

# fastlane/Snapfile
devices([
  "iPhone 15 Pro Max",
  "iPhone 15",
  "iPhone SE (3rd generation)",
  "iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (6th generation)"
])

languages([
  "en-US",
  "es-ES",
  "de-DE",
  "ja"
])

scheme("MyAppUITests")
output_directory("./screenshots")
clear_previous_screenshots(true)
concurrent_simulators(true)

App Store Metadata

Deliverfile

# fastlane/Deliverfile
app_identifier("com.company.app")
username("[email protected]")

# Metadata
name({
  "en-US" => "My Amazing App",
  "es-ES" => "Mi Aplicación Increíble"
})

subtitle({
  "en-US" => "The best app ever",
  "es-ES" => "La mejor aplicación"
})

# Screenshots from directory
screenshots_path("./screenshots")

# App Review Information
app_review_information(
  first_name: "John",
  last_name: "Doe",
  phone_number: "+1 555-1234",
  email_address: "[email protected]",
  demo_user: "[email protected]",
  demo_password: "demo123",
  notes: "Use the demo account to test all features."
)

# Submission
submit_for_review(true)
automatic_release(false)

# Phased release
phased_release(true)

Metadata Files Structure

fastlane/metadata/
├── en-US/
│   ├── name.txt
│   ├── subtitle.txt
│   ├── description.txt
│   ├── keywords.txt
│   ├── release_notes.txt
│   ├── privacy_url.txt
│   ├── support_url.txt
│   └── marketing_url.txt
├── es-ES/
│   └── ... (same files)
└── review_information/
    ├── first_name.txt
    ├── last_name.txt
    └── ...

Version Management

Automatic Version Bumping

# In Fastfile
lane :bump_patch do
  increment_version_number(bump_type: "patch")
  increment_build_number
  commit_version_bump(xcodeproj: "MyApp.xcodeproj")
end

lane :bump_minor do
  increment_version_number(bump_type: "minor")
  increment_build_number
  commit_version_bump(xcodeproj: "MyApp.xcodeproj")
end

lane :bump_major do
  increment_version_number(bump_type: "major")
  increment_build_number
  commit_version_bump(xcodeproj: "MyApp.xcodeproj")
end

Common Submission Issues

Rejection Reasons & Fixes

| Issue | Solution | |-------|----------| | Missing privacy manifest | Add PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy with required API reasons | | ITMS-90683: Missing Purpose String | Add NSCameraUsageDescription, etc. to Info.plist | | Missing 6.5" screenshots | Add iPhone 15 Pro Max screenshots | | Incomplete metadata | Fill all required App Store Connect fields | | Crashes during review | Test on real devices, check crash logs |

Privacy Manifest (iOS 17+)

<!-- PrivacyInfo.xcprivacy -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "...">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>NSPrivacyTracking</key>
    <false/>
    <key>NSPrivacyCollectedDataTypes</key>
    <array/>
    <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypes</key>
    <array>
        <dict>
            <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPIType</key>
            <string>NSPrivacyAccessedAPICategoryUserDefaults</string>
            <key>NSPrivacyAccessedAPITypeReasons</key>
            <array>
                <string>CA92.1</string>
            </array>
        </dict>
    </array>
</dict>
</plist>

Release Checklist

• [ ] All tests passing
• [ ] Version number incremented
• [ ] Build number incremented
• [ ] Release notes written
• [ ] Screenshots updated (if UI changed)
• [ ] Privacy manifest up to date
• [ ] App Store metadata complete
• [ ] Review notes prepared (if needed)
• [ ] Demo account working
• [ ] No debug code in release build
• [ ] Archive tested on real device