Deploying to Appstore Connect

FAQ
1

Hey Crowdbotics Crew!

We thought it would be useful to explain how to deploy an app to Appstore Connect .

Crowdbotics supports automating the deployment of iOS and Android apps using Fastlane. The necessary Fastlane script is generated at the time an app is created in Crowdbotics.

Uploading iOS Builds to iTunes Connect

Developers can run the script below to build their iOS .ipa file, create an app, and deploy the .ipa file onto Crowdbotics App Store Connect:

  1. cd ios
  2. fastlane ios beta

Then, the PM can make the TestFlight build public and share the public link with the end user for UAT or testing.

After the build passes all tests, the PM can select the best build on TestFlight, fill in the required information for the app on Crowdbotics App Store Connect, and submit it to the Apple App Store. It may take a couple of days for Apple to review and approve the app.

Note: the Fastlane script is located in ios/fastlane/Fastfile.

Uploading Android Builds to the Google Play Console

Developers can run the script below to build an Android APK and deploy the APK to Google Play Console:

  1. cd android
  2. fastlane android beta

Then, the PM can share the beta link with the end user for UAT or testing.

After the build passes all tests, the developer can promote the build to production using the following script (the PM also can do this in Google Play Console):

  1. cd android
  2. fastlane android deploy

Note: the Fastlane script is located in android/fastlane/Fastfile.

FAQs

In the app today, is it true that deploying mobile app uploads to the Crowdbotics App Store Connect account will invite the user to the app’s TestFlight build?

No, the app is being deployed to Appetize.io for testing. In order to deploy the build to the Apple App Store, we need to run the generated Fastlane script or do it manually.

When was the functionality last verified/tested? How robust is it?

It has been in our scaffold for a long time and may require further testing. If you have any bugs to report, please share them here in the forum.

There are limits placed on App Store accounts regarding how many apps you can have – how close are we to those limits? What happens when we hit it?

As of now, there are no such limits.

Additional notes on our process

When your Product Manager adds you as a new engineer to iTunesConnect, they should add you as a DEVELOPER, and not as an admin. Your Product Manager should also make sure that the “Access to Certificates, Identifiers, and Profiles” checkbox is CHECKED.

With this setting, as a developer, you can create your own development certificates on iTunesConnect for LOCAL development.

If you do happen to have admin privileges, do NOT add new distribution certificates to the Crowdbotics Apple Account. Adding new distribution certificates will revoke existing certificates— do NOT do it.

Feel free to post below if you have any questions!