Xcode Build and Export

Use this skill when you need to build an app from source and prepare it for upload to App Store Connect.

Preconditions

• Xcode installed and command line tools configured
• Valid signing identity and provisioning profiles (or automatic signing enabled)

iOS Build Flow

1. Clean and Archive

xcodebuild clean archive \
  -scheme "YourScheme" \
  -configuration Release \
  -archivePath /tmp/YourApp.xcarchive \
  -destination "generic/platform=iOS"

2. Export IPA

xcodebuild -exportArchive \
  -archivePath /tmp/YourApp.xcarchive \
  -exportPath /tmp/YourAppExport \
  -exportOptionsPlist ExportOptions.plist \
  -allowProvisioningUpdates

A minimal ExportOptions.plist for App Store distribution:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>method</key>
    <string>app-store-connect</string>
    <key>teamID</key>
    <string>YOUR_TEAM_ID</string>
</dict>
</plist>

3. Upload with asc

asc builds upload --app "APP_ID" --ipa "/tmp/YourAppExport/YourApp.ipa"

macOS Build Flow

1. Archive

xcodebuild archive \
  -scheme "YourMacScheme" \
  -configuration Release \
  -archivePath /tmp/YourMacApp.xcarchive \
  -destination "generic/platform=macOS"

2. Export PKG

xcodebuild -exportArchive \
  -archivePath /tmp/YourMacApp.xcarchive \
  -exportPath /tmp/YourMacAppExport \
  -exportOptionsPlist ExportOptions.plist \
  -allowProvisioningUpdates

3. Upload PKG with asc

macOS apps export as .pkg files. Upload with asc:

asc builds upload \
  --app "APP_ID" \
  --pkg "/tmp/YourMacAppExport/YourApp.pkg" \
  --version "1.0.0" \
  --build-number "123"

Notes:

• --pkg automatically sets platform to MAC_OS.
• For .pkg uploads, --version and --build-number are required (they are not auto-extracted like IPA uploads).
• Add --wait if you want to wait for build processing to complete.

Build Number Management

Each upload requires a unique build number higher than previously uploaded builds.

In Xcode project settings:

• CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION - build number (e.g., "316")
• MARKETING_VERSION - version string (e.g., "2.2.0")

Check existing builds:

asc builds list --app "APP_ID" --platform IOS --limit 5

Troubleshooting

"No profiles for bundle ID" during export

• Add -allowProvisioningUpdates flag
• Verify your Apple ID is logged into Xcode

Build rejected for missing icon (macOS)

macOS requires ICNS format icons with all sizes:

• 16x16, 32x32, 128x128, 256x256, 512x512 (1x and 2x)

CFBundleVersion too low

The build number must be higher than any previously uploaded build. Increment CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION and rebuild.

Notes

• Always clean before archive for release builds
• Use xcodebuild -showBuildSettings to verify configuration
• For submission issues (encryption, content rights), see asc-submission-health skill