OTA Beta App Deployment

General (non-technical) Off-Topic
#1

Found this great tool to assist in creating HTML files for OTA deployment from a webserver:
http://www.hanchorllc.com/2010/08/24/introducing-ios-beta-builder/

Scenario:
You have multiple testers or clients who need to see regular previews of the app.

Problem:
Emailing large files to each individual for every incremental version release. Recipients may have difficulty using iTunes/Xcode for installation or may not have immediate access to a PC.

Solution:
Users can install the app OTA by visiting your webserver on Safari

  1. Create a directory called “Payload”
  2. Copy app file into Payload
  3. Zip Payload directory (must be done on a Mac)
  4. Rename zip file as appname.ipa
  5. Use Beta Builder tool to create necessary HTML files
  6. Drop the whole lot into your webserver
  7. Recipients visit URL via Safari and install app OTA

Step 5 only needs to be done once - I just replace the exiting ipa file on the web server. I also have the web folder linked into dropbox so it gets updated automatically.

The HTML is also easily editable so that you can have versioning information for users to read too.

You don’t need to use the Beta Builder tool after you have the HTML code you can just edit it to suit your needs - it’s just convenient. [import]uid: 11393 topic_id: 5193 reply_id: 305193[/import]

#2

cool thanks for the link, this looks really useful [import]uid: 12108 topic_id: 5193 reply_id: 17253[/import]

#3

This is pretty cool, I just signed up for TestFlight, and it’s a free service that works very well for sending out betas/pre-releases.

www.testflightapp.com

No affiliation to company or product. Just a happy dev. [import]uid: 6084 topic_id: 5193 reply_id: 21979[/import]

#4

+1 for TestFlight, been working really well for me so far. [import]uid: 5833 topic_id: 5193 reply_id: 21981[/import]

#5

Thanks bedhouin ! Awesome ! [import]uid: 3638 topic_id: 5193 reply_id: 83558[/import]

#6

Testflight is the way to go in my mind.

It sends out emails to the team, gathers stats in order to know who installed and who didn’t and helps registering devices and gathering UUID’s from users.

best of all - it’s a free service :slight_smile:

My 2 cents [import]uid: 13553 topic_id: 5193 reply_id: 83563[/import]

#7

TF is a great solution and it’s definitely easier to get running. If you want your own inhouse TF style server this is how it’s done.

We use this method because we want more control over the deployment and have a script that automates the process in one click. Since it’s working locally it’s instant and we use this to test on local devices instead of iTunes.

And because it’s off our own servers we have logins for clients which displays a customised download page for them and sends an SMS link to the download whenever there are new installations.

[import]uid: 11393 topic_id: 5193 reply_id: 83687[/import]

#8

Hey! I read this thread and it seems very useful. Does it integrate with Corona SDK or just with Xcode created apps? Best, Helena

#9

Hey! I read this thread and it seems very useful. Does it integrate with Corona SDK or just with Xcode created apps? Best, Helena