From Xcode to App Store, the Agile way Filipp Keks Swedbank @ Mobile Monday Estonia "Mobile Development requires Agile approach?", Tallinn 06.06.11

1. From Xcode to AppStore
The Agile way
Filipp Keks
© Swedbank

2. © Swedbank 2

3. The recipe
• Version control
• Continuous integration
• Build automation
• Test automation
• Business guys involved
© Swedbank

4. Apple is ANTIagile
• iOS app can only be built on Mac.
• iPhone simulator can only run on Mac with full development
environment.
• GUI parts can only be edited with Xcodes UI builder
• Apps can be installed only through AppStore
• Command line tools sometimes poorly documented.
• No automation for AppStore uploading.
• App verification by Apple staff takes from 1 week to months.
© Swedbank

5. Problem: Can only be built on Mac
• The answer is Hudsons distributed builds
– Apples command line tools + ant
© Swedbank 5

6. Problem: Can only be built on Mac (2)
Provisioning build
Development build
SVN Hudson
Simulator build
Distribution build
© Swedbank 6

7. Problem: Apps can be installed only
through AppStore
• Apple provides temporary testing certificates for max 100
devices per application.
• Solution is to apply certificates automatically during build.
• Another solution is to jailbreak :)
© Swedbank

8. Problem: GUI parts can only be edited with
Xcodes UI builder
• Business people like to change every tiny piece of text in the
application.
• If they cant do it themselves you will not have any time to
code :)
• The solution is to keep texts in text files and inject them into the
UI views using Xcodes command line ibtool during build.
© Swedbank 8

9. Installing prebuilt app on simulator
• Installing prebuilt app on simulator is not officially supported by
Apple
• Simulator can be run in command line
• Parameters are reverse engineered and available on the web
© Swedbank

10. Release automation and review delay
• Unsolved :(
© Swedbank

11. Good practices for agile iOS
developer
• Install test application on as many devices as possible before
AppStore release
• Allow business people to change app and see results without
developers being involved
• Try third party Objective C IDEs like Jetbrains Cider as an
alternative to Xcode.
• Write good reviews for your own app on AppStore :)
© Swedbank

12. Thank you!
© Swedbank 12