Getting Started

  • Students will be invited to join the development team through their federated Apple ID (@appstate.edu).
    • The invite will be titled [External] You're invited to join a development team. If you know the invite has been sent, but it's not in your inbox, check your Spam.
    • The invite lasts three days, if it expires another will have to be sent. In this case, reach out to faculty for another invite. 
  • For best performance, the latest version of macOS is preferred throughout this program. 
  • Make sure to have Xcode installed on your MacBook, this is where you will upload your apps from. 

App Development Process

  • Faculty will be responsible for setting up apps in AppStoreConnect. This includes the:
    • Platform: The type of devices that will be using the application (e.g. iOS)
    • Name: Identifiable human-readable name for the application
    • Bundle ID: This is a unique identifier name for the app. Typically will be the reverse-domain name.
    • SKU: The unique identifier name for the app. Typically will be the reverse-domain name included in the Bundle ID (e.g. com.apple.com.BackyardBirds)
    • User Access: Faculty will add Users to their specified app. You will only have access to Apps that you have been given rights to. 
  • There are three main ways that Apps can be built in Xcode.
    • Already built Apps can be imported by selecting Open Existing Project if it's been downloaded onto your device. You can also use Clone Git Repository.
    • New Apps can be created through Xcode by selecting Create New Project.
       Create new project through Xcode.

Adding Your Account to Xcode

In order for App Store Connect to sync with your account, you must add your federated Apple ID to Xcode. If you try to use a separate email, you will not be given access to App Store Connect through Xcode. 

  1. Open Xcode and go to Settings.

  2. Click on the Accounts icon to go to the following page.
    Click on the accounts icon to add accounts.
  3. In the bottom left corner, there is a plus sign, click on it to open another window and select Apple ID
    Select Apple ID.
  4. After pressing Continue, you will be prompted to enter your App State email.
    Enter your App State email.
  5. Continue through the login process until you get to this screen
    Continue through steps.
  6. Make sure that APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY (EDU) is selected as the team 

    Note

    You may have to add your account more than once for Xcode to acknowledge it

  7. Once your screen looks like the above image, you have correctly added your account to Xcode. This is important as it connects Xcode with App Store Connect and enables the Uploading Process.

Uploading Apps to App Store Connect

There are a series of steps you must complete in order to upload your App for grading and any further testing using TestFlight. See the following links, in order, of how to successfully upload an App. 


Testing Created Apps

Once you have created an app and wish to test its features, there are two main routes: Xcode's Simulator and TestFlight. Xcode Simulator does not require you to upload your App to App Store Connect beforehand. As long as you have a successful build in Xcode, this option will work. TestFlight will require an upload as well as a successful build. Please see the linked documentation to learn how to test your apps.

Updating Your App

  • Versioning your App should be standardized, Faculty will let you know how they'd like you to name your App and versions
  • In App Store Connect, your App versions will show up in the order they were uploaded. This is where it's important to know what version you want to look at and/or test

Resources

FAQ

Answers to common questions about the Apple Development Program

  • "My Apple Developer invite expired"
    • Reach out to Faculty and let them know you need another invite sent to your account
  • "My Account can't be added to Xcode"
    • If you've followed the steps above, try restarting Xcode and trying to add yourself again. 
  • "I accidentally auto-generated Certificates"
    • Delete the auto-generated certificates from your keychain and ensure that you're left with the correct certificates that were originally sent to you. Restart Xcode after you have deleted the Certificates. This should make the remaining certificates go back to working. 
    • Let your Professor know about the auto-generated Certificates so they can have them deleted.
  • "I'm unable to create an account in App Store Connect after receiving an invitation"
    • Sometimes Apple's servers are unable to create a new account due to them being down.
    • If possible, wait a while before trying again.


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