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I'd like to start doing limited beta testing of an iOS app. I know how to do regular ad-hoc distribution of my existing app, but I've had one of my potential beta users tell me that when they test other apps, they end up having a separate app installed alongside the production one. But I don't know what the other developers are doing to create this.

Do I need to burn up a fresh app ID registered with Apple (and app name that will never be real) to accomplish this for my beta users?

If so, is there a reasonable way to manage this within a single Xcode project?

Thanks from anyone with experience here. I know I'm toying with the line of "programming question", but this is certainly the community with the right expertise. Thanks! :)

Ben Zotto
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  • Possible duplicate http://stackoverflow.com/questions/40154/how-do-you-beta-test-an-iphone-app – whatnick Nov 19 '10 at 00:12
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    Thanks, but not a dupe. I know how to do ad-hoc distribution. I'd like to know how to do it with a "parallel" app. – Ben Zotto Nov 19 '10 at 00:15

1 Answers1

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Just set a different bundle identifier in your Info.plist.

Personally, I create three configurations in my project (Debug, Ad Hoc, App Store) and then define a user-defined build setting for each config (BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER) in which I set the different bundle IDs.

In my Info.plist, I can then set the bundle ID as ${BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER}.

Ole Begemann
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  • So some other bundle identifier but using a certificate with the same app ID is OK? – Ben Zotto Nov 19 '10 at 00:18
  • I am actually not sure. I usually use my wildcard app id (`.*`) for my Ad Hoc build and a regular custom App ID for the App Store build. But I think it shouldn't matter either way (unless you use features that are identified via the App ID, i.e. Push Notifications, Game Center, ...). – Ole Begemann Nov 19 '10 at 00:20
  • Thanks for the added detail here. – Ben Zotto Nov 19 '10 at 01:09
  • Works like a champ. Thanks Ole. – Ben Zotto Nov 26 '10 at 23:48