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Without actually loading my .xcodeproj into Xcode, is it possible, from the Xcode app, to start an app install to my iPad using the .app file only, which was generated in an earlier build?

This is my last line of inquiry... I'm just looking at potential options because I don't have a paid developer account (yet) and might try to use Teamviewer to log into the remote client Mac to install via Xcode, but do not wish to reveal my project file/code on the remote machine. Installing from within Xcode purely using the .app file would solve my problem, if possible.

Cœur
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1 Answers1

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I managed to work out a way to do it using this, this, and this. You will need the XCode command line tools, which come as part of the App Store XCode install, or you can get the command line tools only from here.

First up, download and install npm. Then install ios-deploy from the terminal,

sudo npm install -g ios-deploy --unsafe-perm --allow-root

If you need to build from the command line, make sure you have a working XCode project which builds as you want, open a terminal and go to the directory with your .xcodeproj inside, then type:

xcodebuild -list -project <NAME>.xcodeproj/
xcodebuild -scheme <SCHEME NAME> build

Then, or if you've already built in XCode and just want to deploy your .app file to the iOS device, type:

ios-deploy debug --bundle <APP PATH>

You can change debug to release, or either way it will use whatever you set your XCode build configuration to be I think. The <APP PATH> location depends on your XCode install, but the most recent location (I think) is

~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/{app name}/Build/Products/Deployment/

This will install your .app onto the iOS device from the command line, and you don't need to load XCode up, or expose your source files. Just requires the .app file. For me, this is a potentially useful way to install an app remotely on a client's device without the need for a paid developer account.