Xcode build and export

Use this skill when you need to build an app from source and prepare it for App Store Connect. Prefer asc xcode archive and asc xcode export over raw xcodebuild recipes when they fit the project.

Preconditions

• Xcode and command line tools are installed.
• Signing identity and provisioning profiles are available, or automatic signing is enabled.
• App Store Connect auth is configured when upload or build lookup is needed.

Manage version and build numbers

bash
asc xcode version view
asc xcode version edit --version "1.3.0" --build-number "42"
asc xcode version edit --next-build-number --app "APP_ID" --platform IOS
asc xcode version bump --type build
asc xcode version bump --type patch
asc xcode version bump --type build --next-build-number --app "APP_ID" --platform IOS

Use --project-dir "./MyApp" when not running from the project root. Use --project "./MyApp/App.xcodeproj" when the directory contains multiple projects. Use --target "App" and --configuration "Release" for deterministic reads and writes in multi-target or multi-configuration projects.

To avoid low build-number rejects, resolve and apply the remote-safe build number in one command:

bash
asc xcode version edit --next-build-number --app "APP_ID" --platform IOS --output json

Version mutations validate the full change before writing and return structured output identifying the configurations and files changed. The editor follows recursive xcconfig includes and preserves unrelated project and xcconfig content. Use asc builds next-build-number separately when you only want to inspect the remote-safe value without changing the project.

Version commands read project and xcconfig settings without launching Xcode. When those settings cannot resolve the version values, the default --xcodebuild-settings-lookup auto falls back to xcodebuild -showBuildSettings and warns on stderr. Use --xcodebuild-settings-lookup never in automation that must not launch Xcode implicitly.

Preferred iOS/tvOS/visionOS build flow

1. Archive with asc

bash
asc xcode archive \
  --workspace "App.xcworkspace" \
  --scheme "App" \
  --configuration Release \
  --clean \
  --archive-path ".asc/artifacts/App.xcarchive" \
  --xcodebuild-flag=-destination \
  --xcodebuild-flag=generic/platform=iOS \
  --output json

Use --project "App.xcodeproj" instead of --workspace for project-only apps.

2. Export with asc

By default, asc xcode export generates App Store Connect export options with automatic signing. It uses a local export destination unless --wait is set, in which case it uses direct upload:

bash
asc xcode export \
  --archive-path ".asc/artifacts/App.xcarchive" \
  --ipa-path ".asc/artifacts/App.ipa" \
  --xcodebuild-flag=-allowProvisioningUpdates \
  --output json

Generate a plist separately when it needs review, reuse, or manual signing:

bash
asc xcode export-options generate \
  --archive-path ".asc/artifacts/App.xcarchive" \
  --output-path ".asc/ExportOptions.plist" \
  --output json

For manual signing, add --signing-style manual and optionally --team-id "TEAM_ID". Existing files require --overwrite.

To upload directly through Xcode and wait for App Store Connect processing, omit --export-options and add --wait:

bash
asc xcode export \
  --archive-path ".asc/artifacts/App.xcarchive" \
  --ipa-path ".asc/artifacts/App.ipa" \
  --wait \
  --output json

3. Upload or publish

Upload an exported IPA:

bash
asc builds upload --app "APP_ID" --ipa ".asc/artifacts/App.ipa" --wait

Distribute to TestFlight:

bash
asc publish testflight --app "APP_ID" --ipa ".asc/artifacts/App.ipa" --group "GROUP_ID" --wait

Publish to the App Store:

bash
asc publish appstore --app "APP_ID" --ipa ".asc/artifacts/App.ipa" --version "1.2.3" --wait
asc publish appstore --app "APP_ID" --ipa ".asc/artifacts/App.ipa" --version "1.2.3" --wait --submit --confirm

macOS App Store flow

Archive with the helper:

bash
asc xcode archive \
  --project "MacApp.xcodeproj" \
  --scheme "MacApp" \
  --configuration Release \
  --clean \
  --archive-path ".asc/artifacts/MacApp.xcarchive" \
  --xcodebuild-flag=-destination \
  --xcodebuild-flag=generic/platform=macOS \
  --output json

If your macOS export produces a .pkg, use Xcode export with your ExportOptions.plist, then upload the package:

bash
xcodebuild -exportArchive \
  -archivePath ".asc/artifacts/MacApp.xcarchive" \
  -exportPath ".asc/artifacts/MacAppExport" \
  -exportOptionsPlist "ExportOptions.plist" \
  -allowProvisioningUpdates

asc builds upload \
  --app "APP_ID" \
  --pkg ".asc/artifacts/MacAppExport/MacApp.pkg" \
  --version "1.0.0" \
  --build-number "123" \
  --wait

For .pkg uploads, --version and --build-number are required because they are not auto-extracted like IPA metadata.

Raw xcodebuild fallback

Use raw xcodebuild only when neither asc xcode archive --help nor asc xcode export --help covers a project-specific option. Prefer passing extra arguments through --xcodebuild-flag first.

bash
xcodebuild -showBuildSettings -scheme "App"

Troubleshooting

No profiles for bundle ID during export

• Add --xcodebuild-flag=-allowProvisioningUpdates to asc xcode export.
• Verify the Apple ID is logged into Xcode.
• Verify profiles with the asc-signing-setup skill.

CFBundleVersion too low

bash
asc xcode version edit --next-build-number --app "APP_ID" --platform IOS

Then rebuild and upload again.

Build rejected for missing macOS icon

macOS requires ICNS icons with all required sizes. Fix the asset catalog, rebuild, then export/upload again.

Notes

• Prefer asc xcode archive and asc xcode export for deterministic local artifacts.
• Use --overwrite only when replacing existing local artifacts intentionally.
• Use --wait on upload/publish paths when the next step depends on processed builds.
• For submission readiness, use asc-submission-health.