Architecturally, how are iPhone applications installed from the AppStore?

Question

When we hit that "install now" button via the AppStore, I am curious what is the process behind getting the app onto the iPhone?

Does it download a compressed zip? pkg? and does a XCOPY equivalent ?

Answer 1

It downloads an IPA file which is technically a zipped file that contains the app along with DRM signatures and other stuff. It deploys the app by copying the folder to /var/mobile/Applications/{GUID}/.