Automatic Apple TestFlight upload

Question

Now that Apple is shutting down (the old) TestFlight, I've started to look at their own TestFlight implementation.

Is there any way to submit a binary to Apple via a script? Maybe via "Application Loader"? I'd like to integrate this into a CI system.

Edit: I was able to control Application Loader via AppleScript and an unfinished version of the script is here: https://gist.github.com/maciekish/88fb6935c3d2a213b1d2

The new question is how can i build an .ipa file to give to Application Loader in a post archive script?

Answer 1

I struggled a lot and finally I configured TeamCity and TestFlight and uploaded generated IPA from team city onto test flight using following script. This is Application Loader command line tool

/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Applications/Application\ Loader.app/Contents/Frameworks/ITunesSoftwareService.framework/Support/altool --upload-app -f %system.teamcity.build.workingDir%/Build/IPA/**IPA_NAME**.ipa -u '**TESTFLIGHT_USER_NAME**' -p '**TESTFLIGHT_PASSWORD**'

Answer 2

Apple has published APIs for app store connect. By using these APIs you can automate TestFlight related operations like add/delete testers or submit build for review etc. You can find more details here: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appstoreconnectapi/testflight

Answer 3

Both fastlane and nomad provide excellent command-line resources for building & uploading binaries (among other things).

Answer 4

I know it's completely outdated, but for those who come across this post in the future.

Yes you can automate the upload process by using the Application Loader command-line tool called altool:

http://help.apple.com/itc/apploader/#/apdATD1E53-D1E1A1303-D1E53A1126

The syntax for uploading the .ipa file is:

altool --upload-app -f [path_to_file] -u [username] -p [password]

This tool requires a Mac, but you can always rent a mac from macincloud.com (not related) and automate the process with a CI server like Jenkins or so.