CODEWITHSUNDEEP
iosxcodeprovisioning-profileios-provisioning
Joe Benton
Joe Benton

Reputation: 3753

What are an iOS app's Compiled/Build Files?

I am delivering an iOS app for a client and they are asking for the compiled/build files for the app and not the source code or an exported .ipa. I am wondering what compiled/build files are.

Is it just the .app that is created in /products whenever I build my app or something else that I need to do? I believe they are after these files so they can sign the app with their own production provisioning profile and to create a .ipa themselves.

What is an iOS app's compiled/build files and if it is just the .app how it differs from an exported .ipa?

Upvotes: 4

Views: 5311

Answers (3)

JAL
JAL

Reputation: 42489

Although vague, it's also possible they're looking for an Xcode Archive. This includes the compiled .app file as well as symbol information. You can build an archive to seed an application for testing or to validate and submit an application to iTunes Connect. If they want to submit or distribute the app without the source code, this is how you would do it.

Upvotes: 1

wottle
wottle

Reputation: 13650

I bet they are wanting the .app. Unfortunately, since they are being relatively vague with their request, I think you should confirm this with them. I wouldn't feel uncomfortable asking, because their terminology is not some universally accepted way of refering to some method of building iOS applications. Or, if you can find out what they plan to do with the compiled binary, that might help understand what they need.

FYI, here's a brief description of the difference between a .app or .ipa.

Upvotes: 1

user5168738
user5168738

Reputation:

"Building" is a fairly general term, and it can refer to anything that is needed to go from editable source material (source code, scripts, raw data files, etc.) to a shippable software product. Building can (and usually does) involve several steps, such as pre-processing, compiling, linking, converting data files, running automated tests, packaging, etc.

"Compiling" is more specific, and almost invariably refers to a process that takes source code as its input, and outputs something runnable, typically machine code for either a physical or virtual machine, or source code in a different language.

Upvotes: 1

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