Corey Floyd
Corey Floyd

Reputation: 25969

Can I install an app to the simulator without the source code?

I have a client who wants to just drag and drop the binary to run it in the simulator.

I want to build the simulator app and email it to them.

What can the client do to install this in the simulator?

Is this possible?

Thanks for any help.

Upvotes: 25

Views: 31606

Answers (5)

Ely
Ely

Reputation: 9141

If you have the correct binaries for an app, you can install the app via drag-and-drop in a running simulator.

More info can be found here: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/installing-your-app-in-many-simulator-platforms-and-versions

Upvotes: 0

SaRaVaNaN DM
SaRaVaNaN DM

Reputation: 4410

You can, by executing the command below in the Terminal app.

xcrun simctl install {simulator_udid} {path of .app file}

It will install the .app file in the referenced simulator.

Note: Make sure that the .app file is built for the simulator (i.e. i386 or x86_64).

Upvotes: 21

prethushpj
prethushpj

Reputation: 1

I had the same need and worked on the issue in iOS 5 simulator.

You need to run the application at least once. Then you can find your application under the folder path

~/Library/Application Support/iPhone Simulator/'simulator version'/Applications/

The folders will have a hashed name. Find the folder which contains your application and just copy the AppName.app file from that folder. Now you can send that file to your clients.

The clients will to make a folder under the same folder path as mentioned above with any name and copy the AppName.app file and just open the simulator. voila... they will see the app installed in simulator.

Upvotes: 0

Chris
Chris

Reputation: 748

As the poster before me has stated you will find the apps in this folder:

~/Library/Application Support/iPhone Simulator/User/Applications/

I needed to copy the following two files:

  • A folder with a cryptic name (seams to be some hash)
  • And a file with the same name as the folder and the .sb suffix

Put them in the same place on your second computer and start the simulator there:

/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/Applications

I have tested this on my work computer and on my home computer which has no certificates installed.

Upvotes: 4

MystikSpiral
MystikSpiral

Reputation: 5028

As long as they are on the same version of the target O/S as you you should be fine. Look here on your local machine:

~/Library/Application Support/iPhone Simulator/User/Applications/

That is where the apps are stored.

Watch this directory and grab everything that is added when you install the app. Then you can zip those materials and have your client un-zip them under the same path.

Upvotes: 9

Related Questions