asc-xcode-build - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: asc-xcode-build description: Build, archive, and export iOS/macOS apps with xcodebuild before uploading to App Store Connect. Use when you need to create an IPA or PKG for upload.

Xcode Build and Export

Use this skill when you need to build an app from source and prepare it for upload to App Store Connect.

Preconditions

Xcode installed and command line tools configured
Valid signing identity and provisioning profiles (or automatic signing enabled)

iOS Build Flow

1. Clean and Archive

xcodebuild clean archive \
  -scheme "YourScheme" \
  -configuration Release \
  -archivePath /tmp/YourApp.xcarchive \
  -destination "generic/platform=iOS"

2. Export IPA

xcodebuild -exportArchive \
  -archivePath /tmp/YourApp.xcarchive \
  -exportPath /tmp/YourAppExport \
  -exportOptionsPlist ExportOptions.plist \
  -allowProvisioningUpdates

A minimal ExportOptions.plist for App Store distribution:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>method</key>
    <string>app-store-connect</string>
    <key>teamID</key>
    <string>YOUR_TEAM_ID</string>
</dict>
</plist>

3. Upload with asc

asc builds upload --app "APP_ID" --ipa "/tmp/YourAppExport/YourApp.ipa"

macOS Build Flow

1. Archive

xcodebuild archive \
  -scheme "YourMacScheme" \
  -configuration Release \
  -archivePath /tmp/YourMacApp.xcarchive \
  -destination "generic/platform=macOS"

2. Export PKG

xcodebuild -exportArchive \
  -archivePath /tmp/YourMacApp.xcarchive \
  -exportPath /tmp/YourMacAppExport \
  -exportOptionsPlist ExportOptions.plist \
  -allowProvisioningUpdates

3. Upload PKG

macOS apps export as .pkg files. Use xcrun altool:

xcrun altool --upload-app \
  -f "/tmp/YourMacAppExport/YourApp.pkg" \
  --type macos \
  --apiKey "$ASC_KEY_ID" \
  --apiIssuer "$ASC_ISSUER_ID"

Note: The API key file must be in ~/.appstoreconnect/private_keys/AuthKey_<KEY_ID>.p8

Build Number Management

Each upload requires a unique build number higher than previously uploaded builds.

In Xcode project settings:

CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION - build number (e.g., "316")
MARKETING_VERSION - version string (e.g., "2.2.0")

Check existing builds:

asc builds list --app "APP_ID" --platform IOS --limit 5

Troubleshooting

"No profiles for bundle ID" during export

Add -allowProvisioningUpdates flag
Verify your Apple ID is logged into Xcode

Build rejected for missing icon (macOS)

macOS requires ICNS format icons with all sizes:

16x16, 32x32, 128x128, 256x256, 512x512 (1x and 2x)

CFBundleVersion too low

The build number must be higher than any previously uploaded build. Increment CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION and rebuild.

Notes

Always clean before archive for release builds
Use xcodebuild -showBuildSettings to verify configuration
For submission issues (encryption, content rights), see asc-submission-health skill