iOS Question. Can I distribute the Xcode simulator versions of my app?

17
votes

I would like to send someone the Xcode simulator version - not the device version - of my iPad app. I have located the .app file in the Finder. Do I just zip it up and send it off or is it more complicated than that?

Thanks,
Doug

UPDATE

Chrisbtoo got the answer on this one however he left of some critical bits for those of you trying this at home:

Path to Xcode simulator (the simulator can be run standalone.):
/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/Applications/iPhone Simulator.app

Path to app that appears in the home screen of the simulator:
/Users/turner/Library/Application Support/iPhone Simulator/3.2/Applications/{GUID}

It is instructive to watch what happens in the app simulator directory as you build for simulation, delete apps from the simulator desktop and generally use the simulator as an actual device.

Bottom line: This is a viable approach for sharing apps in a "simulated" ad hoc manner without the mind numbing, soul sucking process of true ad hoc app sharing.

Cheers,
Doug

4
iphonexcodeios-simulatorsoftware-distribution
A couple of further notes: (1) The 3.2 part of the path is the OS version, so it won't be the same for everybody - 3.2 is for iPad. (2) It may very well be against the developer agreement for you to distribute the simulator itself, which is why I suggested your tester sign up for the free developer account. – chrisbtoo
Good point christboo. My tester will in fact sign up for an Apple dev. account. Cheers. – dugla
Is there a reason a simulator app built on a Macbook pro wouldn't work on an older iMac but would work on other Macbook pros? – MikeN
Note that with more recent versions of Xcode (starting around 4 I believe) the simulator is located here: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Applications/iOS Simulator.app – ThomasW

4 Answers

15
votes

Assuming the other person already has the simulator installed, you can just zip up the stuff under ~/Library/Application Support/iPhone Simulator/3.2/Applications/{GUID} (includes both the .app and any data directories needed) and send it to them - they'll need to unzip it under that same directory. What I've done in the past was to rename the {GUID} part to a more friendly name - the sim will still pick it up.

If they don't already have the simulator, they will need to sign up for a free iphone dev account and download Xcode, etc.

0
votes

We just put up a little tool that will help you with this. It manages both what you need on the dev side and also the tester.

Here it is

http://blog.placeit.net/ios-app-packager/

It basically creates a little zip that you can pass to the tester and it'll install the app in the right directory and also open it up for the user with the right device selected.

-5
votes

I would think you want to send the entire project folder to the other person- presumably you are expecting them to open it in their XCode- and presumably they have the sdk for the app.

-7
votes

You have to distribute via AdHoc or App Store for beta testing.

Become a developer and then look into how to do this.

You need to have a provisioning profile, and then select the UDID's for the device you want to beta test to.

Go to the iPhone Provisioning Portal

and here is a document with more detail