development
Xcode Cloud
Apple's continuous integration and delivery service built into Xcode that automates building, testing, and distributing apps.
Xcode Cloud is Apple’s continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) service integrated directly into Xcode and App Store Connect. It automates the process of building, testing, and distributing apps across Apple platforms, allowing development teams to focus on writing code rather than managing build infrastructure.
Key Features
- Automated builds - triggered by source code changes, pull requests, schedules, or manual requests
- Parallel testing - run tests across multiple simulated devices and OS versions simultaneously
- TestFlight integration - automatically distribute successful builds to testers through TestFlight
- App Store Connect integration - submit builds directly for App Store review
- Cloud-based infrastructure - no need to maintain local build servers or configure build machines
How It Works
Developers define workflows in Xcode that specify when to build, what tests to run, and where to distribute successful builds. Xcode Cloud connects to your source code repository (GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket), pulls the latest code, builds the project on Apple’s cloud infrastructure, runs your test suite, and distributes the result based on your configuration.
Benefits for Teams
Xcode Cloud handles code signing automatically using cloud-managed certificates. It provides a shared build history visible to the entire team through App Store Connect. Teams can catch issues earlier by running tests on every commit and deliver new builds to testers without manual intervention.