ExpoKit Fastlane
This project is deprecated in favor of
eas buildwhich does almost everything here automatically.
You probably enjoy the luxurious expo build:ios command but if you upgrade/eject to add custom native modules then you need a new approach. Here is my favorite way to upload to the app store on iOS.
I use the
produce&deliversteps in vanilla Expo too!
Starting from the beginning
But First! This will not work without a paid Apple Developer account
Create an Expo project
$ expo init
> ? Choose a project name: expokit-fastlane-example
> ? Choose a template: expo-template-blank
> ? Yarn v1.12.3 found. Use Yarn to install dependencies? Yes
Then enter the folder
$ cd expokit-fastlane-example/Commit 😁
expokit-fastlane-example $ git add .; git commit -m "init"Eject
expokit-fastlane-example $ expo eject
? How would you like to eject from create-react-native-app?
> ExpoKit: I'll create or log in with an Expo account to use React Native and the Expo SDK.
? What would you like your iOS bundle identifier to be?
> com.evanbacon.expokitfastlane
? What would you like your Android package name to be?
> com.evanbacon.expokitfastlane
Commit 😊
expokit-fastlane-example $ git add .; git commit -m "ejected"Enter the ios folder
expokit-fastlane-example $ cd iosFastlane init
ios $ fastlane init
? What would you like to use fastlane for?
1. 📸 Automate screenshots
2. 👩✈️ Automate beta distribution to TestFlight
3. 🚀 Automate App Store distribution
4. 🛠 Manual setup - manually setup your project to automate your tasks
> 3
? Apple ID Username:
> [email protected]
I got this error, then I changed the ID, and still got it n in the next bit cuz I think it's a fastlane bug.
It looks like the app 'com.bacon.expokitfastlane' isn't available on the Apple Developer Portal for the team ID 'QQ57RJ5UTD' on Apple ID '[email protected]'
? Do you want fastlane to create the App ID for you on the Apple Developer Portal? (y/n):
> n$ [22:49:14]: --- ✅ Successfully generated fastlane configuration ---
Then just hit enter a bunch of times...
Commit 😏
expokit-fastlane-example $ git add .; git commit -m "fastlane init"Create the App Entry
At this point you should have a new folder ios/fastlane/ with a Fastfile & Appfile. Ideally we want a Deliverfile & Matchfile too.
If you hit the bundle ID snag then you need to create an app in Appstore Connect (formerly iTunes Connect). This is very easy, or at least it should be.
ios $ fastlane produce init
You may need to sign-in to your account, sometimes it'll just auto authenticate.
? App Name:
> ExpoKit Fastlane
Now you've Successfully created new app 'ExpoKit Fastlane' on App Store Connect with ID!
You won't see any git changes but if you go to AppStore Connect you should see a new app created and ready for you!
Setup Metadata with Deliver
This part is cool:
You can use this in vanilla Expo or ExpoKit!
ios $ fastlane deliver initYou may need to sign in, note that I'm running all of these commands in ios/. If you don't then you will need to specify the bundle ID.
Commit 😕
expokit-fastlane-example $ git add .; git commit -m "fastlane deliver init"Deliver
At this point you can type fastlane deliver and it will push all of the blank metadata to the App Store entry.
Code Sign with Match
Now we need to do our code signing. If you know any iOS developer, you've probably seen the sadness luming deep in their solemn gaze. This is because of iOS code signing; a digital signature system that has a few less-than simple steps.
Translation: it's fucking bullshit.
But we can skip the entire process with one line!
fastlane match init
This will ask you for the URL to a private repo. I think you can get a free one on gitlab. If you have a paid Github account you can make as many as you want. (
Name the repo something like project-certificates or whatever you want.
If your computer is setup with SSH then you should use the git URL, otherwise the https one is aight too.
? URL of the Git Repo:
> [email protected]:EvanBacon/expokit-fastlane-example-certificates.git
Now you should have a ios/Matchfile
Just to be safe, make sure your "Automatically manage signing" option in the general tab of your ios/<project>.xcworkspace project is UNCHECKED and after we run the next two commands, you'll want to select the eligible profiles.
If you've already messed with your signing then check out this neat command MATCH NUKE
Configure the Certs
Certs = certificates
😗
fastlane match appstore
? Passphrase for Git Repo:
> writingTutorialsOnFridayNightIsCool
# [23:45:45]: All required keys, certificates and provisioning profiles are installed 🙌
Now run this (you need both)
fastlane match development
# [23:46:48]: All required keys, certificates and provisioning profiles are installed 🙌
From the docs:
This will create a new certificate and provisioning profile (if required) and store them in your Git repo. If you previously ran match it will automatically install the existing profiles from the Git repo.
The provisioning profiles are installed in ~/Library/MobileDevice/Provisioning Profiles while the certificates and private keys are installed in your Keychain.
Install Pods
You can prolly skip this (entire tutorial).
In ios/ run pod install to download all of the dependencies.
Should I Commit the Pods
TL;DR: Cocoapods officially say "commit ur shit boi"
After you install your libs you may notice a lot of extra files in your git repo. Cocoapods have a ios/Podfile.lock that is generated after running pod install, this file should always be committed. You can use this file to regenerate your ios/Pods/ folder.
React Native pods are usually always "development pods" which means they are local. Specifically they are stored in the node_modules folders. Because of this, there is a lot of ambiguity over wheather or not you should commit the ios/Pods/.
I don't save them, I have commitment issues
Publish
Finally we're done!
In ios/ run fastlane release to generate the .ipa file
Update the Metadata
You can also run fastlane deliver to push all of your local metadata. I usually set the categories in the app store connect website then run fastlane deliver download_metadata which downloads the metadata into the local copy. This is cool because you can git commit the files. You can push up the data faster with fastlane deliver --skip_binary_upload --skip_screenshots also --force to skip the HTML preview.
OTA Updates
Use expo publish to upload your JS changes whenever you want. If you change native code, or update the Expo version, or use a different release channel - the changes may not (won't) show up. The CLI should warn you about this.
Commit 🙁
expokit-fastlane-example $ git add .; git commit -m "fastlane deliver init"Extra Credit
Here are a couple of other things I do to make life easy.
Setup notifications
I use this library: https://www.npmjs.com/package/expo-firebase-messaging the instructions are something like fastlane pem then upload the files to firebase. By default this will produce prod keys, you can add --development to get the development pods
Add a Deliverfile
Create a file ios/Deliverfile I usually just do the following. The last line is really the only extra functionality, everything else is added convenience (which is pretty important if you're lazy and sloppy like me)
app_identifier "com.bacon.expokitfastlane" # The bundle identifier of your app
username "[email protected]" # your Apple ID user
copyright "#{Time.now.year} Evan Bacon"I usually have a git submodule for ios/fastlane/metadata/trade_representative_contact_information because it's my business data and it never changes.
Patch Functions
You can add patch functions to your Fastfile if you want. It's a popular thing, I never use it though
desc "Increment the app version patch"
lane :bumpPatch do
increment_version_number(
bump_type: "patch"
)
end
desc "Increment the app version minor"
lane :bumpMinor do
increment_version_number(
bump_type: "minor"
)
end
desc "Increment the app version major"
lane :bumpMajor do
increment_version_number(
bump_type: "major"
)
endFin
That's it for now follow @baconbrix