How to make a physical iPhone to appear as a target

[simon.schvartzman]

Hi guys, since I started developing with LC I was hoping to have the possibility to download an APP to a physical iPhone as easy as it is with an Android device, meaning selecting the device in the Test Target dropdown, clicking the Test button and viola!!!

Until now I was under the impression this was not possible and in order to download the APP to the physical iOS device one had to go through Xcode or Apple Configurator 2.

Surprise: my dear friend @trevix is able to do it, we just don't know how

I have tried to reproduce his setup (Catalina + LC 9.6.6 RC2 + Xcode 12.4 ) with mine (Big Sur + LC 9.6.6 RC2 + Xcode 12.4 + Xcode 13.2.1) but for some reason in my case LC doesn't see my iPhone.

Any suggestions? Are other readers able to do as @trevix?

I guess we all would agree that having this option would be a great productivity gain.

Thanks

[richmond62]

Read it and gnash your teeth:

https://www.macrumors.com/2021/11/11/io ... -answered/

And here (2016) are a few "dirty" tricks that may work:

https://osxdaily.com/2016/01/12/howto-s ... pad-xcode/

[FourthWorld]

Sideloading would be a great option to have, allowing bespoke apps used internally within an organization to enjoy significant time savings (translating to cost savings) with streamlined rapid, iterative deployments.

Apple does offer a program for such deployments, but the installation method still requires cumbersome paperwork and setup, far more onerous than simply turning on sideloading and then turning it off again as Android offers.

If you want a custom app for your restaurant's wait staff, or your retail staff's inventory, or any other of the thousands of vertical opportunities for internal apps, Apple's requirements suggest you use a competing platform, with the additional benefit of lower hardware costs and greater variety of hardware options.

For public deployments many segments are migrating to the web. While Apple's storage limitations for browsers impose some unnecessary constraints, progressive web apps are increasingly a go-to for devs looking for streamlined rapid deployment.

If a project absolutely requires a native app, and requires support for that one brand of smart phone, the best recommendation at this time would be to do whatever they tell you to do. Their ToS gives them absolute control over what a user may be allowed to do with the device they purchased, and the OS vendor has the means to disable even third-party apps remotely if they choose.

Any app not conformant with what they describe as their security model is at risk.

I would not recommend any installation method outside the ones offered by the OS vendor.

[richmond62]

Richard Stallman was right, and Apple, despite producing products we know and love, does suffer from seriously overwheening dictatorial tendencies.

I own my Macintosh computers, and having either paid for them or been given them, dislike being told what to do with them, or forced to conform to what the ghost of Steve Jobs and his spiritual heirs say I have to do.

[simon.schvartzman]

Hi guys, many thanks for your replies which confirm my initial understanding that there is no way to download an App from LC to the iOS Device with just one click.

But (there is always a but) my Italian friend (@trevix) has a setup that seems to contradicts the above...he does have a working setup...

Will wait for him to show us his magic.

[FourthWorld]

But (there is always a but) my Italian friend (@trevix) has a setup that seems to contradicts the above...he does have a working setup...

Will wait for him to show us his magic.

What is possible is always a superset of what is permissible.

Learn what you can, evaluate the risks, choose wisely.

[trevix]

Don't ask me why (it wasn't doing it before) but this works on OSX10.15.7. Xcode 12.4, iOS 14.4.2, LC 9.6.6Rc2
It even works over WiFi!
https://youtu.be/ONBQrlKWTIk

[SWEdeAndy]

Hi guys, many thanks for your replies which confirm my initial understanding that there is no way to download an App from LC to the iOS Device with just one click.

On the contrary, it works very well! Like in Trevix' video. I do it all the time. I can't remember if I did anything special to set it up. It's definitely no "hack" and it certainly permissible. If you can deploy to the simulator you should be able to deploy to your cabled iPhone too, if you have an LC Business/Pro license.

But first you'll also need to add the device's Unique Device Identifier (UDID) in your Apple Dev account (section Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles).

I'm currently on macOS 12.1 (Monterey), Xcode 13.2.1, LC 9.6.6Rc1 (Pro), but I've used this possibility for several years on earlier systems.

[simon.schvartzman]

Hi Andreas, I'm afraid the answer to my issue is when you say:

If you can deploy to the simulator you should be able to deploy to your cabled iPhone too, if you have an LC Business/Pro license.

I can deploy to the simulator but I own "just" an Indy license. Could it be the reason?

About

It's possible that adding the device's Unique Device Identifier (UDID) in your Apple Dev account (section Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles) is also necessary, but I'm not sure.

My device UDID is already included in my Apple account...

[trevix]

I have an Indy licence with the Pro-Pack. Could be this?

[SWEdeAndy]

I have an Indy licence with the Pro-Pack. Could be this?

Indeed, I believe the Pro pack is the key to this. It seems connected to the Remote Debugger feature, where the LC website describes the ability to deploy straight to device as "a huge bonus" when using remote debugging.

Well yeah, I use that "bonus" much more often than I use the remote debugging feature, so maybe LC should highlight this as a feature of it's own, to promote the Pro pack.

[simon.schvartzman]

Makes sense, anyone from the mothership can clarify if this is the case?

Thanks