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Comment by globular-toast | Hacker News Reader

Is this iPhone? How did you distribute said app?

In the text it says: "I distributed the app to my family using TestFlight, and in TestFlight it shall remain forever: a cozy, eternal beta."

I had the same question. He says TestFlight, but he's handwaving some of the headaches of that. TF builds expire every 90 days.

The other option would be an adhoc certificate, but then you have to collect everyone's apple id.

Apple makes this kind of app distribution process more painful than it needs to be.

It should hopefully be easier in the future when side loading is possible on iOS.

Sideloading is still blocked in the US in their new releases. Only allowed where mandated (EU)

With four users that’s not as onerous as it sounds.

TestFlight is mention in the article so I guess yes, iPhone.

I'm actually surprised that TestFlight was available for this, since I recently worked on a private app and did a bit of research into how to distribute it - everything I read implied that TestFlight apps will be reviewed by Apple employees and must be apps that intend to eventually be distributed more widely (e.g. beta versions). I got the impression that an app for family or friends that wasn't set up with a plan for release at some point would be rejected.

Based on the blog post, it was created February 2020 where the rules you mentioned was not enforced yet. But around that time I believe you can also export an ipa file so anyone can install but you have to include your target’s UUID in the app signature.

It’s a more cursory review, and missing features are fine. Would be easy to slip through.

Hopefully legislation will fix this.

People are able to do things in their own home without asking Amana or GE permission and having their recipes examined and reviewed.

You can distribute to "internal" testers (people you add to your developer account) without any review process. The app is only reviewed if you want to distribute to external testers.

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