asc-release-flow

name

asc-release-flow

description

End-to-end release workflows for TestFlight and App Store using asc publish, builds, versions, and submit commands. Use when uploading a build to App Store Connect, distributing to TestFlight beta testers, submitting to App Store review, managing iOS/macOS/visionOS/tvOS releases, or running multi-platform releases. Triggers: "upload build", "distribute TestFlight", "submit to App Store", "asc publish", "release flow", "App Store submission", "TestFlight distribute", "upload IPA", "upload PKG".

Release flow (TestFlight and App Store)

Use this skill when you need to get a new build into TestFlight or submit to the App Store.

Iron Law

NEVER UPLOAD A BUILD WITHOUT VERIFYING ENCRYPTION COMPLIANCE IS RESOLVED AND BUILD NUMBER IS UNIQUE

Run asc-submission-health preflight checks before any App Store submission. Use asc-id-resolver to resolve all IDs before running release commands.

Preconditions

• Ensure credentials are set (asc auth login or ASC_* env vars).
• Use a new build number for each upload.
• Prefer ASC_APP_ID or pass --app explicitly.
• Build must have encryption compliance resolved (see asc-submission-health skill).

iOS Release

Preferred end-to-end commands

• TestFlight:
  • asc publish testflight --app <APP_ID> --ipa <PATH> --group <GROUP_ID>[,<GROUP_ID>]
  • Optional: --wait, --notify, --platform, --poll-interval, --timeout
• App Store:
  • asc publish appstore --app <APP_ID> --ipa <PATH> --version <VERSION>
  • Optional: --wait, --submit --confirm, --platform, --poll-interval, --timeout

Manual sequence (when you need more control)

1. Upload the build:
   • asc builds upload --app <APP_ID> --ipa <PATH>
2. Find the build ID if needed:
   • asc builds latest --app <APP_ID> [--version <VERSION>] [--platform <PLATFORM>]
3. TestFlight distribution:
   • asc builds add-groups --build <BUILD_ID> --group <GROUP_ID>[,<GROUP_ID>]
4. App Store attach + submit:
   • asc versions attach-build --version-id <VERSION_ID> --build <BUILD_ID>
   • asc submit create --app <APP_ID> --version <VERSION> --build <BUILD_ID> --confirm
5. Check or cancel submission:
   • asc submit status --id <SUBMISSION_ID> or --version-id <VERSION_ID>
   • asc submit cancel --id <SUBMISSION_ID> --confirm

macOS Release

macOS apps are distributed as .pkg files, not .ipa.

Build and Export

See asc-xcode-build skill for full build/archive/export workflow.

Upload PKG

Upload the exported .pkg using asc:

asc builds upload \
  --app <APP_ID> \
  --pkg <PATH_TO_PKG> \
  --version <VERSION> \
  --build-number <BUILD_NUMBER> \
  --wait

Notes:

• --pkg automatically sets platform to MAC_OS.
• asc publish appstore currently supports --ipa workflows; for macOS .pkg, use asc builds upload --pkg + attach/submit steps below.

Attach and Submit

Same as iOS, but use --platform MAC_OS:

# Wait for build to process
asc builds list --app <APP_ID> --platform MAC_OS --limit 5

# Attach to version
asc versions attach-build --version-id <VERSION_ID> --build <BUILD_ID>

# Create submission
asc review submissions-create --app <APP_ID> --platform MAC_OS

# Add version item
asc review items-add \
  --submission <SUBMISSION_ID> \
  --item-type appStoreVersions \
  --item-id <VERSION_ID>

# Submit
asc review submissions-submit --id <SUBMISSION_ID> --confirm

visionOS / tvOS Release

Same as iOS flow, use appropriate --platform:

• VISION_OS
• TV_OS

Multi-Platform Release

When releasing the same version across platforms:

1. Upload each platform's build separately
2. Create version for each platform if not exists
3. Attach builds to respective versions
4. Submit each platform separately (or together via reviewSubmissions API)

Pre-submission Checklist

Before submitting, verify:

• Build status is VALID (not processing)
• Encryption compliance resolved
• Content rights declaration set
• Copyright field populated
• All localizations complete
• Screenshots present

See asc-submission-health skill for detailed preflight checks.

Notes

• Always use --help to verify flags for the exact command.
• Use --output table / --output markdown for human-readable output; default is JSON.
• macOS builds require ITSAppUsesNonExemptEncryption in Info.plist to avoid encryption issues.

Documentation Sources

Source	How to Access	Purpose
asc CLI help	asc publish --help, asc builds --help, asc submit --help	Current flags for upload and submission commands
asc-submission-health skill	Load skill	Preflight checklist before any App Store submission
XcodeBuildMCP	build_sim, build_run_sim tools	Build and export IPA before upload