Building an iOS Binary (IPA)

Before you can distribute or test an iOS app, it must be compiled into a binary file known as an IPA (iOS App Store Package). This binary contains your app’s code and assets, and must be signed and provisioned correctly in order to run on devices or be submitted to the App Store.

At Median, we use your Apple credentials — such as App Store Connect API keys, certificates, and provisioning profiles — not only to enable App Store builds, but also to support quick testing. With these in place, you can build and install your app directly on an iPhone using over-the-air deployment, even if you don't have access to a Mac.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

• An active Apple Developer Program membership
  A paid Apple Developer account is required to generate the certificates and provisioning profiles needed for building and signing your app. Free Apple accounts do not support this functionality.

• An iPhone running a recent version of iOS
  To test your app on a real device, you’ll need access to an iPhone with a reasonably up-to-date iOS version (generally iOS 15 or later is recommended).