Apple Developer Account & App Store Connect: Overview
After enrolling in the Apple Developer Program, you’ll get access to your Apple Developer Account:
This is where you’ll manage all the technical aspects of your iOS app’s distribution. The most important pages include:
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Identifiers: This is where you register unique identifiers for your app, known as Bundle IDs. Each app on the App Store needs a distinct Bundle ID, which is tied to the app’s identity and used throughout the app’s lifecycle.
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Certificates: Before you can build your app and distribute it, you’ll need to create a certificate that verifies your identity as a developer. The certificate is used to sign your iOS app to ensure it’s coming from a trusted source.
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Profiles: Provisioning Profiles link your app’s App ID with your developer certificate and the specific devices you want to run your app on during development. These are essential for testing your app on physical iOS devices before submission.
Xcode can handle the generation of Certificates and Provisioning Profiles automatically, which is often faster and more convenient than doing it manually through the Apple Developer Portal. You’ll learn how to do this in the upcoming lessons.
App Store Connect Overview
As part of the iOS app release process, you’ll need to use App Store Connect to manage your app’s metadata, pricing, and submission details. App Store Connect also provides tools for tracking app analytics, reviewing sales and trends, generating financial reports, managing business information, and controlling user access and roles for team members working on your app.
In the upcoming lessons, you’ll learn how to use the these resources to release your app.