Build unsigned iOS ipa to install via Sideloadly!

#mobiledevelopment #reactnative #expo #consulting

Recently during the development it would require to test Apple Enclave with public/private key generation, since we are using Expo / React Native. I wanted to have the close enough build to the real app and don’t deliver the app to TestFlight by reducing the amount of time for the development.

Yes, used claude code to make the script but anyway it worked well for me and decided to share it.

Justfile

# iOS Build Configuration
app_name := "PushUP"
workspace := "ios/${app_name}.xcworkspace"
scheme := "${app_name}"
configuration := "Release"
archive_path := "build/${app_name}.xcarchive"
export_path := "build/ipa"
bundle_id := "co.bitscorp.pushup"

# Default recipe - shows available commands
default:
    @just --list

# Deep clean (closes Xcode and cleans everything)
clean:
    #!/usr/bin/env bash
    set -e
    echo "🧹 Deep cleaning (closing Xcode)..."
    # Close Xcode if running
    killall Xcode 2>/dev/null || true
    sleep 2
    # Clean everything
    rm -rf build/
    rm -rf ios/build/
    rm -rf ios/Pods
    rm -rf ios/Podfile.lock
    rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/${app_name}*
    echo "✅ Deep clean complete"

# Build without archiving (for testing)
build:
    #!/usr/bin/env bash
    set -euo pipefail
    echo "🔨 Building project..."
    # Source Xcode environment for Node binary
    if [ -f ios/.xcode.env.local ]; then
        source ios/.xcode.env.local
    elif [ -f ios/.xcode.env ]; then
        source ios/.xcode.env
    fi
    export NODE_BINARY
    xcodebuild build \
        -workspace {{workspace}} \
        -scheme {{scheme}} \
        -configuration {{configuration}} \
        -sdk iphoneos \
        -destination 'generic/platform=iOS' \
        -allowProvisioningUpdates \
        CODE_SIGN_STYLE=Automatic \
        ONLY_ACTIVE_ARCH=NO

# Archive the iOS app
archive:
    #!/usr/bin/env bash
    set -euo pipefail
    echo "📦 Creating archive..."
    # Source Xcode environment for Node binary
    if [ -f ios/.xcode.env.local ]; then
        source ios/.xcode.env.local
    elif [ -f ios/.xcode.env ]; then
        source ios/.xcode.env
    fi
    export NODE_BINARY
    xcodebuild archive \
        -workspace {{workspace}} \
        -scheme {{scheme}} \
        -configuration {{configuration}} \
        -sdk iphoneos \
        -destination 'generic/platform=iOS' \
        -archivePath {{archive_path}} \
        -allowProvisioningUpdates \
        CODE_SIGN_STYLE=Automatic \
        ONLY_ACTIVE_ARCH=NO


# Extract IPA from archive without code signing (for Sideloadly)
export-unsigned:
    #!/usr/bin/env bash
    set -euo pipefail
    echo "📱 Creating unsigned IPA from archive for Sideloadly..."
    if [ ! -d {{archive_path}} ]; then
        echo "❌ Archive not found at {{archive_path}}"
        exit 1
    fi

    # Find the .app in the archive
    APP_PATH=$(find {{archive_path}}/Products/Applications -name "*.app" -maxdepth 1 | head -n 1)
    if [ -z "$APP_PATH" ]; then
        echo "❌ No .app found in archive"
        exit 1
    fi

    APP_NAME=$(basename "$APP_PATH")
    IPA_NAME="${APP_NAME%.app}.ipa"

    echo "Found app: $APP_NAME"

    # Create Payload directory
    rm -rf {{export_path}}/Payload
    mkdir -p {{export_path}}/Payload

    # Copy .app to Payload
    cp -r "$APP_PATH" {{export_path}}/Payload/

    # Create IPA (which is just a zip file)
    cd {{export_path}}
    rm -f "$IPA_NAME"
    zip -r "$IPA_NAME" Payload
    rm -rf Payload

    echo "✅ Unsigned IPA created at {{export_path}}/$IPA_NAME"


# Full build: clean, archive, and export for Development
ios: build archive export-unsigned
    @echo "✅ Done at {{export_path}}"J