AWS CodeBuild for macOS provides assist for Fastlane

AWS CodeBuild for macOS provides assist for Fastlane


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I’m happy to announce the provision of Fastlane in your AWS CodeBuild for macOS environments. AWS CodeBuild is a totally managed steady integration service that compiles supply code, runs assessments, and produces ready-to-deploy software program packages.

Fastlane is an open supply device suite designed to automate varied elements of cell utility growth. It supplies cell utility builders with a centralized set of instruments to handle duties similar to code signing, screenshot technology, beta distribution, and app retailer submissions. It integrates with well-liked steady integration and steady deployment (CI/CD) platforms and helps each iOS and Android growth workflows. Though Fastlane provides vital automation capabilities, builders might encounter challenges throughout its setup and upkeep. Configuring Fastlane may be complicated, notably for groups unfamiliar with the syntax and package deal administration system of Ruby. Preserving Fastlane and its dependencies updated requires ongoing effort, as a result of updates to cell platforms or third-party companies might necessitate changes to current workflows.

When we launched CodeBuild for macOS in August 2024, we knew that one in all your challenges was to put in and keep Fastlane in your construct atmosphere. Though it was potential to manually set up Fastlane in a customized construct atmosphere, at AWS, we take away the undifferentiated heaving lifting out of your infrastructure so you’ll be able to spend extra time on the elements that matter for your enterprise. Beginning at present, Fastlane is put in by default, and you should use the acquainted command fastlane constructin your buildspec.yaml file.

Fastlane and code signing
To distribute an utility on the App Retailer, builders should signal their binary with a non-public key generated on the Apple Developer portal. This non-public key, together with the certificates that validates it, should be accessible in the course of the construct course of. This generally is a problem for growth groups as a result of they should share the event non-public key (which permits deployment on chosen check units) amongst workforce members. Moreover, the distribution non-public key (which permits publishing on the App Retailer) should be out there in the course of the signing course of earlier than importing the binary to the App Retailer.

Fastlane is a flexible construct system in that it additionally helps builders with the administration of growth and distribution keys and certificates. Builders can use fastlane match to share signing supplies in a workforce and make them securely and simply accessible on particular person builders’ machines and on the CI atmosphere. match permits the storage of personal keys, the certificates, and the cell provisioning profiles on a secured share storage. It makes positive that the native construct atmosphere, whether or not it’s a developer laptop computer or a server machine within the cloud, stays in sync with the shared storage. At construct time, it securely downloads the required certificates to signal your app and configures the construct machine to permit the codesign utility to select them up.

match permits the sharing of signing secrets and techniques by means of GitHub, GitLab, Google Cloud Storage, Azure DevOps, and Amazon Easy Storage Service (Amazon S3).

In the event you already use one in all these and also you’re migrating your tasks to CodeBuild, you don’t have a lot to do. You solely want to ensure your CodeBuild construct atmosphere has entry to the shared storage (see step 3 within the demo).

Let’s see the way it works
In the event you’re new to Fastlane or CodeBuild, let’s see the way it works.

For this demo, I begin with an current iOS venture. The venture is already configured to be constructed on CodeBuild. You’ll be able to check with my earlier weblog put up, Add macOS to your steady integration pipelines with AWS CodeBuild, to study extra particulars.

I’ll present you the best way to get began in three steps:

  • Import your current signing supplies to a shared non-public GitHub repository
  • Configure fastlane to construct and signal your venture
  • Use fastlanewith CodeBuild

Step 1: Import your signing supplies

A lot of the fastlane documentation I learn explains the best way to create a brand new key pair and a brand new certificates to get began. Though that is definitely true for brand new tasks, in actual life, you in all probability have already got your venture and your signing keys. So, step one is to import these current signing supplies.

Apple App Retailer makes use of completely different keys and certificates for growth and distribution (there are additionally advert hoc and enterprise certificates, however these are exterior the scope of this put up). You could have three information for every utilization (that’s a complete of six information):

  • A .mobileprovision file that you may create and obtain from the Apple developer console. The provisioning profile hyperlinks your id, the app id, and the entitlements the app might need.
  • A .cer file, which is the certificates emitted by Apple to validate your non-public key. You’ll be able to obtain this from the Apple Developer portal. Choose the certificates, then choose Obtain.
  • A .p12 file, which accommodates your non-public key. You’ll be able to obtain the important thing whenever you create it within the Apple Developer portal. In the event you didn’t obtain it however have it in your machine, you’ll be able to export it from the Apple Keychain app. Word that the KeyChain.app is hidden in macOS 15.x. You’ll be able to open it with open /System/Library/CoreServices/Functions/Keychain Entry.app. Choose the important thing you wish to export and proper click on to pick out Export.
Export p12 files from Keychain

When you’ve got these information, create a fastlane/Matchfile file with the next content material:

git_url("https://github.com/sebsto/secret.git")
storage_mode("git")
sort("growth")
# or use appstore to make use of the distribution signing key and certificates
# sort("appstore")

Remember to change the URL of your GitHub repository and be certain that this repository is non-public. It can function a storage on your signing key and certificates.

Then, I import my current information with the fastlane match import --type appstore command. I repeat the command for every atmosphere: appstore and growth.

The very first time, fastlane prompts me for my Apple Id username and password. It connects to App Retailer Connect with confirm the validity of the certificates or to create new ones when obligatory. The session cookie is saved in ~/.fastlane/spaceship//cookie.

fastlane match additionally asks for a password. It makes use of this password to generate a key to crypt the signing supplies on the storage. Don’t overlook this password as a result of will probably be used at construct time to import the signing supplies on the construct machine.

Right here is the command and its output in full:

 fastlane match import --type appstore

[✔] 🚀
[16:43:54]: Efficiently loaded '~/amplify-ios-getting-started/code/fastlane/Matchfile' 📄

+-----------------------------------------------------+
| Detected Values from './fastlane/Matchfile'         |
+--------------+--------------------------------------+
| git_url.     | https://github.com/sebsto/secret.git |
| storage_mode | git                                  |
| sort         | growth                          |
+--------------+--------------------------------------+

[16:43:54]: Certificates (.cer) path:
./secrets and techniques/sebsto-apple-dist.cer
[16:44:07]: Non-public key (.p12) path:
./secrets and techniques/sebsto-apple-dist.p12
[16:44:12]: Provisioning profile (.mobileprovision or .provisionprofile) path or depart empty to skip
this file:
./secrets and techniques/amplifyiosgettingstarteddist.mobileprovision
[16:44:25]: Cloning distant git repo...
[16:44:25]: If cloning the repo takes too lengthy, you should use the `clone_branch_directly` choice in match.
[16:44:27]: Trying out department grasp...
[16:44:27]: Enter the passphrase that must be used to encrypt/decrypt your certificates
[16:44:27]: This passphrase is particular per repository and will probably be saved in your native keychain
[16:44:27]: Ensure that to recollect the password, as you may want it whenever you run match on a distinct machine
[16:44:27]: Passphrase for Match storage: ********
[16:44:30]: Sort passphrase once more: ********
safety: SecKeychainAddInternetPassword : The desired merchandise already exists within the keychain.
[16:44:31]: 🔓 Efficiently decrypted certificates repo
[16:44:31]: Repo is at: '/var/folders/14/nwpsn4b504gfp02_mrbyd2jr0000gr/T/d20250131-41830-z7b4ic'
[16:44:31]: Login to App Retailer Join (sebsto@mac.com)
[16:44:33]: Enter the passphrase that must be used to encrypt/decrypt your certificates
[16:44:33]: This passphrase is particular per repository and will probably be saved in your native keychain
[16:44:33]: Ensure that to recollect the password, as you may want it whenever you run match on a distinct machine
[16:44:33]: Passphrase for Match storage: ********
[16:44:37]: Sort passphrase once more: ********
safety: SecKeychainAddInternetPassword : The desired merchandise already exists within the keychain.
[16:44:39]: 🔒 Efficiently encrypted certificates repo
[16:44:39]: Pushing adjustments to distant git repo...
[16:44:40]: Completed importing information to Git Repo [https://github.com/sebsto/secret.git]

I confirm that Fastlane imported my signing materials to my Git repository.

Fastlane match - github repo after import

I may configure my native machine to make use of these signing supplies in the course of the subsequent construct:

» fastlane match appstore 

[✔] 🚀 
[17:39:08]: Efficiently loaded '~/amplify-ios-getting-started/code/fastlane/Matchfile' 📄

+-----------------------------------------------------+
|   Detected Values from './fastlane/Matchfile'       |
+--------------+--------------------------------------+
| git_url      | https://github.com/sebsto/secret.git |
| storage_mode | git                                  |
| sort         | growth                          |
+--------------+--------------------------------------+


+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                 Abstract for match 2.226.0                                 |
+----------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
| sort                                   | appstore                                         |
| readonly                               | false                                            |
| generate_apple_certs                   | true                                             |
| skip_provisioning_profiles             | false                                            |
| app_identifier                         | ["com.amazonaws.amplify.mobile.getting-started"] |
| username                               | xxxx@xxxxxxxxx                                   |
| team_id                                | XXXXXXXXXX                                       |
| storage_mode                           | git                                              |
| git_url                                | https://github.com/sebsto/secret.git             |
| git_branch                             | grasp                                           |
| shallow_clone                          | false                                            |
| clone_branch_directly                  | false                                            |
| skip_google_cloud_account_confirmation | false                                            |
| s3_skip_encryption                     | false                                            |
| gitlab_host                            | https://gitlab.com                               |
| keychain_name                          | login.keychain                                   |
| power                                  | false                                            |
| force_for_new_devices                  | false                                            |
| include_mac_in_profiles                | false                                            |
| include_all_certificates               | false                                            |
| force_for_new_certificates             | false                                            |
| skip_confirmation                      | false                                            |
| safe_remove_certs                      | false                                            |
| skip_docs                              | false                                            |
| platform                               | ios                                              |
| derive_catalyst_app_identifier         | false                                            |
| fail_on_name_taken                     | false                                            |
| skip_certificate_matching              | false                                            |
| skip_set_partition_list                | false                                            |
| force_legacy_encryption                | false                                            |
| verbose                                | false                                            |
+----------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------+

[17:39:08]: Cloning distant git repo...
[17:39:08]: If cloning the repo takes too lengthy, you should use the `clone_branch_directly` choice in match.
[17:39:10]: Trying out department grasp...
[17:39:10]: Enter the passphrase that must be used to encrypt/decrypt your certificates
[17:39:10]: This passphrase is particular per repository and will probably be saved in your native keychain
[17:39:10]: Ensure that to recollect the password, as you may want it whenever you run match on a distinct machine
[17:39:10]: Passphrase for Match storage: ********
[17:39:13]: Sort passphrase once more: ********
safety: SecKeychainAddInternetPassword : The desired merchandise already exists within the keychain.
[17:39:15]: 🔓  Efficiently decrypted certificates repo
[17:39:15]: Verifying that the certificates and profile are nonetheless legitimate on the Dev Portal...
[17:39:17]: Putting in certificates...

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                          Put in Certificates                          |
+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------+
| Consumer ID           | XXXXXXXXXX                                          |
| Widespread Title       | Apple Distribution: Sebastien Stormacq (XXXXXXXXXX) |
| Organisation Unit | XXXXXXXXXX                                          |
| Organisation      | Sebastien Stormacq                                  |
| Nation           | US                                                  |
| Begin Datetime    | 2024-10-29 09:55:43 UTC                             |
| Finish Datetime      | 2025-10-29 09:55:42 UTC                             |
+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------+

[17:39:18]: Putting in provisioning profile...

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                          Put in Provisioning Profile                                           |
+---------------------+----------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| Parameter           | Surroundings Variable                         | Worth                                        |
+---------------------+----------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| App Identifier      |                                              | com.amazonaws.amplify.cell.getting-starte  |
|                     |                                              | d                                            |
| Sort                |                                              | appstore                                     |
| Platform            |                                              | ios                                          |
| Profile UUID        | sigh_com.amazonaws.amplify.cell.getting-s  | 4e497882-d80f-4684-945a-8bfec1b310b9         |
|                     | tarted_appstore                              |                                              |
| Profile Title        | sigh_com.amazonaws.amplify.cell.getting-s  | amplify-ios-getting-started-dist             |
|                     | tarted_appstore_profile-name                 |                                              |
| Profile Path        | sigh_com.amazonaws.amplify.cell.getting-s  | /Customers/stormacq/Library/MobileDevice/Provis  |
|                     | tarted_appstore_profile-path                 | ioning                                       |
|                     |                                              | Profiles/4e497882-d80f-4684-945a-8bfec1b310  |
|                     |                                              | b9.mobileprovision                           |
| Growth Group ID | sigh_com.amazonaws.amplify.cell.getting-s  | XXXXXXXXXX                                   |
|                     | tarted_appstore_team-id                      |                                              |
| Certificates Title    | sigh_com.amazonaws.amplify.cell.getting-s  | Apple Distribution: Sebastien Stormacq       |
|                     | tarted_appstore_certificate-name             | (XXXXXXXXXX)                                 |
+---------------------+----------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------+

[17:39:18]: All required keys, certificates and provisioning profiles are put in 🙌

Step 2: Configure Fastlane to signal your venture

I create a Fastlane construct configuration file in fastlane/Fastfile (you should use fastlane init command to get began):

default_platform(:ios)

platform :ios do
  before_all do
    setup_ci
  finish

  desc "Construct and Signal the binary"
  lane :construct do
    match(sort: "appstore", readonly: true)
    fitness center(
      scheme: "getting began",
      export_method: "app-store"
    )
  finish
finish

Guarantee that the setup_ci motion is added to the before_all part of Fastfile for the match motion to operate appropriately. This motion creates a brief Fastlane keychain with right permissions. With out this step, chances are you’ll encounter construct failures or inconsistent outcomes.

And I check an area construct with the command fastlane construct. I enter the password I used when importing my keys and certificates, then I let the system construct and signal my venture. When every thing is appropriately configured, it produces an analogous output.

...
[17:58:33]: Efficiently exported and compressed dSYM file
[17:58:33]: Efficiently exported and signed the ipa file:
[17:58:33]: ~/amplify-ios-getting-started/code/getting began.ipa

+---------------------------------------+
|           fastlane abstract            |
+------+------------------+-------------+
| Step | Motion           | Time (in s) |
+------+------------------+-------------+
| 1    | default_platform | 0           |
| 2    | setup_ci         | 0           |
| 3    | match            | 36          |
| 4    | fitness center              | 151         |
+------+------------------+-------------+

[17:58:33]: fastlane.instruments completed efficiently 🎉

Step 3: Configure CodeBuild to make use of Fastlane

Subsequent, I create a venture on CodeBuild. I’m not going into the step-by-step information that will help you to take action. You’ll be able to check with my earlier put up or to the CodeBuild documentation.

There is only one Fastlane-specific configuration. To entry the signing supplies, Fastlane requires entry to 3 secret values that I’ll go as atmosphere variables:

  • MATCH_PASSWORD, the password I entered when importing the signing materials. Fastlane makes use of this password to decipher the encrypted information within the GitHub repository
  • FASTLANE_SESSION, the worth of the Apple Id session cookie, positioned at ~/.fastlane/spaceship//cookie. The session is legitimate from a few hours to a number of days. When the session expires, reauthenticate with the command fastlane spaceauth out of your laptop computer and replace the worth of FASTLANE_SESSION with the brand new worth of the cookie.
  • MATCH_GIT_BASIC_AUTHORIZATION, a base 64 encoding of your GitHub username, adopted by a colon, adopted by a private authentication token (PAT) to entry your non-public GitHub repository. You’ll be able to generate PAT on the GitHub console in Your Profile > Settings > Builders Settings > Private Entry Token. I exploit this command to generate the worth of this atmosphere variable: echo -n my_git_username:my_git_pat | base64.

Word that for every of those three values, I can enter the Amazon Useful resource Title (ARN) of the key on AWS Secrets and techniques Supervisor or the plain textual content worth. We strongly suggest utilizing Secrets and techniques Supervisor to retailer security-sensitive values.

I’m a security-conscious person, so I retailer the three secrets and techniques in Secrets and techniques Supervisor with these instructions:

aws --region $REGION secretsmanager create-secret --name /CodeBuild/MATCH_PASSWORD --secret-string MySuperSecretPassword
aws --region $REGION secretsmanager create-secret --name /CodeBuild/FASTLANE_SESSION --secret-string $(cat ~/.fastlane/spaceship/my_appleid_username/cookie)
aws --region $REGION secretsmanager create-secret --name /CodeBuild/MATCH_GIT_BASIC_AUTHORIZATION --secret-string $(echo -n my_git_username:my_git_pat | base64)

In case your construct venture refers to secrets and techniques saved in Secrets and techniques Supervisor, the construct venture’s service function should permit the secretsmanager:GetSecretValue motion. In the event you selected New service function whenever you created your venture, CodeBuild consists of this motion within the default service function on your construct venture. Nonetheless, in the event you selected Present service function, you will need to embrace this motion to your service function individually.

For this demo, I exploit this AWS Id and Entry Administration (IAM) coverage:

{
	"Model": "2012-10-17",
	"Assertion": [
		{
			"Effect": "Allow",
			"Action": [
				"secretsmanager:GetSecretValue"
			],
			"Useful resource": [
				"arn:aws:secretsmanager:us-east-2:012345678912:secret:/CodeBuild/*"
			]
		}
	]
}

After I created the venture within the CodeBuild part of the AWS Administration Console, I enter the three atmosphere variables. Discover that the worth is the identify of the key in Secrets and techniques Supervisor.

Codebuild - environment variables for Fastlane match

It’s also possible to outline the atmosphere variables and their Secrets and techniques Supervisor secret identify in your buildpsec.yaml file.

Subsequent, I modify the buildspec.yaml file on the root of my venture to make use of fastlane to construct and signal the binary. My buildspec.yaml file now appears like this one:

# buildspec.yml
model: 0.2
phases:
  set up:
    instructions:
      - code/ci_actions/00_install_rosetta.sh
  pre_build:
    instructions:
      - code/ci_actions/02_amplify.sh
  construct:
    instructions:
      - (cd code && fastlane construct)
artifacts:
  identify: getting-started-$(date +%Y-%m-%d).ipa
  information:
    - 'getting began.ipa'
  base-directory: 'code'

The Rosetta and Amplify scripts are required to obtain the Amplify configuration for the backend. In the event you don’t use AWS Amplify in your venture, you don’t want these.

Discover that there’s nothing within the construct file that downloads the signing key or prepares the keychain within the construct atmosphere; fastlane match will try this for me.

I add the brand new buildspec.yaml file and my ./fastlane listing to Git. I commit and push these information. git commit -m "add fastlane assist" && git push

When every thing goes nicely, I can see the construct working on CodeBuild and the Succeeded message.

Codebuild - succeed message

Pricing and availability
Fastlane is now pre-installed at no additional price on all macOS photographs that CodeBuild makes use of, in all Areas the place CodeBuild for macOS is obtainable. On the time of this writing, these are US East (Ohio, N. Virginia), US West (Oregon), Asia Pacific (Sydney), and Europe (Frankfurt).

In my expertise, it takes a little bit of time to configure fastlane match appropriately. When it’s configured, having it engaged on CodeBuild is fairly easy. Earlier than making an attempt this on CodeBuild, ensure it really works in your native machine. When one thing goes mistaken on CodeBuild, triple-check the values of the atmosphere variables and ensure CodeBuild has entry to your secrets and techniques on AWS Secrets and techniques Supervisor.

Now go construct (on macOS)!

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