How to create an open source iOS project?

Question

How do I start creating an Xcode project for iOS that can be compiled by anyone?

What I'm trying to do is write a simple application and send it all (just archive the entire project folder) to a friend so that he can compile it and test it on his own device.

We are both registered separately as separate iOS developers; we can download sample projects and run them successfully; and I can run the application on my iPad. However, when I send the archive to my colleague, he cannot test it (he says that he is building, but is not trying to install or run on the device, he only complains “a valid signature ID was not found”).

Clearly, I don’t understand something in this process about how development profiles work. There must be some way to create a project that can be compiled by anyone, and does not require my profile to be on the machine, or could sample projects be compiled? (And why does the project in its original form even need a profile attached to it?)

I correctly understand that 1) I somehow connected my personal information with the developer in the project only for the source, and this prevents him from being built by another unrelated developer, and 2) if so, is it really possible to share projects in this way? How can I separate a project from a profile?

I vaguely understand that this is also the “wrong” way to share projects: I am open to suggestions for changing this too, but still want to understand what I'm doing wrong, and where I missed something that should be obvious in the preparation process.

Answer 1

How do I start creating an Xcode project for iOS that can be compiled by anyone?

You must provide the project file, resources, and code in the same way as for projects on other platforms. Do not provide a developer profile or keys - every person who wants to build a project will have to provide it with his own.

However, when I send the archive to my colleague, he cannot verify it (he says that he is building, but he is not trying to install or run it on the device, only the complaint “a valid signature ID was not found”).

He will need to provide his own developer profile and key.

And why does a project in source-only form even need a profile attached to it?

Because iOS devices will not execute code that is improperly signed.

How can I separate a project from a profile?

Nothing to do here - your profile and access keys are stored in your key chain, and not in the project itself.

I vaguely understand that this is also the “wrong” way to share projects

This is really not “wrong,” but it is not the easiest way to go if you are going to share often. There are services that provide a cheap or free version of control for small groups or open source projects and sharing is much easier than sending copies of projects back and forth.

Answer 2

This is not related to the OpenSource project, it is just that your partner is trying to compile your certificate. Go to the project settings → Build settings, find the code signing identifier in the "Code Signing" section and change it to iPhone Developer . Thus, Xcode will select the signature identifier corresponding to the application identifier. If this does not work, make sure you have a Provisioning Profile, and go to Window → Organizer and check the sections of the developer profile and Provisioning Profiles.

On the side of the note, to share the project between people, I would recommend that you use a Version Version System such as Subversion or Github. There are many free repositories for the OpenSource project.

Tell me if you need more information.