Company
Date Published
Author
Sherief Abul-Ezz
Word count
1557
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

TestFlight, acquired by Apple in 2011, revolutionized beta app distribution by eliminating the hassle of managing beta builds and simplifying the process for testers. It offers a simple approach to managing app beta builds and testers, allowing up to 100 apps and unlimited builds to be tested simultaneously. TestFlight has two types of testers: internal and external. Internal testers are limited to 25 members from an App Store Connect team, while external testers can reach up to 10,000 users via email or a public opt-in link. The platform allows for dogfooding, where developers test their app internally before releasing it to external testers. TestFlight also offers open beta testing, which provides a final safety net before a public release and helps identify potential issues. While TestFlight has its pros, such as being integrated into App Store Connect and offering A/B testing of unlimited builds, it also has limitations, including the 25-tester limit for internal testers and the need for a beta app review that can take up to 48 hours. Additionally, Instabug is mentioned as a top alternative for bug reporting, crash reporting, and user feedback in mobile apps.