iPhone Bureaucracy

When you make an iPhone app, be ready for red tape. We spent thirteen red taped hours getting How Long ‘Til up on the app store (not including the month we waited for approval to join the iPhone Developer Program). Broadly speaking, the iPhone process has three steps corresponding to three XCode configurations: debug, release, and distribution. Each step has an associated web site.

• Debug iPhone DevCenter: Download the SDK. Learn how to use it. Develop you app using the iPhone simulator.
• Release iPhone Developer Program: Test your app on your device, an iPhone or iPod touch. Compile your distribution build.
• Distribution iTunes Connect: Tell Apple your bank account and tax info so that they can pay you. Upload your app. Wait for Apple’s blessing. Review your sales.

Over the next few days, I’ll outline the iPhone bureaucratic process from beginning to end. What do you need to do? What do you need to wait for? How can you keep from being lost in the shuffle? Stay tuned to learn everything you need to know about iPhone bureaucracy.