TestFlight Finally Coming to the Mac

Apple today announced that TestFlight, which allows developers to public test their apps before launch, will be coming to the Mac as part of wider tools meant to improve app development.

IMG 05D35D96ED74 1
TestFlight for the Mac is part of a wider set of tools for developers, including Xcode Cloud, which offers "continuous integration and delivery cloud service designed specifically for Apple developers." With the new service, developers in teams can now easily test, develop, and deploy apps more efficiently. Xcode Cloud also allows developers to build apps in the cloud, freeing up local space on the Mac.

Xcode Cloud is a new continuous integration and delivery cloud service designed specifically for Apple developers. Built into Xcode 13, Xcode Cloud offers a fast and simple way for developers and teams of all sizes to build, test, and deliver high-quality apps even more efficiently. Xcode Cloud can automatically build apps in the cloud to free up developers’ Macs for other tasks. Parallel testing in the cloud means developers can test on a simulated version of every current Apple device, then easily deploy a build of the app for internal testing, or deliver to external beta testers through TestFlight for instant feedback.

Apple also announced changes coming to augmented reality, including Object Capture, which offers an easy way to capture real-world objects and create photo-realistic models with the iPhone, iPad, and DSLR cameras. Swift Playgrounds 4, which allows users to build and distribute apps to the App Store from the ‌iPad‌, was also announced.

More information about these new developer features can be found in Apple's press release, and other announcements from WWDC can be found using our roundup.

Popular Stories

iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design Draws Criticism From Users

Wednesday September 17, 2025 2:56 pm PDT by
It's been two days since iOS 26 was released, and Apple's new Liquid Glass design is even more divisive than expected. Any major design change can create controversy as people get used to the new look, but the MacRumors forums, Reddit, Apple Support Communities, and social media sites seem to feature more criticism than praise as people discuss the update. Complaints There are a long...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4: Here Are 5 New Features to Expect on Your iPhone

Tuesday September 16, 2025 11:17 am PDT by
iOS 26 was finally released on Monday, but the software train never stops, and the first developer beta of iOS 26.1 will likely be released soon. iOS 18.1 was an anomaly, as the first developer beta of that version was released in late July last year, to allow for early testing of Apple Intelligence features. The first betas of iOS 15.1, iOS 16.1, and iOS 17.1 were all released in the second ...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

Apple's Rumored MacBook Pro Redesign: 6 New Features Anticipated

Wednesday September 17, 2025 4:26 am PDT by
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is now several years away, think again. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small ...
iOS 26 Glass Feature

iOS 26: The Top 100 New Features and Changes

Tuesday September 16, 2025 12:26 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 26 on September 15, and it's now available for all iPhone users with a compatible device. There are a lot of changes and features to learn about, so if you want a quick, easy-to-read list that outlines what's new, we've got you covered. Design Liquid Glass design that reflects light and refracts what's underneath. It's system wide, with dynamic tab bars and toolbars...
ios 26 liquid glass dark mode

iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design Makes App Icons Look Crooked, Report Users

Wednesday September 17, 2025 4:55 am PDT by
iOS 26's new Liquid Glass interface has been criticized for making some content illegible in certain circumstances, and now the UI design is reportedly causing another unusual visual problem for some users. Liquid Glass adds subtle glowing effects to the corners of app icons, creating a dynamic glass-like appearance with depth and parallax effects. However, as noted by Gizmodo, this design...
iPhone 17 Pro and Air Feature

Two iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air Colors Appear to Scratch More Easily

Friday September 19, 2025 10:02 am PDT by
As reported by Bloomberg today, some of the new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air models on display at Apple Stores today are already scratched and scuffed. French blog Consomac also reported on this topic. The scratches appear to be most prominent on models with darker finishes, including the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in Deep Blue, and the iPhone Air in Space Black. Images Credit: Consoma ...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 Get iOS 26 Features With New Firmware Update

Monday September 15, 2025 10:50 am PDT by
Apple today released updated firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4, introducing support for the new AirPods features that are included in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The firmware has a build number of 8A356, and it replaces the current 7E93 firmware. With Apple's new software updates, the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 support better audio quality for phone calls and...

Top Rated Comments

llirik Avatar
56 months ago
Xcloud Cloud lol

Attachment Image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dgdosen Avatar
56 months ago
I've watched the first 3 minutes and 57 seconds of the Platform State of the Union. With respect to Xcode Cloud, Apple is saying that I need to code, test, integrate and deliver all through Xcode.

First off - they say, right off the bat, this is only works for "The Apple Platform". While a org like BearApp might use this, because they're tightly coupled to the Apple platform, orgs like 1Password, Instagram, Evernote, Paper or any other org that has sights on multiple platforms (including the web?) will be introducing more complexity into their CI/CD process. I'm not saying it won't work, but it's kind of trying to sherlock other providers of these services - and those are providers that already work well on other platforms.

Second, they're saying this all needs to be done in Xcode, because context switching is a killer. Now if I'm slinging code, I want my code window easily accessible. And a test window, maybe a git window, maybe a window to my CI process, maybe a database view, maybe some streaming logs, maybe other windows. Now I'll agree it's context switching to 'take my eyes off my code' - but what's worse? Command tabbing through already open windows, or opening up some modal view in XCode and thus covering up my code.

Context switching is in the eye of the beholder.

I only have an hour and 9 minutes to go.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
4487549 Avatar
56 months ago
Or continue selling / testing / trialing your apps outside the App Store where we can still install them on macOS (thank god).
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
amartinez1660 Avatar
56 months ago

Xcode Cloud looks like Apple's way of saying - "We missed the boat on everything GitHub/GitLab, so please use our platform specific answer."
But does it mean that I don’t have to deal with local build machines running gitlab agents and monitoring git commits?
I’m actually quite curious about what the service offers to be honest
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)