TestFlight

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TestFlight
TestFlight Icon.png
TestFlight iPhone.jpg
TestFlight app running on an iPhone
Original author(s)Benjamin Satterfield
Trystan Kosmynka
Developer(s)Apple Inc.
Stable release
2.5.0 / September 23, 2019; 4 months ago (2019-09-23)[1]
Operating systemiOS
tvOS
Size35.7 MB
TypeApplication testing service
LicenseFreeware
Websitedeveloper.apple.com/testflight/

TestFlight is an online service for over-the-air installation and testing of mobile applications, currently owned by Apple Inc and only offered to developers within the iOS Developer Program.[2][3][4] Developers sign up with the service to distribute applications to internal or external beta testers, who can subsequently send feedback about the application to developers.[5][6][7] The TestFlight SDK additionally allows developers to receive remote logs, crash reports and tester feedback.[8]

TestFlight initially supported testing of Android and iOS applications, but since March 2014, Apple has retracted support for Android.[9][10] As of 2015, applications must be published for TestFlight using Xcode, and testers must be invited using iTunes Connect.[5] After invitation, up to 25 internal testers (with up to 10 devices each) and 10,000[11] external beta testers can download and test the application build. Up to 100 apps can be tested at a time, internally or externally.[5] Testers may be grouped and separate builds created for each group.[5] The TestFlight application for iOS notifies testers when new builds are available, features to focus on, and enables sending of feedback.[5]

History[edit]

TestFlight was founded by Benjamin Satterfield and Trystan Kosmynka on December 23, 2010, and was designed as a single platform to test mobile applications on Android and iOS devices.[12][13] It was acquired by Burstly in March 2012, and thereby gained the resources necessary to launch TestFlight Live.[12][13] TestFlight Live enabled developers to receive install rates, purchase rates and other monetization data from final builds of the application, even after beta testing concluded.[12]

In 2011, Burstly raised $7.3 million from Upfront Ventures, Rincon Venture Partners, Softbank Capital and others.[10] Apple Inc. acquired Burstly in February 2014, and terminated support for Android as of March 2014.[9][10] Apple also shut down FlightPath (a mobile analytics solution and a replacement to TestFlight Live) and SkyRocket (a mobile application monetization platform) the same month.[10][14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "TestFlight". App Store. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  2. ^ Developing Enterprise iOS Applications: iPhone and iPad Apps for Companies, O'Reilly Media, Inc., December 12, 2011
  3. ^ Apple confirms that it has acquired TestFlight creator Burstly, TheNextWeb
  4. ^ TestFlight has moved, Apple Computer
  5. ^ a b c d e TestFlight Beta Testing, Apple Computer
  6. ^ Architecting Mobile Solutions for the Enterprise, O'Reilly Media, Inc., May 14, 2012
  7. ^ Swift Development with Cocoa: Developing for the Mac and IOS App Stores, O'Reilly Media, Inc., December 10, 2014
  8. ^ Game Development for iOS with Unity3D, CRC Press, July 26, 2012
  9. ^ a b Apple to close the old standalone TestFlight beta testing service next month, TheNextWeb
  10. ^ a b c d TestFlight Owner Burstly Acquired By Apple, TechCrunch
  11. ^ "Apple expands TestFlight tester limit to 10,000 users". 9to5Mac. July 31, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  12. ^ a b c TestFlight, CrunchBase
  13. ^ a b Why Did TestFlight Sell To Burstly? “We Couldn’t Change The App Ecosystem Alone”, TechCrunch
  14. ^ After Apple Acquisition, Burstly’s SkyRocket Users Get 90-Day Notice, TechCrunch

See also[edit]