App Store Connect CLI — Scriptable CLI for Apple App Distribution

Introduction

App Store Connect CLI provides a non-interactive, scriptable interface to the App Store Connect API. It replaces manual web portal usage with deterministic CLI commands, making it suitable for CI/CD pipelines and automated release workflows.

What App Store Connect CLI Does

• Lists and manages apps, builds, and TestFlight groups
• Automates build submissions and review processes
• Retrieves analytics data for downloads, revenue, and engagement
• Manages signing certificates and provisioning profiles
• Handles in-app purchase and subscription configuration

Architecture Overview

The tool is written in Go and communicates directly with Apple's App Store Connect REST API using JWT-based authentication. It serializes all output as JSON by default, making it composable with tools like jq. Authentication uses the same API key mechanism as Apple's official tools, requiring an issuer ID, key ID, and private key file.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Download a single binary for your platform from GitHub releases
• Authenticate by setting environment variables for API key credentials
• Store API keys securely and reference them via environment variables
• Supports configuration files for multi-team setups
• Integrates with CI systems like GitHub Actions and GitLab CI

Key Features

• JSON-first output for easy parsing in automation scripts
• No interactive prompts ensuring CI/CD compatibility
• Comprehensive API coverage including analytics and subscriptions
• Single static binary with no runtime dependencies
• Fast execution with concurrent API request handling

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Fastlane — Ruby-based, broad feature set but heavy runtime; this CLI is a single Go binary
• Apple's Transporter — limited to content delivery; this CLI covers the full App Store Connect API
• altool — deprecated Apple CLI; this provides a modern replacement
• Xcode Cloud — Apple's CI/CD service tied to Xcode; this CLI works with any CI system

FAQ

Q: Do I need a paid Apple Developer account? A: Yes, an active Apple Developer Program membership is required to access the App Store Connect API.

Q: Can I use this for both iOS and macOS apps? A: Yes, it supports all platforms available in App Store Connect including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS.

Q: How do I set up authentication? A: Generate an API key in App Store Connect, then provide the issuer ID, key ID, and private key file via environment variables.

Q: Does it support App Store Connect notifications? A: It can query build and submission statuses; for push notifications, use Apple's webhook integrations.

Sources

• https://github.com/rorkai/App-Store-Connect-CLI