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

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 (2019-09-23)[1]
Operating system	iOS tvOS
Size	35.7 MB
Type	Application testing service
License	Freeware
Website	developer.apple.com/testflight/

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

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

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. 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. Apple to close the old standalone TestFlight beta testing service next month, TheNextWeb
10. 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. TestFlight, CrunchBase
13. 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

• iOS