Automating BundleVersion Updates In IOS Projects From Git Branch Or Tag

by StackCamp Team 72 views

This document outlines a strategy for automatically updating the CFBundleVersion (Bundle Version) in iOS projects based on the Git branch or tag name. This is particularly useful when employing Git Branch/Tag names to represent planned Releases, where the name reflects the intended Marketing Version. The goal is to ensure that the builds and archives of applications and frameworks accurately reflect the intended release version, specifically for the Employee Form application and the ImageDataPicker framework.

Background

When managing iOS projects for distribution through AppStoreConnect, several versioning parameters come into play. Understanding these parameters is crucial for a smooth release process. Within AppStoreConnect, the primary versioning elements are:

  • Version:
    • App Name (Localizable)
    • Subtitle (Localizable)

For the ImageDataPicker framework, versioning is managed at both the Project and Target levels. Let's delve into the specific settings for each:

ImageDataPicker: Project Settings

Within the project settings of ImageDataPicker, the following versioning attributes are of paramount importance. Properly configuring these settings ensures version consistency and accurate identification of builds.

  • Packaging...Framework Version (FRAMEWORK_VERSION): This setting defines the overall version of the framework itself. It's a critical identifier for distinguishing between different releases and should align with the Marketing Version to avoid confusion.
  • Versioning...Current Project Version (CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION) -> CFBundleVersion: The CFBundleVersion is a build-specific version number. According to Apple's documentation, this value must be an Integer or Float. It serves as a unique identifier for each build submitted to AppStoreConnect and is essential for tracking and managing different iterations of the framework. Automating the updating of this value based on the Git branch or tag name ensures that each build reflects the intended release version.
  • Versioning...Marketing Version (MARKETING_VERSION) -> CFBundleShortVersionString: The CFBundleShortVersionString represents the user-facing version of the framework, often referred to as the Marketing Version. This is the version number displayed in AppStoreConnect and to users in the App Store. While this setting provides a human-readable version, the CFBundleVersion ensures a machine-readable and build-specific identifier. Maintaining a relationship between these two versions is crucial for a coherent versioning strategy.

ImageDataPicker: Target Settings

Target-specific settings offer another layer of version control, allowing for granular management of the ImageDataPicker framework. These settings mirror those found at the project level but provide flexibility for target-specific configurations.

  • Packaging...Framework Version (FRAMEWORK_VERSION): This is a crucial setting as it specifies the framework's version. Ensuring consistency between the project and target settings for Framework Version is vital for a stable build process. Mismatched versions can lead to unexpected behavior and compatibility issues.
  • Versioning...Current Project Version (CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION) -> CFBundleVersion: This setting, like the project-level setting, dictates the build-specific version number. Again, it must be an Integer or Float, adhering to Apple's guidelines. Automating this based on the Git branch or tag name is highly beneficial for build management. By linking this to the Git versioning system, every build becomes easily traceable to a specific release, streamlining the debugging and maintenance process.
  • Versioning...Marketing Version (MARKETING_VERSION) -> CFBundleShortVersionString: The target-level Marketing Version should align with the project-level setting to avoid discrepancies. This version is what users see and should accurately represent the release. This consistency simplifies the communication of version information and minimizes confusion among users and developers.

Problem Statement

The core challenge is to automate the process of updating the CFBundleVersion in both the Employee Form application and the ImageDataPicker framework based on the Git branch or tag name. This automation will ensure that the build and archive processes produce artifacts with accurate versioning information, reflecting the planned release.

Proposed Solution

To address this, a script can be implemented that extracts the version information from the Git branch or tag name and updates the CFBundleVersion in the project's Info.plist files. This script can be integrated into the build process, ensuring that the version is updated automatically before each build or archive. Here's a breakdown of the proposed solution:

1. Git Branch/Tag Naming Convention

Establish a consistent naming convention for Git branches and tags. A recommended approach is to use a format like release/x.y.z, where x, y, and z represent the major, minor, and patch versions, respectively. Tags can follow the same convention, such as v1.2.3. This uniformity makes it easier to extract the version information programmatically.

2. Script Implementation

A script, preferably written in a scripting language like Python or Ruby, can be created to perform the following steps:

  • Extract Git Branch/Tag Name: The script needs to determine the current Git branch or tag name. This can be achieved using Git commands like git branch --show-current or git describe --tags --exact-match. These commands retrieve the active branch name or the exact matching tag name.
  • Parse Version Information: Once the branch or tag name is obtained, the script parses the version information from the name. For example, if the branch name is release/1.2.3, the script extracts 1.2.3. Regular expressions can be used to efficiently extract the version components.
  • Convert Version to Integer/Float: Since CFBundleVersion must be an Integer or Float, the script needs to convert the extracted version string into a suitable numerical format. A common approach is to use a build number as an integer or a float representation derived from the version components. For instance, 1.2.3 could be converted to 1.23 or a unique integer build number.
  • Update Info.plist Files: The script then updates the CFBundleVersion in the Info.plist files of both the Employee Form application and the ImageDataPicker framework. This can be achieved using tools like PlistBuddy, which is a command-line tool for manipulating property list files in macOS. The script would use PlistBuddy to set the CFBundleVersion key to the new numerical version.
  • Error Handling: Robust error handling is crucial. The script should handle cases where the Git commands fail, the branch/tag name doesn't conform to the expected format, or the Info.plist update fails. Proper logging and informative error messages are essential for debugging and troubleshooting.

3. Integration into Build Process

The script should be integrated into the Xcode build process. This can be achieved by adding a build phase script in Xcode. The build phase script will be executed before the build process starts, ensuring that the CFBundleVersion is updated with the correct value before the application or framework is built.

  • Add a New Run Script Phase: In Xcode, navigate to the project's target settings and add a new