Fastlane Build and Deploy

Fastlane: Automate Mobile App Deployment

Fastlane automates mobile app deployment, is free, supports CI/CD, offers customizability, unified commandline interface

Michael Eakins · 2 minute read

Fastlane is an open-source toolset for automating mobile app deployment, especially on iOS and Android platforms. It helps developers automate the time-consuming and error-prone aspects of building, testing, and deploying mobile apps, enabling them to focus on building better features and user experiences. Here's a breakdown of the key features, value, how to use it, cost, and alternatives to Fastlane:

Key Features of Fastlane:

  • Simplifies the mobile app deployment process.

  • Automates the building, testing, and distribution of mobile apps.

  • Provides a unified command-line interface for deploying to multiple platforms.

  • Supports integration with popular mobile development tools such as Xcode and Android Studio.

  • Offers a wide range of customizable templates and plug-ins.

  • Facilitates continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) workflows.

  • Provides centralized management of certificates, provisioning profiles, and other sensitive data.

Value of Using Fastlane:

  • Saves time and reduces errors in the mobile app deployment process.

  • Enables rapid and frequent releases of new app features and bug fixes.

  • Facilitates collaboration among developers and stakeholders.

  • Provides a single source of truth for all mobile app deployment tasks.

  • Supports best practices for security, scalability, and maintainability.

How to Use Fastlane:

  • Install Fastlane using RubyGems or Homebrew.

  • Create a new Fastlane project and configure its settings.

  • Define a set of lanes, each representing a specific task or workflow.

  • Customize the lanes using built-in or third-party plugins.

  • Run the lanes using the Fastlane CLI or from within a CI/CD pipeline.

Cost of Using Fastlane:

  • Fastlane is an open-source toolset and is therefore free to use.

  • Some third-party plugins may have a cost associated with them.

Alternatives to Fastlane:

  • App Center by Microsoft: A cloud-based mobile app development and distribution platform. [1]

  • Bitrise: A mobile CI/CD platform with built-in integrations for popular mobile development tools. [2]

  • Jenkins: An open-source automation server that can be used to build, test, and deploy mobile apps. [3]

  • CircleCI: A cloud-based CI/CD platform that supports mobile app development workflows. [4]

[1] App Center: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/appcenter/ [2] Bitrise: https://www.bitrise.io/ [3] Jenkins: https://www.jenkins.io/ [4] CircleCI: https://circleci.com/

Sources for Fastlane:

Fastlane
CI/CD