/iblai-ios
Build and run your ibl.ai app on iOS using Tauri v2. Covers project
initialization, Simulator development, real device testing, and
production .ipa builds.
Prerequisites
- macOS (iOS builds require Xcode)
- Xcode installed from the Mac App Store (includes iOS SDK + Simulator)
- Xcode Command Line Tools:
- Rust toolchain with iOS targets:
bash
rustup target add aarch64-apple-ios aarch64-apple-ios-sim
- Tauri support already added to your project:
bash
iblai add builds
pnpm install
Step 1: Initialize the iOS Project
Run this once after adding Tauri support:
This generates
with the Xcode project, Swift bridge
code, and iOS configuration. You only need to run this once.
If you get a Rust target error, make sure both targets are installed:
rustup target add aarch64-apple-ios aarch64-apple-ios-sim
Step 2: Run on iOS Simulator
Or use the pnpm script:
This:
- Starts the Next.js dev server
- Compiles the Rust backend for the iOS Simulator target ()
- Launches the app in the default iOS Simulator
The first build takes several minutes (Rust compilation). Subsequent builds
are fast thanks to incremental compilation.
Choosing a Specific Simulator
List available simulators:
Then specify one:
bash
iblai builds ios dev --device "iPhone 16 Pro"
Troubleshooting Simulator
- "No available iOS simulators": Open Xcode > Settings > Platforms > download an iOS runtime
- Build fails with "linking" errors: Verify Xcode path with . If incorrect, the user should run
sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
- Simulator won't launch: Try
xcrun simctl shutdown all
Step 3: Run on a Physical Device
Connect your iPhone via USB, then:
bash
iblai builds ios dev --device
This deploys to the connected device instead of the Simulator.
Requirements for Physical Devices
- Apple Developer account (free or paid)
- Device registered in your Apple Developer portal
- Development provisioning profile configured in Xcode
To set up signing:
- Open
src-tauri/gen/apple/<app>.xcodeproj
- Select the target > Signing & Capabilities
- Set your Team and Bundle Identifier
- Xcode auto-manages provisioning profiles
Free developer accounts can run on up to 3 devices for 7 days.
A paid Apple Developer Program ($99/year) removes this restriction.
Step 4: Build a Release .ipa
Local Build (Ad Hoc / Development)
Or:
The .ipa file is generated at
src-tauri/gen/apple/build/
(or use
find src-tauri/gen/apple -name "*.ipa"
to locate it).
App Store Build (CI)
Generate the GitHub Actions workflow:
bash
iblai builds ci-workflow --ios
This creates
.github/workflows/tauri-build-ios.yml
which:
- Sets up Node.js, pnpm, and Rust with iOS targets
- Installs the Tauri CLI
- Runs and
cargo tauri ios build --export-method app-store-connect
- Uploads the .ipa as a build artifact
Required GitHub Secrets for CI
| Secret | Description |
|---|
| Base64-encoded App Store Connect API key (.p8 file) |
| Key ID from App Store Connect > Users and Access > Keys |
| Issuer ID from App Store Connect > Users and Access > Keys |
To encode your .p8 key:
bash
base64 -i AuthKey_XXXXXXXXXX.p8 | pbcopy
App Icons
Generate iOS-ready icons from your logo:
bash
iblai builds iconography path/to/logo.png
This creates all required sizes in
. Tauri maps them
to the iOS asset catalog during
.
Summary of Commands
| Task | Command |
|---|
| Add Tauri support | |
| Initialize iOS project | |
| Run on Simulator | |
| Run on physical device | iblai builds ios dev --device
|
| List available devices | |
| Build release .ipa | |
| Generate CI workflow | iblai builds ci-workflow --ios
|
| Generate app icons | iblai builds iconography logo.png
|
Reference
- iblai-app-cli -- CLI source and templates
- -- full list of build commands