Possibly the most exciting part of the development cycle is getting your app out to some real-world users. The first step in doing so is usually to send out a beta version of your app so you can get some feedback and gather some real data about how your app is performing, before you submit to the App Store and release your app to the world. Once you're satisfied with the results of your beta test, you must submit your app to Apple so they can review it before your app is released to the App Store.
In this chapter, you'll learn everything about packing up your app and submitting it to iTunes Connect. From iTunes Connect, you can start beta testing your app and you can also submit it to Apple for review. The iTunes Connect portal is also used to manage your app's App Store description, keywords, imagery, and more. We'll cover how to properly fill everything out as well. We'll go through the following steps over the course of this chapter:
- Adding your application to iTunes Connect.
- Packaging and uploading your app for beta testing.
- Preparing your app for launch.
These steps closely resemble the process you'll go through when you're ready to launch your own app. Let's get right to it, shall we?