Managing iOS Enterprise App Updates: A Deep Dive

Introduction

As an organization issues mobile apps to its employees or customers, managing updates becomes a crucial aspect of maintaining the security and functionality of these applications. In this article, we will explore how to roll out updates for iOS enterprise apps, including native mechanisms, workarounds, and popular third-party libraries.

Understanding Apple’s Deployment Options

Before diving into update management, it’s essential to understand the different deployment options available for iOS apps under the Apple Enterprise Deployment scheme.

• Ad-hoc Deployment: This is a manual process where developers distribute their app to a small group of users or testers. Ad-hoc builds are not signed with the organization’s certificate and cannot be distributed directly through the App Store.
• Enterprise Distribution: This option allows organizations to distribute their apps to employees or customers using a certificate signed by the organization itself. The apps are still not publicly available on the App Store.

Native Mechanism for Update Management

Unfortunately, there is no native mechanism in iOS that can automatically check if an app has been updated and prompt users to download the latest version. Apple’s policies emphasize user consent and control over app updates.

However, this limitation doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. There are workarounds and third-party libraries available that can help with update management:

Using HockeyKit

HockeyKit is a popular framework for managing ad-hoc builds, but it can also be used for enterprise apps. With HockeyKit, you can create an overlay app that checks for updates and prompts users to install the latest version.

Here’s a simplified overview of how to use HockeyKit:

1. Create an Overlay App: Develop an overlay app that will act as a update manager.
2. Register with HockeyKit: Register your overlay app with HockeyKit, which provides a unique identifier for your app.
3. Check for Updates: Use HockeyKit’s APIs to check if there are any updates available for the main app.
4. Prompt Users to Update: If an update is available, prompt users to install it.

Here’s some sample code to get you started:

## Example Code: Checking for Updates with HockeyKit

### Step 1: Initialize the Overlay App

```markdown
#import <HockeyKit/HKAppOverview.h>
#import <HockeyKit/HKUpdateManager.h>

@interface UpdateManager : NSObject

@property (nonatomic, strong) HKAppOverview *appOverview;
@property (nonatomic, strong) HKUpdateManager *updateManager;

@end

Step 2: Register with HockeyKit and Check for Updates

@implementation UpdateManager

- (instancetype)initWithAppOverview:(HKAppOverview *)appOverview {
    self = [super init];
    if (self) {
        _appOverview = appOverview;
        _updateManager = [[HKUpdateManager alloc] initWithAppOverview:appOverview];
        
        // Check for updates every hour
        [NSTimer scheduledTimerWithTimeInterval:3600.0 target:self selector:@selector(checkForUpdates:) userInfo:nil repeats:YES];
    }
    
    return self;
}

- (void)checkForUpdates:(NSTimer *)timer {
    [_updateManager checkUpdateStatus:^(HKUpdateStatus status, NSError * _Nullable error) {
        if (status == HKUpdateStatusAvailable) {
            // Update is available, prompt users to install
        } else if (status == HKUpdateStatusNotAvailable) {
            // No update available
        }
        
        if (error != nil) {
            // Handle error
        }
    }];
}

@end

Step 3: Prompt Users to Install the Latest Version

@implementation UpdateManager

- (void)installLatestVersion {
    // Implement logic to prompt users to install latest version
    // For example:
    NSString *url = [NSURL URLWithString:@"https://example.com/latest-version.ipa"];
    UIApplication *application = [[UIApplication sharedApplication] currentApplication];
    application.openURL(url options:0 completionHandler:nil];
}

@end

Conclusion

While there is no native mechanism for managing iOS app updates, third-party libraries like HockeyKit can help with the process. By understanding how to use these libraries and implementing the necessary logic, you can ensure that your organization’s employees or customers receive timely updates for their mobile apps.

Best Practices for Update Management

• Regularly check for updates using a scheduled timer
• Prompt users to install the latest version when an update is available
• Handle errors and exceptions gracefully
• Implement logic to prompt users to download the latest version

By following these best practices and leveraging third-party libraries, you can effectively manage iOS app updates and maintain the security and functionality of your organization’s mobile applications.

Last modified on 2024-08-06