Setting up CI/CD for a mobile application via GitHub Actions

CI/CD Setup for Mobile Applications via GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions is the most flexible CI/CD option for mobile development when the repository is already on GitHub. iOS requires macOS runner, Android requires Linux. Both available in GitHub cloud or as self-hosted.

iOS: Main Issue—Runners and Code Signing

GitHub provides free macOS runners (macos-14, Apple Silicon). macOS minutes are 10x more expensive than Linux—active development exhausts free limits quickly. Self-hosted macOS runner on Mac mini in the office solves cost but adds administration.

Code signing on GitHub Actions—via fastlane match or importing certificate from secrets:

- name: Import certificate
  run: |
    echo "${{ secrets.DISTRIBUTION_CERTIFICATE_P12 }}" | base64 --decode > cert.p12
    security create-keychain -p "${{ secrets.KEYCHAIN_PASSWORD }}" build.keychain
    security import cert.p12 -k build.keychain -P "${{ secrets.CERT_PASSWORD }}" -T /usr/bin/codesign
    security set-keychain-settings -lut 21600 build.keychain
    security unlock-keychain -p "${{ secrets.KEYCHAIN_PASSWORD }}" build.keychain
    security list-keychains -d user -s build.keychain login.keychain

This is manual approach—works, but fragile when updating certificate. In production better use fastlane match readonly: true with MATCH_PASSWORD in secrets.

Complete iOS Workflow

name: iOS CI

on:
  push:
    branches: [main, develop]
  pull_request:
    branches: [main]

jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: macos-14
    steps:
    - uses: actions/checkout@v4

    - name: Select Xcode
      run: sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode_16.0.app

    - name: Cache CocoaPods
      uses: actions/cache@v4
      with:
        path: Pods
        key: ${{ runner.os }}-pods-${{ hashFiles('Podfile.lock') }}

    - name: Install pods
      run: bundle exec pod install

    - name: Run tests
      run: |
        bundle exec fastlane scan \
          --scheme "MyApp" \
          --device "iPhone 16" \
          --code-coverage true \
          --output-files "test-results.xml"

    - name: Upload test results
      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
      with:
        name: test-results
        path: test-results.xml
        if-no-files-found: error

  deploy-beta:
    needs: test
    runs-on: macos-14
    if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
    steps:
    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
    - name: Setup Ruby
      uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
      with:
        bundler-cache: true
    - name: Deploy to TestFlight
      env:
        MATCH_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MATCH_PASSWORD }}
        APP_STORE_CONNECT_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.ASC_API_KEY }}
      run: bundle exec fastlane release

needs: test—deploy-beta runs only if tests pass. if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'—deploy only from main.

Android: Much Simpler

jobs:
  android-build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
    - uses: actions/checkout@v4

    - name: Set up JDK
      uses: actions/setup-java@v4
      with:
        java-version: '17'
        distribution: 'temurin'

    - name: Cache Gradle
      uses: actions/cache@v4
      with:
        path: |
          ~/.gradle/caches
          ~/.gradle/wrapper
        key: gradle-${{ hashFiles('**/*.gradle*', '**/gradle-wrapper.properties') }}

    - name: Build and test
      run: ./gradlew test assembleRelease

    - name: Sign APK
      uses: r0adkll/sign-android-release@v1
      with:
        releaseDirectory: app/build/outputs/apk/release
        signingKeyBase64: ${{ secrets.SIGNING_KEY }}
        alias: ${{ secrets.KEY_ALIAS }}
        keyStorePassword: ${{ secrets.KEY_STORE_PASSWORD }}
        keyPassword: ${{ secrets.KEY_PASSWORD }}

    - name: Upload to Firebase App Distribution
      uses: wzieba/Firebase-Distribution-Github-Action@v1
      with:
        appId: ${{ secrets.FIREBASE_APP_ID }}
        token: ${{ secrets.FIREBASE_TOKEN }}
        groups: qa-team
        file: app/build/outputs/apk/release/app-release-signed.apk

Linux runner for Android—free without minute limits (on public repos). Gradle cache saves 3–5 minutes per run.

Device Test Matrix

strategy:
  matrix:
    device: ["iPhone 15", "iPhone SE (3rd generation)", "iPad Pro (12.9-inch)"]
jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: macos-14
    steps:
    - name: Run tests on ${{ matrix.device }}
      run: xcodebuild test -scheme MyApp -destination "platform=iOS Simulator,name=${{ matrix.device }}"

Runs tests in parallel on three devices—total time doesn't increase, coverage expands.

Timeline

Basic workflows (test + build) for iOS and Android: 3–5 days. Full configuration with code signing, device matrix, caching, TestFlight/Firebase deployment: 1–2 weeks. Cost calculated individually.