CodeMagic CI/CD Setup for Mobile App

Setting Up CodeMagic for Mobile App CI/CD

CodeMagic is a CI/CD service created specifically for mobile development. Unlike GitHub Actions or GitLab CI where you need to configure macOS agents, keychain, Xcode, Android SDK yourself, CodeMagic provides pre-configured macOS/Linux machines with tools already installed. For Flutter projects — especially convenient: officially supported by the Flutter team.

Two Configuration Formats

CodeMagic supports GUI configuration (Workflow Editor) and codemagic.yaml. For serious projects — only YAML: it's versioned in Git, changes reviewed via PR.

# codemagic.yaml
workflows:
  android-release:
    name: Android Release
    max_build_duration: 60
    environment:
      groups:
        - keystore_credentials
        - google_play_credentials
      vars:
        PACKAGE_NAME: "com.myapp.android"
      android_signing:
        - keystore_reference
    triggering:
      events:
        - push
      branch_patterns:
        - pattern: 'main'
    scripts:
      - name: Set build number
        script: |
          BUILD_NUMBER=$(($(google-play get-latest-build-number \
            --package-name "$PACKAGE_NAME" \
            --tracks=internal) + 1))
          cd android && ./gradlew versionCode -PversionCode=$BUILD_NUMBER
      - name: Build Android
        script: |
          cd android
          ./gradlew bundleRelease
    artifacts:
      - android/app/build/outputs/bundle/**/*.aab
    publishing:
      google_play:
        credentials: $GCLOUD_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_CREDENTIALS
        track: internal
        submit_as_draft: false

iOS Configuration

  ios-release:
    name: iOS Release
    max_build_duration: 90
    environment:
      groups:
        - appstore_credentials
      ios_signing:
        distribution_type: app_store
        bundle_identifier: com.myapp.ios
    scripts:
      - name: Set build number
        script: |
          BUILD_NUMBER=$(app-store-connect get-latest-build-number \
            --app-id $APP_STORE_APP_ID)
          agvtool new-version -all $((BUILD_NUMBER + 1))
      - name: Build iOS
        script: |
          xcode-project build-ipa \
            --workspace "MyApp.xcworkspace" \
            --scheme "MyApp"
    artifacts:
      - build/ios/ipa/*.ipa
    publishing:
      app_store_connect:
        api_key: $APP_STORE_CONNECT_PRIVATE_KEY
        key_id: $APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY_IDENTIFIER
        issuer_id: $APP_STORE_CONNECT_ISSUER_ID
        submit_to_testflight: true
        beta_groups:
          - Internal Testers

Code Signing in CodeMagic

CodeMagic offers two paths for iOS signing:

Automatic code signing — CodeMagic creates a temporary certificate and provisioning profile via App Store Connect API. Doesn't require Fastlane Match. Convenient, but depends on CI user rights in App Store Connect.

Manual code signing — upload .p12 and .mobileprovision to CodeMagic Encrypted Variables. More reliable, full control.

Flutter in CodeMagic

  flutter-multiplatform:
    name: Flutter Release
    environment:
      flutter: stable
    scripts:
      - name: Get dependencies
        script: flutter pub get
      - name: Run tests
        script: flutter test --coverage
      - name: Build Android
        script: |
          flutter build appbundle \
            --release \
            --dart-define=ENV=production
      - name: Build iOS
        script: |
          flutter build ipa \
            --release \
            --export-options-plist=/Users/builder/export_options.plist

Dependency Caching

cache:
  cache_paths:
    - $FLUTTER_ROOT/.pub-cache
    - $HOME/.gradle/caches
    - $HOME/Library/Caches/CocoaPods

Without caching, pod install and flutter pub get take 3–5 additional minutes per build.

Process

Register in CodeMagic → connect repository → write codemagic.yaml → configure signing (automatic or manual) → add environment groups with secrets → configure publishing → test run → write documentation.

Timeline: 2–3 days for one platform configuration, up to 5 days for iOS + Android + Flutter with publication to both stores. Cost is calculated individually.