Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://setup.despia.com/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Table of Contents
- Prerequisites
- Initial Setup in Despia
- Creating App Icons
- Creating Splash Screens
- Bundle ID Configuration
- Publishing Your App
- Testing & TestFlight
- App Store Submission
- Over-the-Air Updates
- Troubleshooting
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:
- An active Apple Developer Account ($99/year)
- A deployed web application with HTTPS enabled
- Access to the Despia platform
- Design software (Canva recommended for icon/splash creation)
- Basic understanding of iOS app submission process
Initial Setup in Despia
Navigate to your Despia project dashboard and locate the Dynamic App Store Source section.
Critical Requirements:
- Your URL must use HTTPS (HTTP will not work)
- Verify the URL is correct and accessible
Verification Steps:
- Copy your web app URL from Despia
- Open a new browser tab
- Paste and load the URL
- Confirm your application loads correctly
Common Error: Typos in the URL will cause build failures. Always test your URL before proceeding.
Creating App Icons
Requirements
- Dimensions: 1024 x 1024 pixels (exactly)
- Format: PNG
- Background: No transparency allowed
- Safe Area: Leave adequate padding around logo elements
Step-by-Step Process
Using Canva
- Create New Design
- Set custom dimensions: 1024 x 1024 px
- Choose a background color (no transparency)
- Design Your Icon
- Upload your logo
- Center and size appropriately
- Leave safe margins (Apple will apply corner radius)
- Avoid placing critical elements at edges
- Export Settings
- File type: PNG
- Quality: High
- Disable “Transparent Background” (critical!)
- Upload to Despia
- Navigate to iOS Icon section
- Click “Upload Icon”
- Drag and drop your PNG file
- Wait for upload confirmation
Common Icon Mistakes
| Issue | Result |
|---|
| Wrong dimensions (not 1024x1024) | Build failure |
| Transparent background | Apple rejection |
| JPEG format | Build failure |
| Logo too close to edges | Elements cut off |
Creating Splash Screens
Requirements
- Dimensions: 1024 x 1024 pixels
- Format: GIF (can be static or animated)
- Design: Logo should fill most of the frame
Creating the Splash Screen
- Design in Canva
- Use 1024 x 1024 dimensions
- Design with your logo centered
- Add animations (optional):
- Blur in
- Fade in
- Swipe
- Party effects
- Custom transitions
- Export as GIF
- Select “Download” → “GIF”
- Choose animation settings if applicable
- Download to your computer
- Upload to Despia
- Scroll to “Splash Screen Layout” section
- Click upload
- Select your GIF file
- Confirm upload
Tip: Animated splash screens can make your app feel more polished, but keep animations under 2-3 seconds.
Bundle ID Configuration
Overview
Your app uses multiple bundle identifiers for different modules and extensions. Each serves a specific purpose.
Bundle ID Structure
Below is the complete bundle ID hierarchy for com.despia.myapp:
1. Core Bundle ID
| Property | Value |
|---|
| Name | Core Bundle ID |
| Bundle Identifier | com.despia.myapp |
group.com.despia.myapp.onesignalgroup.com.despia.myapp.Clipgroup.com.despia.myapp.sharetargetgroup.com.despia.myapp.widgetsharing
Enabled Capabilities:
- App Attest
- App Groups
- Associated Domains
- iCloud (Include CloudKit Support)
- Push Notifications (Broadcast Capability)
2. OneSignal Module
| Property | Value |
|---|
| Name | OneSignal Module |
| Bundle Identifier | com.despia.myapp.OneSignalNotificationServiceExtension |
group.com.despia.myapp.onesignal
Enabled Capabilities:
- App Groups
- Associated Domains
- Push Notifications (Broadcast Capability)
3. App Clip Module
| Property | Value |
|---|
| Name | AppClip Module |
| Bundle Identifier | com.despia.myapp.Clip |
group.com.despia.myapp.Clip
Enabled Capabilities:
- App Groups
- Associated Domains
- Push Notifications
4. Share Extension Module
| Property | Value |
|---|
| Name | Share Extension Module |
| Bundle Identifier | com.despia.myapp.ShareExtensionTarget |
group.com.despia.myapp.sharetarget
Enabled Capabilities:
| Property | Value |
|---|
| Name | Home Widget Module |
| Bundle Identifier | com.despia.myapp.ImageWidget |
group.com.despia.myapp.widgetsharing
Enabled Capabilities:
App Groups Explained
App Groups allow data sharing between your main app and extensions:
| App Group | Purpose |
|---|
group.com.despia.myapp.onesignal | OneSignal notification data |
group.com.despia.myapp.Clip | App Clip shared data |
group.com.despia.myapp.sharetarget | Share extension data |
group.com.despia.myapp.widgetsharing | Widget data synchronization |
Publishing Your App
Building Your Application
- Navigate to Build Section
- Go to your Despia dashboard
- Locate the “Publish App” or “Build” button
- Initiate Build
- Click “Publish App”
- Despia will begin building your iOS application
- Build time: typically 15-30 minutes
- Monitor Build Status
- Check build logs for any errors
- Common issues:
- Missing splash screen
- Invalid icon dimensions
- Incorrect URL configuration
Build Output
After successful build, you’ll receive:
.ipa file (iOS app package)- Build number
- Version information
- Upload instructions for App Store Connect
Testing & TestFlight
Uploading to TestFlight
- App Store Connect
- Upload Build
- Despia automatically uploads to App Store Connect
- Wait for processing (10-30 minutes)
- Build will appear in TestFlight tab
- Processing Status
- Initial upload: Processing
- Ready for testing: Available
- Issues found: Review errors tab
Internal Testing
- Add Testers
- TestFlight → Internal Testing
- Add Apple Developer team members
- Limit: 100 internal testers
- Distribute Build
- Select your processed build
- Click “Provide Export Compliance Information”
- Answer encryption questions (usually “No”)
- Build becomes available immediately
External Testing
- Create Test Group
- TestFlight → External Testing
- Create new group
- Add up to 10,000 testers
- Submit for Beta Review
- Required before external testing
- Review time: 24-48 hours
- Provide test information
- Send Invitations
- Share TestFlight public link, or
- Invite via email addresses
Testing Best Practices
- Test on multiple device sizes
- Verify all native features work
- Check push notifications
- Test in-app purchases (if applicable)
- Verify deep linking
- Test offline behavior
App Store Submission
Pre-Submission Checklist
- App tested thoroughly via TestFlight
- All required metadata prepared
- Screenshots for all required device sizes
- App description written
- Keywords selected
- Privacy policy URL available
- Support URL active
- App category selected
- Age rating completed
Name & Description:
- App name (30 characters max)
- Subtitle (30 characters max)
- Description (4000 characters max)
- Keywords (100 characters, comma-separated)
- Support URL
- Marketing URL (optional)
Pricing:
- Base price or free
- In-app purchases (if applicable)
Categories:
- Primary category (required)
- Secondary category (optional)
Screenshots
Required for:
- iPhone 6.7” (iPhone 15 Pro Max)
- iPhone 6.5” (iPhone 14 Plus)
- iPhone 5.5” (iPhone 8 Plus)
- iPad Pro 12.9” (6th gen)
- iPad Pro 12.9” (2nd gen)
Specifications:
- Format: JPEG or PNG
- Color space: RGB
- No transparency
- Min 72 DPI
App Privacy
Navigate to App Privacy section:
- Data Collection Declaration
- What data do you collect?
- How is data used?
- Is data linked to user identity?
- Is data used for tracking?
- Common Categories:
- Contact Info (email, name)
- Identifiers (user ID, device ID)
- Usage Data (app interactions)
- Diagnostics (crash logs)
Submitting for Review
- Select Build
- Version Information → Build
- Click ”+” to add build
- Select your TestFlight build
- Confirm app icon appears
- Export Compliance
- Does your app use encryption? (Usually No for web-based apps)
- If Yes, file for export compliance
- Content Rights
- Confirm you have rights to all content
- Third-party content acknowledgments
- Advertising Identifier
- Does your app use IDFA?
- Purpose of usage
- Version Release
- Automatic release after approval, or
- Manual release
- Submit for Review
- Click “Submit for Review”
- Review time: 24 hours - 7 days (typically 1-2 days)
Review Guidelines Compliance
Common rejection reasons:
- App crashes or bugs
- Incomplete functionality
- Misleading description or screenshots
- Missing privacy policy
- Insufficient app functionality
- Broken links
Best practices:
- App should work without account creation (if possible)
- All features mentioned should be functional
- Clear value proposition
- Professional UI/UX
- Accurate metadata
Over-the-Air Updates
Understanding OTA Updates
Despia apps support over-the-air (OTA) updates, meaning:
- Update web app and mobile app updates automatically
- No App Store review needed for web changes
- No rebuild required
- Instant deployment
- No cloud credits consumed
When OTA Works
Changes that update automatically:
- UI/UX modifications
- Content updates
- Bug fixes in web code
- Feature additions (web-based)
- Style changes
- Business logic updates
When Rebuild Required
You only need to rebuild when changing:
- Bundle IDs
- App capabilities
- Native configurations
- iOS icon
- Splash screen
- Push notification certificates
- Associated domains
- App Groups
Rebuild Frequency: Typically once or twice per year
Testing OTA Updates
- Make Change in Web App
- Update your web application
- Deploy to production
- Close Native App
- Force close the iOS app
- Wait 2-3 seconds
- Reopen App
- Launch app again
- Changes appear immediately
Example: Add a button to your web app → Close iOS app → Reopen → Button appears
Pro Tip: Critical bug fixes can be deployed in minutes instead of waiting days for App Store review.
Troubleshooting
Build Failures
Invalid Icon Dimensions
Error: “Icon size must be 1024x1024” Solution:
- Verify icon is exactly 1024x1024 pixels
- Check export settings in design tool
- Re-export and upload
Transparent Background
Error: “Icon contains alpha channel” Solution:
- Export with solid background color
- Disable transparency in export settings
- Use PNG with RGB (not RGBA)
Missing Splash Screen
Error: “Splash screen required” Solution:
- Upload splash screen GIF (1024x1024)
- Verify file uploaded successfully
- Check Despia dashboard confirms upload
Invalid URL
Error: “Failed to load web app” Solution:
- Verify HTTPS (not HTTP)
- Test URL in browser
- Check for typos
- Ensure web app is live
TestFlight Issues
Build Not Appearing
Symptom: Build doesn’t show in TestFlight Solution:
- Wait 10-30 minutes for processing
- Check App Store Connect for processing status
- Verify build uploaded successfully
- Check email for processing issues
Export Compliance
Issue: Build stuck in processing Solution:
- Provide export compliance information
- Answer encryption questions
- Usually select “No” for web-based apps
Testers Can’t Install
Issue: TestFlight shows “Unable to Install” Solution:
- Verify tester accepted invitation
- Check device compatibility
- Ensure iOS version meets minimum requirement
- Remove and re-add tester
App Store Rejection
Minimum Functionality
Rejection: “Your app does not provide sufficient functionality” Solution:
- Enhance core features using Despia NPM package
- Add native capabilities:
- Push notifications
- In-app purchases (Revenue Cat)
- Face ID/Touch ID
- Camera access
- Location services
- Demonstrate clear value proposition
Broken Links
Rejection: “Links in app do not work” Solution:
- Test all links before submission
- Verify external URLs are accessible
- Check deep linking functionality
- Update any broken endpoints
Misleading Content
Rejection: “Screenshots do not match app functionality” Solution:
- Update screenshots to reflect actual app
- Ensure all depicted features work
- Remove any mockup or “coming soon” imagery
Native Features Not Working
Push Notifications
Issue: Notifications not received Debug:
- Verify OneSignal configuration
- Check bundle ID matches OneSignal app
- Confirm certificates uploaded
- Test with OneSignal dashboard
App Groups
Issue: Data not shared between extensions Debug:
- Verify App Group IDs match across all targets
- Check App Group capability enabled in App Store Connect
- Rebuild app if changed
Deep Linking
Issue: Associated domains not working Debug:
- Verify domain in Associated Domains capability
- Upload apple-app-site-association file to domain
- Ensure HTTPS enabled on domain
- Check file accessible at:
https://yourdomain.com/.well-known/apple-app-site-association
Additional Resources
Despia Resources
- NPM Package Documentation: Add native features programmatically
- Customer Support: Available via Intercom in Despia dashboard
- Website: despia.com
- Email Support: hey@despia.com
Apple Resources
Design Resources
- Canva: Icon and splash screen creation
- Icon Size Reference: 1024x1024px for App Store
- Screenshot Tools: Previewed, Screenshot Creator
Quick Reference
Browser-Based Tests
Verify Web App Accessibility
- Open a new browser tab
- Paste your web app URL
- Press Enter
- Your app should load without errors
- Check browser address bar shows lock icon (HTTPS)
- If you see “Not Secure” or HTTP, update to HTTPS
Check Icon Dimensions
Method 1: Online Tool
- Visit: https://www.imageresizer.com/image-size-checker
- Upload your icon PNG
- Verify shows: 1024 x 1024 pixels
Method 2: Browser Developer Tools
- Drag your icon into a browser tab
- Right-click the image → “Inspect” or “Inspect Element”
- Look for dimensions in the Elements panel
- Should show:
1024 × 1024
Method 3: File Properties
- Right-click icon file → “Get Info” (Mac) or “Properties” (Windows)
- Check “Dimensions” or “Size”
- Should read: 1024 x 1024 pixels
Build Timeline
| Stage | Duration |
|---|
| Despia Build | 15-30 minutes |
| App Store Connect Processing | 10-30 minutes |
| TestFlight Review (External) | 24-48 hours |
| App Store Review | 1-7 days (avg 1-2) |
| Total Time to Launch | 2-10 days |
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Cost | Frequency |
|---|
| Apple Developer Account | $99 | Annual |
| Despia Build Credits | Varies | Per build |
| OTA Updates | $0 | Unlimited |
Conclusion
You now have a complete guide to deploying your Despia iOS application to the Apple App Store. The process involves:
- Setting up your web app URL in Despia
- Creating properly sized icons and splash screens
- Configuring bundle IDs and capabilities
- Building and testing via TestFlight
- Submitting to App Store
- Leveraging OTA updates for continuous deployment
Key Advantages:
- Ship native iOS app from web application
- Over-the-air updates without rebuilds
- Add native features via NPM package
- Save on repeated build costs
- Fix critical bugs instantly
Need Help?
- Open customer support in Despia dashboard
- Email: hey@despia.com
- Check video tutorials for visual guides
