Day 6 — A real release candidate

What you have afterwards: A shippable state is tested on real hardware.

Goal

You create exactly the build that would ship — and test it where it is meant to land.

Understand briefly

The simulator is friendlier than reality. A release candidate gets tested on real devices and on more than the newest operating system version. If you use a test channel, reviewer access belongs to it: a working test account and notes that explain how to reach your core loop.

Follow along

Paste this prompt into the AI tool you work with:

I have a release candidate for [PLATFORM].

1. Give me the steps to create a signed or production-grade build.
2. Write a test list that covers exactly my core loop and yesterday's states.
3. Draft short reviewer notes explaining how to reach the core loop in under a minute.

Tell me which details are time-dependent and must be checked against the official source.

Build it yourself

Create the build, install it on at least one real device or in the real target environment and walk your test list through once.

Verify

Only tick a box once you have really checked it. These criteria are the only way to finish this unit.

The core loop runs on real hardware or in the real target environment.
The build is reproducible and signed or shippable.
Reviewers would reach my core loop without asking.

0 of 3 confirmed

Still open: 3 criteria

Self-check

Three questions about decisions you made today. There are no points and no grade — only the why. Every answer can be changed.

1. Your core loop runs cleanly in the simulator. What does that tell you about real devices?

The same thing — the simulator represents the deviceLittle — the simulator is friendlier than realityIt is stricter, so real devices are uncritical

2. Which operating system versions do you test your release candidate on?

The newest — everyone updates eventually anywayOn more than one, with distance between the versionsThe oldest one I support

3. A stranger is going to review your app. What does that person need from you?

Nothing — the core loop is self-explanatoryA working test account and the route to the core loopA video showing the flow

0 of 3 answered

Next step

Tomorrow you decide based on evidence — not on gut feeling.

Next: Day 7 — Your decision is documented