How to run my app locally without submitting to the app store-CodePudding

I've written a personal budgeting/cash flow model app for my iPad. I'm older and a retired software developer and I created this just cause I like to code. It's taken me over two years to create as a labor of "love" of the craft. Using cloc I get:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Language                     files          blank        comment           code
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swift                          217           5523           3258          24990
CSV                             13              0              0          14680
Objective-C                      5            685            125           2076
SQL                              9            213             29            845
JSON                            15              0              0            510
C/C   Header                     7           1107           1413            319
XML                              9              0              1            189
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUM:                           275           7528           4826          43609
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't have the resources to support an app published publicly in the app store so I'll not be submitting it to Apple to distribute. But, I'd like to be able to use it on my iPad and my wife's iPad. I've submitted it for TestFlight and my wife was running it like that for a while. But every 90 days I'd have to resubmit it and version it. So, right now I publish it via XCode off my Mac as a test app and that works fine so I know that is an option.

But, I may not purchase a developer license in perpetuity as I get older and don't regularly practice programming.

Is there a way that I can still run the app on our iPads even after I'm no longer a registered Apple Developer?

CodePudding user response：

I'm afraid you can as long as you are a registered Apple developer. Take a look here: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/distributing-your-app-to-registered-devices

CodePudding user response：

I'm not sure, but you can use your own app without purchasing a Developer account by installing JailBreak on devices(I'll say it again, I'm not sure ). Of course I wouldn't recommend it due to security vulnerabilities.

CodePudding user response：

First of all, cudos for developing the app.

Apple clarifies the renewal situation here:

If your Apple Developer Program membership expires, your apps will no longer be available for download and you won’t be able to submit new apps or updates. You’ll lose access to prerelease software, Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles, and TSIs. However, your apps will still function for users who have already installed or downloaded them, and you will still have access to App Store Connect and free development resources.

So basically when your build expires after 90 days, you won't be able to submit a new one.

Another issue is that even if you keep the subscription, but don't update the code, the iOS platform is constantly updating, so even if you keep the same build alive, eventually it won't work on any device (unless you also avoid updating the device). This issue of course is a few years away, but still.

So I'm afraid I don't see any good solution.