How to Automate macOS Application Notarization

“I’ve just notarize an app with Xcode organizer UI. As a next step I want to do it in [a] CI process. How to do it?”

“Is there instruction on how to best integrate [notarization] into a CI build process?”

“How can I get this [notarization tool output] from the command line so the build script can deal with the result?”

Notarization is an important step in the macOS application preparation process for distribution outside the Mac App Store. Basically it registers your application’s binary with Apple. Correspondingly Apple would scan it for known malware then provide a cryptographic stamp of approval. All of these happen automatically without human intervention.

At least it is automatic on Apple’s side. On the other a hand you could be stuck with signing and notarizing the binary manually by clicking through Xcode’s Export Assistant dialogs. Unless you can automate this process as part of your CI/CD setup.

This book provides you with a step-by-step guide to automate the notarization process and integrate it into Xcode Server as a model CI/ CD system. Straightaway save 40–60 hours of trial and error and get a working automated notarization system in less than a day’s work.

If you are a DevOps person, team lead, architect, or development manager of an organization that distributes (or planning to distribute) macOS applications, then this book is for you. Then again if you only sell through the Mac App Store, this is not a book you are looking for.

This edition was written with Xcode 13 and macOS Monterey in mind. Having previous exposure with Xcode would be useful. Nevertheless you don’t need macOS software development experience to fully take advantage of this book.