Creating iPhone app for just 2 persons

[Aelita Sophie]

So for my home automation system I want to write an App, so we can control our lights, heater, ventilation etc from a nice phone app. Obviously we can do this all with just a webbased app, but the added functionality would be, to be able to get GPS coordinates, so the heater for example will turn off automatically (or go to "night mode") when nobody is home or even turn on in advance when we are getting near our home. Also when someone rings our doorbell we can get a notification and even a picture of who is standing in front of the door. Or even able to talk with them over the phone, really the options are limitless

 

This is perfectly doable, I know some Objective C and app programming so that isn't the problem. The problem is that we both have an iPhone (5S and 7+). How do I go around and publish the app for just our 2 phones and eventually even push updates to it? Because obviously it isn't something I want to put in the App Store (not for now at least) or at least not publicly for everyone to download.

[DrMacintosh]

Apple allows you to side load your own apps for 1 week at a time before you have to side load them again. (or at least until you restart your phone)

 

This can be done in Xcode. 

[Aelita Sophie]

3 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

Apple allows you to side load your own apps for 1 week at a time before you have to side load them again. (or at least until you restart your phone)

 

This can be done in Xcode. 

So that means I'll be needing to "reupload" the app every week to both of the iPhones?

[DrMacintosh]

2 minutes ago, Aelita Sophie said:

So that means I'll be needing to "reupload" the app every week to both of the iPhones?

Or until you restart your phone. If a week passes but you haven't restarted the Phone you won't have to reload the app. If a week does pass and you restart you'll have to reload the app. 

[Aelita Sophie]

Just now, DrMacintosh said:

Or until you restart your phone. If a week passes but you haven't restarted the Phone you won't have to reload the app. If a week does pass and you restart you'll have to reload the app. 

Hmm, that would be doable ish. Are there any other ways to accomplish my needs?

[DrMacintosh]

Just now, Aelita Sophie said:

Hmm, that would be doable ish. Are there any other ways to accomplish my needs?

No. You have to go through Xcode to make apps anyway so you are kinda forced to use it. 

 

The idea is you should be making some progress within a week and you would want to test it right away all the way until its ready for the store. If you want it to be an app for you only you are stuck with side loading. 

[Aelita Sophie]

1 minute ago, DrMacintosh said:

No. You have to go through Xcode to make apps anyway so you are kinda forced to use it. 

 

The idea is you should be making some progress within a week and you would want to test it right away all the way until its ready for the store. If you want it to be an app for you only you are stuck with side loading. 

Thank you for your insights. I'll be going to do the sideloading then. As I have a "main terminal" thingy in the living room (480p screen) I could put up a message to update the sideload after a week has passed as a reminder (or even add in a weekly planned task within calender)

[DrMacintosh]

Just now, Aelita Sophie said:

Thank you for your insights. I'll be going to do the sideloading then. As I have a "main terminal" thingy in the living room (480p screen) I could put up a message to update the sideload after a week has passed as a reminder (or even add in a weekly planned task within calender)

I believe if you are a registered dev you might be able to keep the app on their for as long as you want (could be wrong) but with that is a yearly fee. 

 

Its not that big of a deal as long as the phone doesn't crash during use and you haven't reloaded it