store-publish-100-automation

Store publish 100% automation (Sept 2026)

Honest ceiling

True 100% end-to-end is impossible while Apple App Review is a human gate. Everything else in our critical path must be automatic.

Stage	Automatable?	Mechanism
Build + upload (iOS/Android)	Yes	native-release.yml
Preflight + submit for review	Yes	asc_submit_for_review.py + Fastlane
App Review	No	Apple humans
Post-approval → live (iOS)	Yes	releaseType: AFTER_APPROVAL via Fastlane automatic_release: true
Stuck MANUAL release	Yes	Watcher → POST /v1/appStoreVersionReleaseRequests via asc_release_version.py
Play production rollout	Yes	Publisher API completed / staged fraction (already in release path)
Rejection / Metadata Rejected	Mostly	Agent loop: diagnose → fix → resubmit (skill store-rejection-auto-heal)
Account holds / contracts / export compliance	No / rare	Human ASC account actions

Never tell the CEO "nothing left to do" unless releaseType=AFTER_APPROVAL is verified on the submitted version and watcher watches that version (not only develop tip).

Required repo state

1. native-ios/fastlane/Fastfile: automatic_release: true (maps to ASC AFTER_APPROVAL).
2. store-release-watcher.yml:
   • Prefer ASC versions in review/pending over develop tip.
   • On PENDING_DEVELOPER_RELEASE, auto-run scripts/asc_release_version.py.
3. ios-release-approved-version.yml remains a manual override only.
4. Verify after submit:

   # Expect releaseType AFTER_APPROVAL on the waiting version
   python3 scripts/asc/asc_poll_version_state.py --version <X.Y.Z> --json
   

Agent execution checklist

- [ ] Confirm Fastfile automatic_release: true
- [ ] Confirm submitted ASV releaseType == AFTER_APPROVAL (PATCH if MANUAL and editable)
- [ ] Confirm watcher target == submitted version (not ahead develop tip)
- [ ] On PENDING_DEVELOPER_RELEASE: run asc_release_version.py; read back READY_FOR_SALE / PROCESSING
- [ ] Play: confirm production track completed (or intended fraction)
- [ ] Report residual: only Apple review / rejection / account hold

Do not

• Claim publish is automatic while automatic_release: false / releaseType: MANUAL.
• Rely on watcher alone when it watches develop tip ahead of the in-review version.
• Ask the CEO to click "Release This Version" — agents own appStoreVersionReleaseRequests.
• Spend against the $20/mo cap for paid release tooling; ASC + Play APIs are free within existing keys.

References

• Apple: Select an App Store version release option (Automatically release this version).
• Apple API: appStoreVersionReleaseRequests for MANUAL pending release.
• Fastlane deliver: automatic_release: true → AFTER_APPROVAL (community confirmation May 2026).
• Repo: scripts/asc_release_version.py, .github/workflows/store-release-watcher.yml.

Related skills

• asc-after-approval-auto-release — iOS releaseType + PATCH + release request.
• store-rejection-auto-heal — rejection → fix → resubmit loop.