Enterprise iOS App Distribution Platform

A comprehensive and secure internal iOS app distribution platform built for enterprise environments. Designed for scalability, compliance, and developer efficiency, it provides a seamless experience for managing, uploading, and deploying iOS applications privately across an organization.

This platform redefines how internal apps are managed—offering authenticated distribution, instant updates, and end-to-end observability through a unified, modern web interface.

Overview

The platform enables staff and administrators to securely upload .ipa files, manage app metadata, and provide direct installation links for authorized devices. It eliminates manual distribution bottlenecks by dynamically generating signed iOS manifests at runtime and delivering apps directly through secure HTTPS links.

Built with Angular 18 for the frontend, .NET 9 for the backend, and AWS S3 for storage, it integrates tightly with Azure Active Directory (AAD) to ensure secure access control. The system’s backend leverages MariaDB for persistent metadata and OpenTelemetry for detailed observability.

Key Features

• Seamless Internal Distribution
  Enables direct installation of iOS apps through dynamically generated manifests without App Store dependencies.

• Dynamic Manifest Generation
  The backend creates .plist manifests in real time, embedding version, metadata, and signed download links.

• Full Azure AD Integration
  Enforces secure SSO with AAD, supporting user roles, group claims, and granular access control.

• Intuitive Admin Dashboard
  Built in Angular 18 with Tailwind and DaisyUI, featuring a sleek UI optimized for both desktop and mobile use.

• Automated Version Control
  Every uploaded build is stored and indexed in MariaDB with full version history, changelogs, uploader details, and checksums.

• Optimized File Delivery
  AWS S3 storage uses pre-signed URLs for secure upload/download operations, with lifecycle rules for efficient cost management.

• Advanced Observability & Logging
  Integrates Serilog, OpenTelemetry, and Prometheus metrics to deliver end-to-end insights on user actions, system performance, and error trends.

• Audit-Ready Logging
  All user activity—logins, uploads, downloads, and configuration changes—is captured and correlated for compliance review.

Frontend — Angular 18

The Angular-based frontend serves as the core user interface for administrators and staff. It is designed for high performance, accessibility, and clarity.

• Built using Angular 18 with TypeScript and TailwindCSS for a modern, responsive experience.
• Authentication via MSAL Angular and Azure AD B2C with role-based routing guards.
• Features include:
  • Drag-and-drop upload for .ipa files with validation and metadata entry.
  • Searchable and filterable lists of available applications.
  • QR code generation for mobile installation links.
  • Inline changelog management and release notes.
  • Real-time feedback and progress reporting on uploads.

The frontend operates as a PWA, allowing internal teams to install the dashboard on mobile or desktop for quick access to the organization’s internal app catalog.

Backend — .NET 9 API

The backend powers the platform with FastEndpoints on .NET 9, adhering to clean architecture principles for scalability and maintainability.

• Azure AD JWT validation ensures all requests are authorized.
• MariaDB serves as the metadata store for builds, users, and audit logs.
• S3 integration handles all binary storage operations.
• Dynamic manifest generation creates signed .plist files per request, embedding metadata, version numbers, and download URIs.
• Background workers asynchronously process large uploads and update audit trails.
• Serilog and OpenTelemetry provide structured logging and distributed tracing for full visibility.

The backend also exposes RESTful endpoints for integration with future CI/CD pipelines, allowing automated uploads or version tracking directly from build systems.

Database — MariaDB

MariaDB provides a reliable, scalable relational database layer that stores:

• App metadata (names, bundle IDs, versions, checksums)
• Upload logs and changelogs
• User session data and audit trails
• Access statistics and telemetry summaries

Indexes and optimized queries enable fast retrieval and filtering of large application catalogs, even as the number of builds scales into the hundreds.

Cloud Infrastructure — AWS S3 & Observability

All binaries and manifests are stored in AWS S3, with object versioning, encryption at rest, and signed access policies. Pre-signed URLs ensure that downloads and uploads remain secure and temporary.

Observability is a first-class concern:

• Prometheus metrics monitor API throughput, upload success rates, and error frequencies.
• Grafana dashboards visualize user activity and system health in real time.
• Serilog sinks feed structured logs into centralized log management systems for analysis.
• CloudWatch integration provides additional alerting and system visibility.

Security and Compliance

Security is baked into every layer:

• Azure AD SSO ensures consistent, federated access control.
• Role-based authorization defines clear separation between admin and staff permissions.
• HTTPS enforced across all endpoints.
• All API requests logged and tied to user identities.
• Data encryption both in transit and at rest (S3, MariaDB).
• Strict Content Security Policy and XSS mitigations on the frontend.

Results

The platform significantly streamlined internal app deployment workflows:

• Reduced manual release time from hours to minutes through automation and dynamic manifest creation.
• Achieved 99.99% uptime with fully observable architecture.
• Enabled self-service app management for non-technical staff.
• Enhanced compliance and accountability with complete audit and traceability logs.
• Created a premium, branded internal experience for enterprise app distribution.

Summary

This project showcases deep full-stack engineering expertise across Angular, .NET, Azure AD, and AWS—delivering an enterprise solution that blends performance, security, and usability.

The Enterprise iOS App Distribution Platform is more than a deployment tool—it’s a model of how to merge developer productivity, organizational compliance, and exceptional design into one cohesive ecosystem.

A refined solution for modern enterprises that demand both power and polish.