Altux

Build React Native (Expo) apps for iOS using GitHub Actions and sideload them — no Mac, no paid Apple Developer account.
A simple proof-of-concept to show that indie devs, students, and hobbyists can run their own iOS builds with just GitHub.

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Disclaimers

• For personal & educational use only.
• Not intended for piracy, cracked apps, or redistribution.

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Introduction

This repo contains an example Expo codebase along with a GitHub Actions workflow that generates an unsigned .ipa file.

The generated .ipa can be sideloaded on any iPhone using tools like AltStore or TrollStore.
Perfect for experimenting with Expo / React Native on iOS without the Apple paywall.

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How It Works

1. Start a new Expo project:

   npx create-expo-app my-app

2. Add the build.yml file to .github/workflows/build.yml.

3. Push your repo → Run the workflow in GitHub Actions.

4. Wait ~15–20 minutes → Download the .ipa from Actions → Artifacts.

5. Sideload the .ipa to your iPhone. Done

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Notes on Builds

• The workflow currently uses xcodebuild -configuration Debug. You can switch it to Release to generate final unsigned builds.

• Always keep dependencies updated (expo doctor) → otherwise builds may crash with no clear error.

• GitHub provides free Actions credits even on free accounts (~$6/month).

  • macOS runners cost 10× more than Linux (~$0.08/min).
  • Each build takes ~15–20 minutes.
  • Roughly 25–30 builds/month on a free account (may vary with project size + GitHub’s future limits).

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Sideloading the IPA

After a build finishes:

1. Go to the GitHub Actions run → Download the artifact (.ipa).

2. Move it to your iPhone.

3. Extract and sideload using one of the following:

   • TrollStore → Best option (no 7/14-day limit, but only works on specific iOS versions exploiting macdirtycow and similar bugs).
   • AltStore → Works everywhere, but apps expire every 7 days unless refreshed.
   • SideStore → A community fork of AltStore that also offers wireless sideloading.

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Extra Tools

If you want to do it manually using AltServer + docker, you can automate with tools like AltCon. It sets up:

• AltServer-Linux + custom anisette server inside Docker
• Requires usbmuxd + libimobiledevice/idevicepair
• Creates a throwaway Apple ID (tip: iMusic Apple IDs work without phone verification)
• Installs the app directly on the device after you trust it in Settings.

⚠️ Recommendation: never use your personal Apple ID. Always create a disposable one.

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Future Ideas

Originally, the goal was to build a simple CLI tool to automate everything — from building to sideloading — with just a few commands. I don’t have time to maintain that, but parts of the code exist in this repo for reference.

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Conclusion

This project is not meant to be polished or production-ready. It’s a working hack that shows:

• You don’t need a Mac or Apple’s $100/year developer account just to test your own apps.
• GitHub Actions can handle iOS builds for you.
• Sideloading makes it possible to run them on real devices.

Use this repo as an example, fork it, break it, improve it — and share your experiments!

Credit

• Dadoum's Anisette for providing a stable anisette.
• NyaMisty's AltServer-linux for making Altserver work on Linux.
• Altcon for making sideloading fullying dockerized.