> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.akinon.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.akinon.com/tutorials/app-maker/build-and-distribute/create-a-build.md).
# Create a Build
## Create a Build
A **build** turns a tagged commit of your project into a native app binary — an IPA for iOS or an APK/AAB for Android and Huawei — signed and ready to ship to the stores. This page walks through triggering a new build and following it through the pipeline.
### Before You Start
A build needs a few things in place first:
* **A project.** The app you want to build must already exist. See [Create Project](/tutorials/app-maker/projects/create-project.md).
* **Signing credentials** for the platform and build target you are building. Upload the iOS distribution certificate and provisioning profiles, or the Android/Huawei keystore, before your first build — see [Credentials](/tutorials/app-maker/projects/settings/credentials.md). The full certificate and profile walkthrough lives in Deploy Project.
* **A git tag** pushed to the project's managed repository. Every build is created from an existing tag; if the tag cannot be found in the repository, the build is rejected.
* **Correct configuration.** Make sure `akinon.json` (package name, bundle identifier, version, app name, icon, splash screen) is up to date before building.
### Starting a New Build
Open the project and click the **+ New Build** button in the top-right of the project header. This opens the **Build** dialog ("Create Build For").
> The button is unavailable while a project is inactive.
### Build Options
Fill in the create-build form:
* **Build Target** — the environment the build runs against: **Production** or **Staging**.
* **OS** — the target platform: **iOS**, **Android**, or **Huawei**.
* **Project name** — shown for reference; this field is read-only.
* **Tag** — the git tag to build from. This must match a tag that already exists in the project's repository.
* **Description** — optional notes about the build (up to 1000 characters). These appear later on the build's detail page.
Click **Create** to start the build.
> If signing or store credentials for the selected platform and target are missing or expired, App Maker stops and shows a **missing credentials** dialog with a **Go to credentials** button that takes you straight to the [Credentials](/tutorials/app-maker/projects/settings/credentials.md) page for that platform and target.
### What Happens Next
Once created, the build appears in the project's **Builds** list and moves through these statuses:
* **Pending** — queued, waiting for a build agent.
* **Deploying** — the pipeline is running.
* **Success** / **Failed** — the final outcome.
You can **cancel** a build while it is still Pending or Deploying.
> Only one active build (Pending or Deploying) is allowed per platform and build target at a time. Wait for the current build to finish — or cancel it — before starting another for the same OS and target.
The Builds list refreshes on its own while a build is in progress. Open a build to follow its timeline, stages, and logs, and to download its artifacts on the [Build Detail](/tutorials/app-maker/build-and-distribute/build-detail.md) page.
### After a Successful Build
When a build succeeds you can download its artifacts (IPA, APK/AAB, and debug symbols) from [Build Detail](/tutorials/app-maker/build-and-distribute/build-detail.md), then send it to the stores:
➡️ Distribute to Stores — TestFlight and App Store releases on iOS, Google Play tracks on Android.
Once a build's store status is successful, it also becomes eligible for over-the-air [CodePush](/tutorials/app-maker/operate-and-update/codepush.md) updates, letting you ship JavaScript-only fixes without a new store submission.
### Related Pages
* [Build Detail](/tutorials/app-maker/build-and-distribute/build-detail.md) — timeline, stages, logs, and artifact downloads.
* [Distribute to Stores](/tutorials/app-maker/build-and-distribute/distribute-to-stores.md) — release a successful build to the app stores.
* [CodePush](/tutorials/app-maker/operate-and-update/codepush.md) — ship JS-only updates over the air.
* [Deploy Project](/tutorials/app-maker/build-and-distribute/deploy-project.md) — credential prerequisites for building.
* [Credentials](/tutorials/app-maker/projects/settings/credentials.md) — manage signing and store credentials per target.
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