App Center Migration has been a hot topic on everyone’s mind since Microsoft announced the <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/appcenter/retirement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">retirement of App Center</a>. This announcement has triggered a significant shift in the mobile DevOps landscape. In response, a surge in App Center migration has been observed, with hundreds of companies transitioning to Appcircle. Here are the top five reasons why Appcircle is becoming the go-to choice for mobile DevOps.
1. Superior Build Capabilities Microsoft App Center provides build services for mobile platforms such as iOS Native, Android Native, React Native, Unity, and Xamarin. Compared to App Center, the Appcircle <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/build" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Build</a> module has attracted the interest of organizations for being much more powerful and flexible.
<ul>
<li>Fully Customizable Workflows: Unlike App Center, which restricts users to a standard build flow, Appcircle offers a highly customizable workflow with hundreds of <a href="https://appcircle.io/integrations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">integration</a> steps. This flexibility allows organizations to tailor their build pipelines to their specific needs.</li>
<li>Custom Script Support: While App Center offers limited custom script steps (Post-clone, Pre-build, Post-build), Appcircle allows <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/workflows/common-workflow-steps/custom-script" target="_blank" rel="noopener">custom scripting</a> at any step, providing greater control and customization.</li>
<li>Build Performance: Appcircle&#8217;s build speed is three times faster than App Center, thanks to its advanced hardware infrastructure and optimized pipeline structure. This efficiency enables quicker releases.</li>
<li>Build Caching for Better Performance: Appcircle includes an advanced <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/workflows/common-workflow-steps/build-cache" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cache mechanism</a>, ensuring faster and more secure compilation processes, unlike App Center which lacks a cache management structure.</li>
<li>Extensive Mobile Stack Support: Appcircle supports all major mobile stacks within 24 hours, ensuring seamless integration for various app types.</li>
<li>Flutter Support: Appcircle offers native <a href="https://appcircle.io/platforms/flutter-ci-cd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flutter support</a>, addressing the lack of built-in support and limited script capabilities in App Center.</li>
<li>Net Maui Support: App Center currently does not support .NET MAUI, limiting its functionality for developers building cross-platform mobile applications with the latest technologies. In contrast, <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/build/platform-build-guides/building-dotnet-maui-apps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Appcircle fully supports .NET MAUI</a>, making it a crucial tool for modern mobile DevOps.</li>
</ul>
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2. Enhanced Beta Distribution Appcircle provides a more enterprise-oriented structure for Testing Distribution and Enterprise App Store needs. Companies can utilize existing enterprise authentication methods such as LDAP and SSO. Additionally, Appcircle offers a robust CLI that allows for easy integration into existing build pipelines, enhancing the testing and distribution process.
3. Comprehensive All-in-One Solution Appcircle integrates all necessary Mobile DevOps features in one platform, including:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://appcircle.io/build" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Build</a>: Appcircle&#8217;s Build module offers a seamless, cloud-based CI/CD pipeline tailored for mobile apps, allowing developers to automate their build processes without requiring a local machine. It supports various mobile frameworks and languages, streamlining the continuous integration of apps with easy configuration and scalable resources.</li>
<li><a href="https://appcircle.io/testing-distribution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Testing Distribution</a>: Testing Distribution module enables teams to distribute their mobile app builds to internal testers easily, facilitating continuous feedback during development. It provides a secure platform to share apps with testers, track their feedback, and ensure thorough testing before release.</li>
<li><a href="https://appcircle.io/signing-identities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Signing Identity Management</a>: Signing Identities Management module simplifies the handling of mobile app signing certificates, provisioning profiles, and keystores. It securely stores and manages these assets, ensuring hassle-free app signing during build and distribution processes.</li>
<li><a href="https://appcircle.io/publish-to-stores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Publish to Stores Automation</a>: Appcircle&#8217;s Publish to Stores module automates the process of submitting mobile apps to major app stores like Apple App Store, Google Play and Huawei App Gallery. It streamlines app releases by handling store-specific requirements and ensuring a smooth and efficient publishing workflow.</li>
<li><a href="https://appcircle.io/enterprise-app-store" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enterprise App Store</a>: Enterprise App Store module provides a private, secure distribution platform for organizations to share their mobile apps internally. It allows companies to distribute apps through internal app stores, offering full control over app access, updates, and management within the enterprise. Appcircle EAS provides <a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/enterprise-app-store/in-app-updates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in-app updates</a>, providing delivery and installation of updates directly within the app, enhancing user experience by minimizing disruption.</li>
<li><a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/enterprise-app-store/store-settings#store-authentication" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SSO/LDAP support</a>: Appcircle&#8217;s LDAP SSO support allows enterprises to integrate their own authentication systems with the Appcircle Enterprise App Store. This feature provides secure single sign-on (SSO) access for users, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access internal apps by leveraging existing corporate credentials.</li>
<li><a href="https://docs.appcircle.io/account/my-organization/notifications-and-communication" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Notifications</a>: Appcircle&#8217;s Notifications module enables users to stay informed about the status of their build, distribution, and testing processes. It offers customizable notifications through various channels such as email, Teams &amp; Slack, ensuring that teams are promptly updated on key events and issues within their CI/CD pipelines.</li>
</ul>
4. Flexible Deployment Options In contrast to App Center’s limited cloud-based services, Appcircle offers <a href="https://appcircle.io/enterprise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flexible deployment options</a>, including public cloud, private cloud, hybrid cloud, and on-premise solutions. Support for multiple cloud vendors such as Azure Cloud, AWS, and GCP prevents vendor lock-in and provides flexibility unmatched by Microsoft&#8217;s retiring service. Appcircle meets enterprises where they are, prioritizing their deployment requirements with a portable and modern architecture based on containers.
5. Superior SLA &amp; CSM Support Support and Customer Success Management (CSM) services are crucial for organizations. App Center only provided community support, but Appcircle accompanies its clients through all processes with SLA support and dedicated CSM services, ensuring better guidance and problem resolution.
In addition to these advantages, Appcircle provides <a href="https://appcircle.io/blog/seamlessly-migration-from-appcenter-to-appcircle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">App Center Migration Tool</a> which streamlines the migration process by automating the transfer of distribution-related configuration from App Center to Appcircle. It minimizes the risk of errors and reduces the time required for manual migration. The App Center Migration Tool is designed to make the transition as seamless as possible, ensuring that you can continue to build, test, and distribute your mobile applications with confidence.
Conclusion App Center migration is not merely a necessity in the wake of Microsoft App Center&#8217;s retirement; it is an upgrade to a more flexible, efficient, and comprehensive platform for managing mobile DevOps needs. Join the multitude of companies that are making the transition to Appcircle today.
For more details on how Appcircle can facilitate your transition from App Center, or to experience the benefits firsthand, please reach out for a demonstration.

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