What Are App Repositories?
App repositories (also called sources) are JSON files that describe a collection of apps available for sideloading. They're used by sideloading apps like AltStore, Feather, and ESign to present a browsable catalog of IPA files that users can install directly. If you've ever added a source URL to a sideloading app, you've used a repository. A repository file contains metadata about each app: its name, bundle identifier, version history, download URLs, description, icon, and other details. When a sideloading app reads this file, it displays the apps in a familiar store-like interface where users can browse, download, and update apps without manually finding and signing IPA files.
Building Repositories with FlareStore
FlareStore's Repository Creator lets you build and edit AltStore-compatible repositories entirely in your browser. Since the AltStore format has become the standard, repositories you create here work in ESign, FlareStore, Scarlet, Feather, KSign, SideStore, and any other app that supports the AltStore repository format. You can start from scratch, import an existing repository from a URL, or paste in raw JSON to edit. The visual editor handles the JSON structure for you. Just fill in app names, versions, download links, and descriptions, and the tool generates a valid repository file. Once you're done, export the JSON and host it anywhere (GitHub Pages, your own server, a file hosting service). Share the URL, and anyone using a compatible sideloading app can add your repository as a source. If you have an existing repository in a different format (like ESign or Scarlet), the Repository Decoder can convert it for you.