edit

Code signing iOS frameworks

Developing iOS frameworks

When you are developing an iOS framework you have to distribute a code signed version of your framework, however you don't need to sign it with your Distribution profile, the Developer profile will be enough. After distribution the framework will be re-codesigned by the frameworks' consumer during the code signing process.1

If you attempt to build it without code signing Xcode won't produce a .framework file and you will receive the following error:

CodeSign error: code signing is required for product type 'Framework' in SDK 'iOS 10.2'

Using an iOS framework

As a framework consumer you have to sign the framework during the signing process, otherwise your build will fail.


  1. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30963294/creating-ios-osx-frameworks-is-it-necessary-to-codesign-them-before-distributin