Hi,
I wanted to check on the possibilities of downloading the mobile application when there’s a new update available on the google play store without the end user going to play store to download the app manually
Updates to the mobile app deployed in a production environment automatically become available to users without the need for installing a new app version. For more details and exceptions, please refer to the provided documentation here
Hey Siya,
I understand, based on the documentation we have to generate and publish a new build on play store when we add any new plugin to our application or may be any other changes which a build generation required, in such scenarios user should explicitly download the application, right?
Is there a way to solve this problem
Thanks
Hari Prasad
You don't have to download it explicitly even in that case either if you have configured the mobile distribution update as store only updates as per details mentioned here.
Btw @Daniel Kuhlmann already mentioned this at his reply below.
I understand there was a misunderstanding in my previous response. To clarify, when you make changes requiring a new build, like adding a plugin, and configure your OutSystems app for store-only updates, it's not necessary for users to manually download the update if they have automatic updates enabled in their device settings. The app stores handle this by automatically delivering the update to users. It's crucial to manage your app versions and tagging correctly in LifeTime to ensure a smooth update process through the app stores.
As per the Documentation:
Updates are automatically pushed through your servers, and optionally through the app stores. (recommended). When you select this option, the native mobile apps in the deployment plan receive the hybrid updates. This is the default setting for both apps and environments.
Considering the above statement, if I enable the option in technical preview and if I select the default option in configuration settings while deploying the app to production, does it automatically update the app for existing users?
If you have enabled the recommended approach "Updates are automatically pushed through your servers, and optionally through the app stores. (recommended)" then whenever the application is deployed to production, the application logic will get updated to all the existing users.
However, any changes to the native shell, necessitating a new build deployment to stores, will only be distributed through the respective app stores. This distribution can occur automatically if it's set up. Information specific to update for Android is here and iOS here
There are several ways to control and configure how and when an mobile app gets updated.
For example you can enforce the user to update the app.
see Mobile Force Install Manager.
Also you can control the update to be done only via app store or via hybrid update, see:
https://success.outsystems.com/documentation/11/delivering_mobile_apps/technical_preview_configure_mobile_apps_updates_distribution/
More information on mobile updates:
https://success.outsystems.com/documentation/11/delivering_mobile_apps/mobile_app_update_scenarios/
Regards,
Daniel