CodePush Ionic Instant updates

Problem:

 We're using an Mobile Application creator framework which need to update application instantly.
 Without using Store(s) Google-Play, App-store and as expected solution must be easy/Generic.

Solution

CodePush

CodePush is a cloud service that enables Cordova and React Native developers to deploy mobile app updates directly
to their users’ devices. It works by acting as a central repository that developers can publish certain updates to
(e.g. JS, HTML, CSS and image changes), and that apps can query for updates from (using our provided client SDKs).

How to give it a Try.

Install the CodePush CLI

npm install -g code-push-cli # may be with sudo

Create a CodePush account

code-push register

doLogin()

code-push login

create a blank Ionic App, lets call it instantApp

$ ionic start instantApp sidemenu

CodePush-ify your mobile client

cordova plugin add cordova-plugin-code-push

Register your app with the service

code-push app add instantApp # you’ll get deployment keys per environment

Create one deployment per target platform using the

{% highlight ruby %}

{% endhighlight %}

Allow access to the CodePush server:

• In config.xml, add <access origin="https://codepush.azurewebsites.net/ " />
• In your html pages where the plugin is used, add the server URL to your existing Content Security Policy (CSP) header: <meta http-equiv="Content-Security-Policy" content="default-src https://codepush.azurewebsites.net/ 'self' ... ">

doSomeCode It’s Sample

{% highlight ruby %}

var onError = function (error) { console.log(“An error occurred. " + error); };

var onApplySuccess = function () { console.log(“Apply succeeded. Reloading the application…"); };

var onPackageDownloaded = function (localPackage) { localPackage.apply(onApplySuccess, onError); };

var onUpdateCheck = function (remotePackage) { if (!remotePackage) { console.log(“The application is up to date."); } else { console.log(“A CodePush update is available. Package hash: " + remotePackage.packageHash); remotePackage.download(onPackageDownloaded, onError); } };

window.codePush.checkForUpdate(onUpdateCheck, onError);

{% endhighlight %}

Create an application update package

• Prepare your application cordova prepare <platform>

We are not deploying binaries in updates, so prepare is enough for this step. The cordova build command works as well for this step, since it calls cordova prepare behind the scenes.

• Deploy update using the CodePush CLI

  • For Android:
    code-push release <appName> path_to_your_app/platforms/android/assets/www <appStoreVersion> --deploymentName <AndroidDeploymentName>

  • For iOS: code-push release <appName> path_to_your_app/platforms/ios/www <appStoreVersion> --deploymentName <iOSDeploymentName>

• The service should now return an update when calling codePush.checkForUpdate.

And if you get stuck… Ask Here

^{email me rajeevsharma86@gmail.com}