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Software Development Executive - II
Last updated on Sep 15, 2023
Last updated on Aug 31, 2023
In the 21st century, development efficiency is prime, and integrating Appcircle for your Flutter projects functions like oil in a well-tuned engine. In the world of mobile CI/CD platforms, Appcircle stands out by allowing you to build, test, and deploy Flutter applications seamlessly. It is not just about pushing your apps to public app stores like Google Play but maintaining smooth continuous integration processes to enhance the productivity of your mobile development cycles.
The following guide will aid Flutter developers in understanding how to incorporate Appcircle into their Flutter projects. Starting from creating a Flutter project, to building an efficient build workflow and right down to syncing up with cloud services.
Firstly, to use Appcircle with your Flutter applications , you need to channel the process of creating a Flutter build profile. The straightforward step here is choosing the target platform for your apps. Whether your target operating system is iOS or Android, the process stays the same.
Let's start with connecting your Git repository to the build profile you just created. A Git repository ensures version control and collaborating with the team becomes a stress-free process. In order to establish this connection, follow the steps below:
1 --init 2 git add . 3 git commit -m "Initial commit" 4 git remote add origin <your-git-url> 5 git push -u origin master 6
Our initial setup is a go. For developers who want to take the Appcircle emulator for a test drive, their sample Flutter app is available on their GitHub repository. Connect to the sample Flutter app, study its structure, and learn the ways of Appcircle.
Diving into the build configuration, we'll set up all the necessary configurations for our Flutter Appcircle integration. The process is somewhat similar to the setup for native iOS or Android applications. This involves setting up configuration details, build triggers, code signing, and distribution options. The build configuration process for your target platform enhances build automation and simplifies the build workflows.
Here, let's dive into the process of compiling a build configuration for our Flutter application on Appcircle:
1 flutter build apk --release 2
If your Flutter project includes private modules in its structure, adding the necessary SSH keys to your workflow steps is crucial. This can quickly be done using the "Activate SSH Private Key" step in Appcircle.
This SSH step enables Flutter developers to have fast, secure, and convenient access to their git repository. Refer to their authentication component for more details on connecting to private modules.
Android and iOS platforms have always had their differences, and it's no surprise that their build configurations vary too in the world of Flutter. Dealing with an iOS Flutter project first, we need to select the configuration from the Configuration section of Appcircle. If none exist, it's easy to create one tailored to your project's needs.
Anchor your iOS project to your Xcode workspace to facilitate the build configuration. Appcircle's build workflows fetch these workspaces automatically from your branch, easing the workflow steps and saving time. Furthermore, the freedom to select a specific Xcode version lets you work with the latest beta or any previous versions based on your app's dependencies.
For Flutter Android apps, the configuration process is relatively straightforward with the execution of a few key steps. After selecting the configuration, enter the project details in the proposed fields, and you're good to go.
The output type can be set to APK or Split APK as AAB depending on your needs.
For example, a typical build command in your terminal might look like this:
1 flutter build apk --split-per-abi --release 2
Building Flutter iOS and Android apps has never been more streamlined thanks to Appcircle's efficient build workflows. A platform where you can kickstart your mobile Ci/CD while also catering to the demands of your target platforms.
In the development pipeline, automation can be considered the secret sauce to efficient and streamlined production. This is where build triggers swoop in to supercharge the process.
With Appcircle's build triggers, we can automate our builds. It's majorly done in two ways: Manual execution or using automatic build triggers.
The Triggers section, which is common for both iOS and Android, presents three triggering options:
Automated triggering of builds can save a lot of time and effort, particularly when dealing with multiple branches and numerous commits. A feature that keeps DevOps processes agile and manageable.
In the ocean of apps, code signing ensures the integrity and authenticity of your app, a critical step to prevent tampering and fraud.
iOS app signing in Appcircle is a breeze. Select your added provisioning profile within the signing identities module and associate it with the bundle ID of your choice. A correctly signed iOS app helps users trust that your app has been checked by Apple for malicious scripts and malware!
For Android apps, the process involves the Android Keystore you added in the Android Keystores section. Simply select a keystore, and get your app verified!
1 flutter build apk --release 2
Following these steps correctly signs your Flutter apps and secures them from unauthorized alterations.
The next step towards a smooth build with Appcircle is tackling the Distribution.
You can select a previously created distribution profile or create a new one directly in this window. Here's how you can define a new distribution profile for your app:
1 distribution.create({ 2 id: '<distribution-id>', 3 name: '<new-distribution>', 4 description: 'This is a new distribution profile.', 5 setup: { 6 method: 'None' 7 } 8 }); 9
Upon creating your distribution profile, explore the perks of "Auto Distribute" if you want your build to be automatically deployed to the Testing Distribution. Likewise, opt for "Auto Deployment" if your build should be deployed to Store Submission automatically. These options are particularly advantageous when working with Firebase App Distribution or when deploying to public app stores.
Remember, any previous build can be deployed to the Distribute module without the need for rebuilding, making distribution efficiently flexible in Appcircle.
Using environment variables is a smooth practice to obfuscate sensitive data from the codebase and manage them effectively. In Appcircle, you can define these variables and secrets to be incorporated during the build in the Environment Variables submodule. It's a more secure way to manage API keys, credentials, and configurations within the repository.
Defining a variable in Cloud Development Settings on the Appcircle would look like:
1 def env_variable = 'YOUR API KEY' 2 print(env_variable) 3
Now, let us proceed to construct an efficient build workflow and integrate these environment variables for enhancing the mobile CI/CD.
Creating an efficient workflow is analogous to building the veins of your Flutter app's CI/CD process. Once you finished setting up the build configuration, Appcircle allows you to edit and define your build workflow according to the needs of your project.
Flutter builds have an edge here as they include additional steps for Flutter commands. You can effortlessly manage, add, or remove the workflow steps using Appcircle's workflow editor and Workflow Marketplace.
For instance, you can set a specific Flutter version for the build. Just open the Flutter Install workflow step from the workflow editor and define the version in the "Selected Flutter Version" field. If not, the stable version will be used.
Starting a build is now a breeze with build workflows defined. Just select the branch from the left side and click on the "Start Build" button. Here's how your workflow might appear upon setup:
1 flutterWorkflow.build({ 2 commit: '<commit-id>', 3 branch: '<branch>', 4 workflows: [ 'main.workflow' ], 5 variables: { 'VERSION': '2.8.3' } 6 }); 7
Congratulations! You're now ready to kick off your first build on Appcircle. The control over build workflows that Appcircle provides makes iterating, testing, and deploying your Flutter apps much faster and more efficient.
Hoisting the flag of efficiency in the land of mobile CI/CD, Appcircle streams your Flutter workflows into an ocean of growth opportunities. A platform where setting up a build configuration, maintaining build workflows, and distributing your apps feel like a breeze.
With the rapid advancement of cloud services, mobile CI/CD platform like Appcircle helps developers stay ahead of the curb. Not only are Flutter developers moving towards integrating their projects with tools like Appcircle, but they are also experiencing a boost in their productivity, saving a significant amount of time and resources.
From setting up SSH keys for private repositories to configuring build workflows, signing your apps, and triggering automation in IoT-connected Flutter apps, the opportunities are vast. Appcircle allows you to not only build, test, and deploy your Flutter apps but also guarantees a smooth mobile CI/CD that your Flutter projects need.
From here, we can fathom the potential of Appcircle and how it can reshape the way we work with Flutter apps. Whether you're working on iOS, Android, or web applications, integrating Appcircle is a step forward towards efficient app development.
With Appcircle and Flutter in your toolbox, the sky is indeed your limit!
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