An application is a program or a piece of software designed to fulfil a particular purpose. Applications are programmed using computing code, which is used to manufacture the program and assemble it in order for it to perform the functions it was designed for. Publishing is the general process that makes applications available to users.
The two main tasks that need to be done while publishing are:
- Preparing the app for release.
- Releasing the app to users.
I: Preparing The App For Release:
Configuring the app for release:
Configuring the app for release:
At a minimum, remove Log calls and remove the “android:debuggable” attribute from the manifest file. Several other settings may have to be configured to meet Google Play requirements or accommodate whatever method you're using to release your application.
Building and signing a release version of your application:
Gradle is a build automation tool for multi-language software development. It controls the development process in the tasks of compilation and packaging to testing, deployment, and publishing. Its tools can be used to build files with the release build type to build and sign a release version of the app.
Testing the release version of your application:
Before release, the app must be thoroughly tested on at least one target handset device and one target tablet device.
Updating application resources for release:
You need to be sure that all application resources such as multimedia files and graphics are updated and included with your application or staged on the proper production servers.
Preparing remote servers and services:
If the app depends on remote servers or services, they need to be secure and production ready. Other steps that need to be taken include getting a private key for running the application, creating a recognizable icon for the application, and preparing an EULA (End User License Agreement) to protect your person, organization, and intellectual property.
II: Releasing the app to users:
Android applications can be released in several ways. Usually, applications are released through an application marketplace such as Google Play, but you can also release applications on your own website or by sending an application directly to a user.
Google Play:
If the apps need to be released to as wide a marketplace as possible, releasing on Google Play is ideal. Google Play is the premier marketplace for Android apps and is particularly useful if you want to distribute your applications to a large global audience. Google Play is a publishing platform that helps publicize, sell and distribute applications compatible on Android operating systems. There is access to a suite of developer tools that allows for analyses of sales, market trends, and distribution to clients. There are several revenue enhancing features such as in-app billing and application licensing.
Websites and Private Servers:
If you do not want to release your app on a marketplace like Google Play, you can make the app available for download on your own website or server, including on a private or enterprise server. To do this, you must first prepare your application for release in the normal way. Then all you need to do is host the release-ready APK file on your website and provide a download link to users. When users browse to the download link from their Android-powered devices, the file is downloaded and the Android system automatically starts installing it on the device.
Though it is easier to host and release the application on a different or private website, it is harder to be efficient about monetization. All processing and tracking of financial transactions must be done manually, and the Licensing service cannot be used to help prevent unauthorized installation and use of the application.
Unknown sources:
Android protects users from the download and install of apps from locations other than a first-party app store, such as Google Play, which is trusted. Android blocks such installs until the user opts into allowing the installation of apps from other sources.
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