Frontend Build and Deployment

Building and Deploying App - Android

Building (preparation for deployment) is handled by GitHub Actions. Deployment (releasing the app) is a manual process.

Requirements

• Google Developer Account
  • Additional Requirements (beyond the usual like name, email):
    • Privacy Policy (https://bluecolab.github.io/BlueColab_MobileDataViz/, edit the policy here)
    • Website (okurakeng.github.io)
    • Feedback Form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1EiEnmUMdi-9sctza0u7vyeFb72yeLmUnjuCL5ABabn0/edit)
• Expo Developer Account
• Keys
  • Expo Personal Access Token with the name EXPO_TOKEN. To add tokens to the repo see here.
  • To create your Personal Access Token see here: https://expo.dev/settings/access-tokens.

YAML File

See: https://github.com/bluecolab/BlueColab_MobileDataViz/blob/main/.github/workflows/frontend_build.yml

Building an Android Store Build

Automatic Builds

1. Test locally
2. Open a PR that has frontend changes. Must be in aquawatch_mobile_app directory.
3. Merge the PR into main.
4. Pull the main branch into the branch called app-build-branch. (Run git pull origin main).
5. Fix any merge conflicts.
6. Push the local app-build-branch to GitHub.
7. A GitHub workflow should be triggered.
8. Login into Expo account.
9. Navigate to most recent build (it will be there, but may still be building).
10. Download the app bundle build once complete. Should be .aab file.

Manual Builds

One time steps:

1. In a command line enter: npm install -g eas-cli
2. In a command line enter: eas login and login. Log in with Blue CoLab credentials.

Build Step:

1. Open terminal in directory of app.
2. Switch to app-build-branch branch.
3. In a command line enter: eas build --platform android.
4. Follow step 6 and onwards from above.

[!IMPORTANT] In general build times should take about 10 minutes. The queue time varies, late nights queues are much shorter.

Building an Android Dev Build

1. Open terminal in directory of app.
2. Switch to app-build-branch branch.
3. In a command line enter: npx eas build --platform android --profile preview.
4. Follow step 6 and onwards from above.

Publishing Android Store Build

tbd

Publishing Dev Build to GitHub

tbd

More help:

• https://docs.expo.dev/build/setup/
• https://docs.expo.dev/build-reference/apk/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBWBDaqNuws