A guide to

Releasing a Mobile App

with

App Stores

Native apps are released to 'app stores'

An app store is a platform specific store where end users go to discover, install and update apps.

Preparing for Release

The release process for each platform is different

Cordova & Ionic provide help with some parts, meaning you only need to run one piece of code for all platforms

Other parts of the process must be performed manually, once for each platform.

App Metadata

For each platform, there are some common pieces of metadata:

Cordova & Ionic provide a way to enter this metadata in one place.

Name

Description

Author

App Icon

App ID

Version

Use `config.xml` to change the following:

App ID

Version Number

Name

Description

Author

<widget 
 id="com.ionicframework.climaticapp890065" 
 version="0.0.1">
  <name>climatic-app</name>
  <description>
    An Ionic Framework and Cordova project.
  </description>
  <author email="you@example.com">
    Your Name Here
  </author>
</widget>

App Metadata

From a single image, Ionic can generate app icons and splashscreen images in each different format, for each platform.

Icons and Splashscreen

Each platform requires a large number of different-sized icons and splashscreen images to support all different devices.

http://ionicframework.com/docs/v1/cli/icon-splashscreen.html

Run command to generate all icons and splashscreens:

Icons and Splashscreen

Use Ionic photoshop files, create icon and splashscreen

$ ionic resources

The End Result...

Deploying to

Google Play Store

Build release version of app

Generate signing key

First release:

Sign apk

Create app on Play store

Upload apk

Live!

Build release version of app

Updates:

Sign apk

Create update on Play store

Upload apk

Live!

Update version in config.xml

Full walkthrough:

http://ionicframework.com/docs/guide/publishing.html

Don't lose your key!

You won't be able to submit updates.

Deploying to

Apple App Store

Link Mac with Developer Account

Download signing certificates

First release (warning, faff alert...)

Create App listing in iTunes

Build app with Ionic CLI

...

Archive release in Xcode

Upload release to app store

First release (cont...)

Complete iTunes listing

Wait several days for approval

Live! (phew)

Build app with Ionic CLI

Archive release in Xcode

Updated release

Add app update in iTunes

Wait several days for approval

Live!

Update version number in config.xml

Upload release

Full walkthrough:

http://ionicframework.com/docs/guide/publishing.html

It can seem like a faff,
but it gets easier with each release!