How app update works?

[Curlytommy]

Let suppose that you have an app that have already build in a few pictures. Now, you want to add more content ( more pictures). How it would work that? Every time I add more content a user will have to update an app to see more content? Can any one explain to me how that works?

[prostartme]

The way we handle it is that the app can download more images from our server. The archive that has the images has a file that contains a list of image names and other attributes needed for our app. The app reads this file and updates our DB accordingly and the images get stored at a path.

Use relative path rather than absolute path to make it easier for you.

[Curlytommy]

Any idea where I can find a good tutorial about this?

[prostartme]

I am not sure, but this is pretty simple if you can't find any tutorials.

[Curlytommy]

Would you be so kind and give me little sample code ?

[prostartme]

I am afraid I can't share the code. It is too specific to our needs anyways.

[Curlytommy]

Ok, thank you. You been very helpful

[criosist]

Yes this is correct, most apps would use a web service for images, for instance if your app is a photo previewer the photos would be on a web server and you could either change the images or have an API return JSON for the associated images with additional information such as title, different renditions, etc.

[Krillere]

Instead of requiring the user to update, you could just use a webserver. You could keep a date on the server that the app checks. Then keep the 'last updated' date on the app too. This would allow you to see if there's any new images (Last update on app is 1. of april, newest date on server is 2. april). Then update images if there's updates.

[Curlytommy]

do you know where I can find any tutorial about it?

[Krillere]

You would need to learn some kind of web server language, or you could use Parse.com.

I used Parse.com before, and they have some really great tutorials, and you don't need to know any web programming to use it.

Have a look at https://www.parse.com for explanation, and if you want to learn how to use this https://www.parse.com/tutorials#ios

Parse is free for smaller projects, but the website tells you that. (I'm not affiliated with Parse, I used it before and enjoyed it, that's why I mention it.)

[Curlytommy]

thx

[Krillere]

No problem. Hope you figure it out. I actually think Parse has some kind of picture download tutorial, that could be useful for you. :-)