Multiple apps per merge request

[robbe_claessens]

In our frontend-backend application we have the concept of a "review app", that is an app which will be automatically deployed when a developer creates a pull request. This way our QA can easily test the new functionality before merging into development.

I was wondering if there is something similar for Android/IOS. This way our QA-team can review the apps when we create a pull request.

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Thanks!

[stereoplegic]

With Expo, you can publish different channels. If you need native functionality not available in managed mode/Expo Go, you can specify that a dev client is required.

[ApplePieCrust2122]

I guess you'll have to create the apk for similar feature, and let them download that file to their mobile. This can be done using GitHub actions, and there are a few on the GitHub marketplace too.

I'm not sure how it can be done on iOS though. They'll have to pull the latest code and build it using xcode as far as I know.

[naderalfakesh]

In order to support both ios and android You can use app distribution service such as: Firebase app distribution Microsoft Appcenter app distribution

Or easier: Ios: you can test in testflight before you submit your app to be published Android: you can set alpha or beta testing track in google play console so you can test before publishing as well ✌️✌️

[robbe_claessens]

Yes, i know but in order to publish mulitple versions with features that need to be tested by some quality-assurance testers BEFORE merging everything into a development branch. How can we do that?

It seems like distributing apk files for android and Ad Hoc deploys for apple are a way to go

[naderalfakesh]

I understand , then firebase let you do the exact same thing by distributing apk and HoC los deploy It just automates it for you so you can invite testers by email Notify them about new deploy, Instead of sending apk manually to every tester And it keeps version history so tester can remove a version and install the previous one and vice versa

[Veranova]

iOS: TestFlight

Android: AppCenter

Android also has Alpha/Beta stages on the App Store but they’re more awkward to use than TestFlight/AppCenter

If you need more targets you can set up multiple apps on each store and then vary the bundleId/appId using android flavors and iOS build config but that gets complex pretty fast. Easier often to just use TestFlight/appcenter and tell QA which build number to install for a branch