How do we share builds with you?
Written by Mohsin Rahim
Updated at October 15th, 2024
Table of Contents
When you are onboarding or updating your app on Pugpig Bolt, we'll send you builds for you to review and sign off, plus conduct any testing you need to on your side. iOS, Android and Amazon devices all have different methods and capabilities, so unfortunately there's not one single method for all devices.
iOS (Apple devices)
Apple have an app called TestFlight which is used for installing and testing app builds, both internally and externally. Those with accounts on App Store Connect (ASC) are able to invite themselves and other ASC users to install a build, and also access a shareable public link for those who do not have an account on ASC.
To install a test build on iOS, users will need to download the TestFlight app from the App Store.
TestFlight builds can be identified by the yellow dot next to the app name on the home screen.
A TestFlight build will install over the live app. To reinstall the live app, users will need to delete the TestFlight version from the device.
TestFlight for App Store Connect Users
How to add users to App Store Connect:
- Login to App Store Connect: Visit App Store Connect and log in using your Apple developer account credentials.
- Go to Users and Access: From the App Store Connect dashboard, click on Users and Access.
- Add New User: In the Users section, click on the + button to add a new user.
- Fill in User Details: Enter the user’s first name, last name, and email address. Make sure the email address is the one the user will use to receive the invitation. Set the Role to App Manager, Developer or Marketing. View role permissions.
- Send Invitation: Once all the details are filled in, click Invite. The user will receive an email invitation to join App Store Connect. The invited user must accept the invitation to App Store Connect. After that, they can add themselves to the TestFlight build.
Invite an App Store Connect user to install a TestFlight build
[Need to steps here]
Once they add themselves, another email invitation is needed to be sent to the user to add them to TestFlight build.
User Acceptance: Once the user accepts the second invitation (for TestFlight), they will be able to download and test the app using the TestFlight app.
2. TestFlight Public Link
Alternatively, we can share builds via TestFlight Public Link, which allows external testers to install the app without the need to be added manually to App Store Connect.
Key information:
- TestFlight public links take 24-72 hours to generate once submitted.
- After the link is generated, it will be shared with you. You can use the link to download and install the build via the TestFlight app.
Important
All TestFlight builds are valid for 90 Days.
Please make sure that team dealing with your app on Kaldor|Pugpig side is added to your App store connect account as admin.
Android
1. Google Play Internal Testing
For Android, we share builds via Google Play Internal Testing. This method allows internal testers to download and install the app directly through the Google Play Store once they’ve been added as testers.
Your Support Engineer will upload the app to Internal Testing.
How to Add Internal Testers for Google Play:
Login to Google Play Console:
- Visit Google Play Console and log in using your Google developer account credentials.
Go to Your App:
- Navigate to the specific app you want to share with internal testers.
Internal Testing Track:
- Go to the Testing section in the menu and select Internal Testing.
Add Testers:
- Enter the email addresses of the testers you want to add. You can upload a list of testers or manually enter them.
- Assign testers to the Internal Testing Track.
Invite Testers:
- After adding the testers, share the testing link with them. They will receive an invitation via email to join the internal testing.
Testers' Action:
- Once invited, testers can click the link and sign in with their Google account.
- They will be directed to the Google Play Store where they can install the internal testing version of the app. They must be signed into Play Store with the same email adrress as set up on internal testing.
2. Bitrise Public Links
We can generate public links for Android builds via Bitrise. These links allow users to install the build directly on their Android devices.
Instructions for installing from Bitrise:
- Download the APK file directly to your Android device.
- To install apps from sources outside of the Google Play Store, you will need to enable a setting on your device.
Enabling installation from other sources:
- Go to Settings on your Android device.
- Tap on Security.
- Look for the option called Unknown Sources and toggle it on.
- Confirm the warning message and allow installation from unknown sources.
After this, you can install the APK directly from the Bitrise public link.
Please make sure your kaldor.android@gmail.com is added with admin permissions to your Google Play console
Amazon
For Amazon devices, we use Live Testing via the Amazon App Store, specifically for Amazon Fire Tablets.
Key Steps for Live Testing:
- We will Submit the App through the Amazon Developer Console for Live App Testing.
- Add Testers by entering their Amazon account email addresses in the console.
- Testers Receive an Invitation to install the app on their Amazon Fire Tablet.
- Install on Fire Tablets using the invitation link, which directs to the Amazon App Store.
Requirements:
- An Amazon Fire Tablet is needed for live testing.
- The review process for live testing may take up to 48 hours.
Please make sure your android@kaldorgroup.com is added with admin permissions to your Amazon Developer Console.