Checking and Updating an Application through Code when a New Version is Available in App Store
As developers, we’re constantly striving to improve our applications and provide the best possible experience for our users. One way to achieve this is by checking for updates of our application through code. In this article, we’ll explore how to accomplish this task and provide a step-by-step guide on implementing it.
Understanding the Concept
Before diving into the implementation details, let’s understand the concept behind checking for updates. We’ll store the most current version string of our application on our server. When our application is launched or activated, we’ll request this information from the server and compare it to the version string contained in our application’s Info.plist file.
Server-Side Requirements
To implement this feature, you’ll need a server-side setup to store the latest version string of your application. This can be done using various frameworks and services such as:
- AWS Amplify
- Firebase Realtime Database or Cloud Firestore
- Heroku App Config
- or any other server-side solution that suits your needs
For this example, we’ll assume you’re using an existing server-side setup.
Client-Side Requirements
On the client-side, you’ll need to request the latest version string from the server and compare it with the version string contained in Info.plist. This can be done using Swift or Objective-C for iOS applications.
Implementing the Solution
Step 1: Store the Latest Version String on the Server
First, let’s store the latest version string of our application on the server. This involves creating a RESTful API endpoint that returns the current version string.
// Example using Node.js and Express.js
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.get('/api/version', (req, res) => {
const versionString = '1.2.3'; // replace with your application's latest version string
res.json({ version: versionString });
});
Step 2: Request the Latest Version String from the Server
Next, let’s request the latest version string from the server using our iOS application.
// Example using Swift
import UIKit
class ViewController: UIViewController {
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
// Request the latest version string from the server
fetchVersionString { (versionString) in
if let versionString = versionString {
// Compare the version strings and show an alert
self.showAlert(versionString)
} else {
print("Failed to retrieve version string")
}
}
}
func fetchVersionString(completion: @escaping (String?) -> Void) {
guard let url = URL(string: "https://your-server-url.com/api/version") else { return }
URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) { data, response, error in
if let error = error {
print("Error fetching version string: \(error.localizedDescription)")
completion(nil)
return
}
guard let data = data else {
print("No data received")
completion(nil)
return
}
do {
let json = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data, options: [])
if let versionString = json as? String {
completion(versionString)
} else {
print("Invalid response from server")
completion(nil)
}
} catch {
print("Error parsing JSON: \(error.localizedDescription)")
completion(nil)
}
}.resume()
}
func showAlert(_ versionString: String) {
let alert = UIAlertController(title: "New Version Available", message: "You are using version \(versionString). Update to the latest version for better performance.", preferredStyle: .alert)
let updateAction = UIAlertAction(title: "Update Now", style: .default) { _ in
// Handle the update action
print("User chose to update")
}
alert.addAction(updateAction)
present(alert, animated: true)
}
}
Step 3: Compare Version Strings and Show an Alert
Now that we have the latest version string from the server, let’s compare it with the version string contained in Info.plist. If they differ, we’ll show an alert message to the user.
// Example using Swift
import UIKit
class ViewController: UIViewController {
override func viewDidLoad() {
super.viewDidLoad()
// Get the current version string from Info.plist
guard let currentVersionString = Bundle.main.infoDictionary?["CFBundleShortVersionString"] as? String else { return }
// Compare the version strings and show an alert
compareVersionStrings(currentVersionString, versionString: "1.2.3") { (success) in
if success {
self.showAlert("New Version Available")
}
}
}
func compareVersionStrings(_ currentVersionString: String, versionString: String) {
// Split the version strings into arrays of integers
let currentVersionArray = currentVersionString.splitByCharacter(".").map { $0.toInt() ?? 0 }
let newVersionArray = versionString.splitByCharacter(".").map { $0.toInt() ?? 0 }
// Compare the version arrays
if currentVersionArray > newVersionArray {
return false
} else if currentVersionArray < newVersionArray {
return true
} else {
return true
}
}
func showAlert(_ message: String) {
let alert = UIAlertController(title: "New Version Available", message: message, preferredStyle: .alert)
let updateAction = UIAlertAction(title: "Update Now", style: .default) { _ in
// Handle the update action
print("User chose to update")
}
alert.addAction(updateAction)
present(alert, animated: true)
}
}
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored how to check and update an application through code when a new version is available in the app store. We’ve discussed the server-side requirements, client-side requirements, and implemented the solution using Swift.
We hope this tutorial has provided you with a comprehensive understanding of how to implement this feature in your own applications. Remember to always keep your applications up-to-date with the latest version strings from the app store for better performance and security.
Last modified on 2023-06-30