The Final Push: Deploying React Native

We're able to create some amazing apps and experiences, yet inevitably, the problem of deployment comes around. How do we actually get it to the App Store? A quick search will lead you to dozens of different potential solutions, yet its tough to know what approach might work best for your app. At Airship, we've been working with React Native for over 3 years, and over that time we've explored almost every possible way of deploying React Native apps, and gained quite a bit of experience along the way. This talk will focus on narrowing down the many options available for deploying React Native apps while weighing the pros and cons of each. In the end, you'll have a much better idea of what React Native deployment entails, as well as what path would be best suited for your company and app.

Transcript

1. The Final Push Deploying React Native @amhinson Alex Hinson AIRSHIP AIRSHIP
2. @amhinson ???
3. @amhinson App Store & Google Play Store Releases Production builds Code Signing Device testing User testing Multiple environments Over-The-Air updates
4. @amhinson Bump build and version numbers
5. @amhinson // Info.plist <dict> <key>CFBundleVersion</key> <string>2</string> <key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key> <string>1.0.1</string> // ... </dict> // build.gradle defaultConfig { versionCode 2 versionName “1.0.1" // ... }
6. @amhinson Bump build and version numbers Change environment variables
7. @amhinson // baseURL: 'http://localhost:5000', // DEV // baseURL: 'http://api-staging.puregame.com', // STAGING baseURL: 'http://api.puregame.com', // PROD
8. @amhinson Bump build and version numbers Change environment variables Create production builds 
 & setup code signing
9. @amhinson
10. @amhinson Bump build and version numbers Change environment variables Create production builds 
 & setup code signing Upload builds
12. @amhinson Bump build and version numbers Change environment variables Create production builds 
 & setup code signing Upload builds Distribute to testers
14. @amhinson Bump build and version numbers Change environment variables Create production builds 
 & setup code signing Upload builds Distribute to testers Submit production app
16. @amhinson Bump build and version numbers Change environment variables Create production builds 
 & setup code signing Upload builds Distribute to testers Submit production app
17. @amhinson Manual process Environments Managing test users Run tests Multi-device testing OTA updates
18. @amhinson Automation Options
19. @amhinson App Center appcenter.ms
20. App Center
21. App Center
22. App Center
23. @amhinson Downsides “Freemium” business model Limited configuration options Slow build times
24. @amhinson Good Use-Cases No time to worry about smaller details Basic project setup Not very familiar with native 
 builds/deployments User testing is important
25. @amhinson Bitrise bitrise.io
26. Bitrise Screenshot of workflow editor
27. Bitrise Screenshot of scrolling through integrations
28. @amhinson Downsides “Freemium” business model Requires basic knowledge of native builds/deployments No beta testing service built-in
29. @amhinson Good Use-Cases Unique build/deployment setup No time to worry about smaller details & issues Somewhat familiar with native builds/deployments
30. Fastlane fastlane.tools
31. Fastlane fastlane release platform :ios do desc "Deploys a new version to the App Store" lane :release do increment_build_number commit_version_bump match(app_identifier: “com.puregame.mobile”, type: "appstore") gym(configuration: "Release") deliver(force: true) end end
32. @amhinson Fastlane
33. @amhinson Downsides Run in local machine No visual UI Requires decent knowledge of 
 native builds/deployments Match code signing can be confusing Environment variables are difficult No beta testing service built-in
34. @amhinson Good Use-Cases Individual with a unique deployment workflow Working on one app No staging/beta environment
35. @amhinson Fastlane / CircleCI fastlane.tools circleci.com
36. @amhinson Downsides Requires decent knowledge of native builds/deployments 
 as well as Circle CI
37. @amhinson Good Use-Cases Familiar with mobile builds/ deployments Working on a small number of apps Need granular control over 
 builds/deployments in every aspect
38. @amhinson Deploying React Native App Center Bitrise Fastlane / CircleCI
39. Thanks Slides: bit.ly/cc-deploy-react-native @amhinson Twitter / Github AIRSHIP AIRSHIP