The rollercoaster of releasing an Android, iOS, and macOS app with Kotlin Multiplatform | droidcon Italy

With the rise of Kotlin Multiplatform, the possibility of expanding to multiple platforms has increased, especially for Android Developers. It's easier than before to build for other platforms.

But how to release your app to multiple platforms?

In this talk, I will share all the things I've learned around distributing FeedFlow, an Android, iOS, and macOS app built with Kotlin Multiplatform, coming from an Android development background.

We will cover the deployment of the binary, automating everything with CI, crash reporting, logging, internationalization, and all you need to know to successfully distribute your KMP app.

Transcript

1. Marco Gomiero @marcogomiero.com Senior Android Developer @ Airalo Google Developer Expert for Kotlin The rollercoaster of releasing an Android, iOS, and macOS app with Kotlin Multiplatform
2. @marcogomiero.com FeedFlow Compose Multiplatform SwiftUI feed fl ow.dev/ Kotlin Multiplatform
3. @marcogomiero.com feedflow.dev/ FeedFlow
4. @marcogomiero.com feedflow.dev/ FeedFlow
5. @marcogomiero.com FeedFlow feedflow.dev/
6. @marcogomiero.com Distribution
7. @marcogomiero.com Android • “Easy” for an Android Developer • Sign the app • Upload to Play Store
8. @marcogomiero.com • Sign the app • Provisioning profiles • Upload to TestFlight • All handled by Xcode iOS
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10. @marcogomiero.com • Sign the app • Provisioning profiles • Upload to TestFlight • All handled by Xcode (or manually on the CI) iOS
11. @marcogomiero.com macOS - JVM App
12. @marcogomiero.com No Xcode, need to go manual \o/
13. @marcogomiero.com • JAR • “Manual” distribution • App Store macOS - Distribution ❌
14. @marcogomiero.com macOS - “Manual” distribution • Sign the app • Notarization
15. @marcogomiero.com https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/notarizing_macos_software_before_distribution
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17. @marcogomiero.com Notarization $ xcrun notarytool submit $BINARY_PATH --apple-id $APPLE_ID_NOTARIZATION --password $NOTARIZATION_PWD --team-id $APPSTORE_TEAM_ID --wait $ xcrun stapler staple $BINARY_PATH
18. @marcogomiero.com Notarization ./gradlew notarizeDmg
19. @marcogomiero.com macOS - “Manual” distribution • Sign the app • Notarization • Distribute the app
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21. @marcogomiero.com macOS - App Store • Sign the app • Provisioning profiles • Upload to TestFlight
22. @marcogomiero.com Upload to TestFlight: Transporter (or CI) https://apps.apple.com/us/app/transporter/id1450874784?mt=12
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25. @marcogomiero.com plist[PlistKeys.LSMinimumSystemVersion] = "10.13"
26. @marcogomiero.com Fixed with Compose 1.6.10 https://github.com/JetBrains/compose-multiplatform/pull/4271
27. @marcogomiero.com compose { desktop { application { macOS { minimumSystemVersion = "12.0" } } } } }
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30. @marcogomiero.com https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/app_sandbox/protecting_user_data_with_app_sandbox
31. @marcogomiero.com Native libraries on JVM • Native libraries are embedded in the dependencies jar • When needed, they are extracted and loaded
32. @marcogomiero.com Without sandbox $TMPDIR
33. @marcogomiero.com With sandbox
34. @marcogomiero.com Native libraries on JVM • Cannot load “random” native library • Signing and embedding in the binary is the way
35. @marcogomiero.com Find the native library 🕵 https://github.com/xerial/sqlite-jdbc
36. @marcogomiero.com https://github.com/xerial/sqlite-jdbc/tree/master/src/main/resources/org/sqlite/native/Mac/aarch64
37. @marcogomiero.com Embedding resources • <RESOURCES_ROOT_DIR>/<OS_NAME>-<ARCH_NAME> • <RESOURCES_ROOT_DIR>/<OS_NAME> • <RESOURCES_ROOT_DIR>/common
38. @marcogomiero.com compose.desktop.application.nativeDistributions { appResourcesRootDir.set(project.layout.projectDirectory.dir("resources")) }
39. @marcogomiero.com val isSandboxed = System.getenv("APP_SANDBOX_CONTAINER_ID") != null if (isSandboxed) { val resourcesPath = System.getProperty("compose.application.resources.dir") // sqlite-jdbc System.setProperty("org.sqlite.lib.path", resourcesPath) } Load native libraries
40. @marcogomiero.com val isSandboxed = System.getenv("APP_SANDBOX_CONTAINER_ID") != null if (isSandboxed) { val resourcesPath = System.getProperty("compose.application.resources.dir") // sqlite-jdbc System.setProperty("org.sqlite.lib.path", resourcesPath) } Load native libraries
41. @marcogomiero.com val isSandboxed = System.getenv("APP_SANDBOX_CONTAINER_ID") != null if (isSandboxed) { val resourcesPath = System.getProperty("compose.application.resources.dir") // sqlite-jdbc System.setProperty("org.sqlite.lib.path", resourcesPath) } Load native libraries
42. @marcogomiero.com Future improvements https://slack-chats.kotlinlang.org/t/16371916/hey-there-wave-i-m-trying-to-publish-my-app-on-the-mac-app-s#0be57312-7e43-4d30-add9-1cd5a0b7421b
43. @marcogomiero.com 🎉
44. @marcogomiero.com Crash Reporting & Logging
45. @marcogomiero.com Firebase Crashlytics
46. @marcogomiero.com https://github.com/touchlab/CrashKiOS
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48. @marcogomiero.com Firebase Crashlytics Sentry Java SDK
49. @marcogomiero.com Logging 🪵 https://github.com/touchlab/Kermit
50. @marcogomiero.com val logger = Logger( config = StaticConfig( logWriterList = listOf( platformLogWriter(), crashReportingLogWriter(), ), ), tag = "FeedFlow", )
51. @marcogomiero.com val logger = Logger( config = StaticConfig( logWriterList = listOf( platformLogWriter(), crashReportingLogWriter(), ), ), tag = "FeedFlow", )
52. @marcogomiero.com val logger = Logger( config = StaticConfig( logWriterList = listOf( platformLogWriter(), crashReportingLogWriter(), ), ), tag = "FeedFlow", )
53. @marcogomiero.com internal expect fun crashReportingLogWriter(): LogWriter actual fun crashReportingLogWriter(): LogWriter = CrashlyticsLogWriter() actual fun crashReportingLogWriter(): LogWriter = SentryLogWriter()
54. @marcogomiero.com class SentryLogWriter : LogWriter() { override fun isLoggable(tag: String, severity: Severity): Boolean { // .. } override fun log( severity: Severity, message: String, tag: String, throwable: Throwable? ) { // .. } }
55. @marcogomiero.com I18n
56. @marcogomiero.com https://github.com/adrielcafe/lyricist
57. @marcogomiero.com val feedFlowStrings: Map<String, FeedFlowStrings> = mapOf( Locales.It to ItFeedFlowStrings, Locales.En to EnFeedFlowStrings, Locales.De to DeFeedFlowStrings, )
58. @marcogomiero.com val feedFlowStrings: Map<String, FeedFlowStrings> = mapOf( Locales.It to ItFeedFlowStrings, Locales.En to EnFeedFlowStrings, Locales.De to DeFeedFlowStrings, ) FeedFlowTheme { val lyricist = rememberFeedFlowStrings() ProvideFeedFlowStrings(lyricist) { MyAppEntrypoint() } }
59. @marcogomiero.com val feedFlowStrings: Map<String, FeedFlowStrings> = mapOf( Locales.It to ItFeedFlowStrings, Locales.En to EnFeedFlowStrings, Locales.De to DeFeedFlowStrings, ) FeedFlowTheme { val lyricist = rememberFeedFlowStrings() ProvideFeedFlowStrings(lyricist) { MyAppEntrypoint() } } Text(text = LocalFeedFlowStrings.current.feedUrl)
60. @marcogomiero.com val feedFlowStrings: Map<String, FeedFlowStrings> = mapOf( Locales.It to ItFeedFlowStrings, Locales.En to EnFeedFlowStrings, Locales.De to DeFeedFlowStrings, )
61. @marcogomiero.com val feedFlowStrings: Map<String, FeedFlowStrings> = mapOf( Locales.It to ItFeedFlowStrings, Locales.En to EnFeedFlowStrings, Locales.De to DeFeedFlowStrings, ) func startKoin() { let languageCode = Locale.current.language.languageCode?.identifier let regionCode = Locale.current.region?.identifier let koinApplication = doInitKoinIos( languageCode: languageCode, regionCode: regionCode ) _feedFlowStrings = KotlinDependencies.shared.getFeedFlowStrings() } private var _feedFlowStrings: FeedFlowStrings? var feedFlowStrings: FeedFlowStrings { return _feedFlowStrings! }
62. @marcogomiero.com val feedFlowStrings: Map<String, FeedFlowStrings> = mapOf( Locales.It to ItFeedFlowStrings, Locales.En to EnFeedFlowStrings, Locales.De to DeFeedFlowStrings, ) func startKoin() { let languageCode = Locale.current.language.languageCode?.identifier let regionCode = Locale.current.region?.identifier let koinApplication = doInitKoinIos( languageCode: languageCode, regionCode: regionCode ) _feedFlowStrings = KotlinDependencies.shared.getFeedFlowStrings() } private var _feedFlowStrings: FeedFlowStrings? var feedFlowStrings: FeedFlowStrings { return _feedFlowStrings! }
63. @marcogomiero.com val feedFlowStrings: Map<String, FeedFlowStrings> = mapOf( Locales.It to ItFeedFlowStrings, Locales.En to EnFeedFlowStrings, Locales.De to DeFeedFlowStrings, ) func startKoin() { let languageCode = Locale.current.language.languageCode?.identifier let regionCode = Locale.current.region?.identifier let koinApplication = doInitKoinIos( languageCode: languageCode, single<FeedFlowStrings> { when { languageCode == null -> EnFeedFlowStrings regionCode == null -> feedFlowStrings[languageCode] ?: EnFeedFlowStrings else -> { val locale = "${languageCode}_$regionCode" feedFlowStrings[locale] ?: feedFlowStrings[languageCode] ?: EnFeedFlowStrings } } }
64. @marcogomiero.com val feedFlowStrings: Map<String, FeedFlowStrings> = mapOf( Locales.It to ItFeedFlowStrings, Locales.En to EnFeedFlowStrings, Locales.De to DeFeedFlowStrings, ) func startKoin() { let languageCode = Locale.current.language.languageCode?.identifier let regionCode = Locale.current.region?.identifier let koinApplication = doInitKoinIos( languageCode: languageCode, single<FeedFlowStrings> { when { languageCode == null -> EnFeedFlowStrings regionCode == null -> feedFlowStrings[languageCode] ?: EnFeedFlowStrings else -> { val locale = "${languageCode}_$regionCode" feedFlowStrings[locale] ?: feedFlowStrings[languageCode] ?: EnFeedFlowStrings } } }
65. @marcogomiero.com val feedFlowStrings: Map<String, FeedFlowStrings> = mapOf( Locales.It to ItFeedFlowStrings, Locales.En to EnFeedFlowStrings, Locales.De to DeFeedFlowStrings, ) func startKoin() { let languageCode = Locale.current.language.languageCode?.identifier let regionCode = Locale.current.region?.identifier let koinApplication = doInitKoinIos( languageCode: languageCode, single<FeedFlowStrings> { when { languageCode == null -> EnFeedFlowStrings regionCode == null -> feedFlowStrings[languageCode] ?: EnFeedFlowStrings else -> { val locale = "${languageCode}_$regionCode" feedFlowStrings[locale] ?: feedFlowStrings[languageCode] ?: EnFeedFlowStrings } } }
66. @marcogomiero.com val feedFlowStrings: Map<String, FeedFlowStrings> = mapOf( Locales.It to ItFeedFlowStrings, Locales.En to EnFeedFlowStrings, Locales.De to DeFeedFlowStrings, ) func startKoin() { let languageCode = Locale.current.language.languageCode?.identifier let regionCode = Locale.current.region?.identifier let koinApplication = doInitKoinIos( languageCode: languageCode, single<FeedFlowStrings> { when { languageCode == null -> EnFeedFlowStrings regionCode == null -> feedFlowStrings[languageCode] ?: EnFeedFlowStrings else -> { val locale = "${languageCode}_$regionCode" feedFlowStrings[locale] ?: feedFlowStrings[languageCode] ?: EnFeedFlowStrings } } }
67. @marcogomiero.com val feedFlowStrings: Map<String, FeedFlowStrings> = mapOf( Locales.It to ItFeedFlowStrings, Locales.En to EnFeedFlowStrings, Locales.De to DeFeedFlowStrings, ) func startKoin() { let languageCode = Locale.current.language.languageCode?.identifier let regionCode = Locale.current.region?.identifier let koinApplication = doInitKoinIos( languageCode: languageCode, regionCode: regionCode ) _feedFlowStrings = KotlinDependencies.shared.getFeedFlowStrings() } private var _feedFlowStrings: FeedFlowStrings? var feedFlowStrings: FeedFlowStrings { return _feedFlowStrings! }
68. @marcogomiero.com val feedFlowStrings: Map<String, FeedFlowStrings> = mapOf( Locales.It to ItFeedFlowStrings, Locales.En to EnFeedFlowStrings, Locales.De to DeFeedFlowStrings, ) Text(feedFlowStrings.searchHintTitle) func startKoin() { let languageCode = Locale.current.language.languageCode?.identifier let regionCode = Locale.current.region?.identifier let koinApplication = doInitKoinIos( languageCode: languageCode,
69. @marcogomiero.com Conclusions
70. @marcogomiero.com Conclusions • Start from things you already know • Go incrementally • Exploring other planets enriches your vision
71. @marcogomiero.com More reading https://www.marcogomiero.com/posts/2024/kmp-app-ci
72. @marcogomiero.com Thank you! Marco Gomiero Senior Android Developer @ Airalo Google Developer Expert for Kotlin > Twitter: @marcoGomier > Github: prof18 > Website: marcogomiero.com > Mastodon: androiddev.social/@marcogom > BlueSky: @marcogomiero.com
73. Bibliography / Useful Links • https: / / feedflow.dev/ • https: / / developer.apple.com/documentation/security/notarizing_macos_software_before_distribution • https: / / help.apple.com/itc/transporteruserguide/en.lproj/static.html#apd70774093eddb4 • https: / / developer.apple.com/documentation/security/app_sandbox/protecting_user_data_with_app_sandbox • https: / / github.com/JetBrains/compose-multiplatform/blob/master/tutorials/Native_distributions_and_local_execution/README.md#adding-files-to- packaged-application • https: / / slack-chats.kotlinlang.org/t/16371916/hey-there-wave-i-m-trying-to-publish-my-app-on-the-mac-app-s#0be57312-7e43-4d30- add9-1cd5a0b7421b • https: / / firebase.google.com/products/crashlytics • https: / / docs.sentry.io/platforms/java/ • https: / / github.com/touchlab/CrashKiOS • https: / / github.com/touchlab/Kermit • https: / / github.com/adrielcafe/lyricist • https: / / www.jetbrains.com/help/kotlin-multiplatform-dev/compose-images-resources.html#strings • https: / / www.marcogomiero.com/posts/2024/kmp-ci-android • https: / / www.marcogomiero.com/posts/2024/kmp-ci-ios • https: / / www.marcogomiero.com/posts/2024/kmp-ci-macos-github-releases • https: / / www.marcogomiero.com/posts/2024/kmp-ci-macos-appstore • https: / / www.marcogomiero.com/posts/2024/compose-macos-app-store/