In-App Updates : decide a strategy to choose between Flexible and Immediate update

Question

I have implemented Google's library for providing In-App updates and I am able to receive In-App updates from Google Play store. I want to implement both Immediate update and Flexible update in a single app. But I can't find a way to do so. In-App update library performs a check based on on the VersionCode which is just an Integer. Is there any way I can build a strategy to decide whether to go with Flexible or Immediate Update?

Answer 1

So, they have heard us and they are soon coming up with the solution as heard from Android Dev Summit '19.

Problem:

appUpdateManager.appUpdateInfo.addOnSuccessListener{ info ->
    if(info.updateAvailability == UpdateAvailability.UPDATE_AVAILABLE){
        // Which trigger should I trigger: Flexible or Immediate
    }
}

As developers, we have 2 signals to decide our strategy:

1. Priority Signal: represents how important an update is. The priority value is defined by us while making a release. This priority value is then exposed to our app via Play Core Api.

Example:

appUpdateManager.appUpdateInfo.addOnSuccessListener{ info ->
    if(info.updateAvailability == UpdateAvailability.UPDATE_AVAILABLE){
        if(info.updatePriority() > 3 && info.isUpdateAllowed(AppUpdateType.IMMEDIATE)){
            // trigger Immediate flow
        }
        else if(info.isUpdateAllowed(AppUpdateType.FLEXIBLE)){
            // trigger Flexible flow
        }
    }
}

While we make a release we set priority valued as Integer, lets say between 0-5. In our app, we set a threshold lets say 3 and build a decision tree like if priority is greater than 3, then trigger Immediate update, else trigger Flexible update.

2. Staleness Signal: represents how long the device has known about the update.

Example:

appUpdateManager.appUpdateInfo.addOnSuccessListener{ info ->
    if(info.updateAvailability == UpdateAvailability.UPDATE_AVAILABLE){
        if(info.clientVersionStalenessDays() > 90 && info.isUpdateAllowed(AppUpdateType.IMMEDIATE)){
            // trigger Immediate flow
        }
        else if(info.clientVersionStalenessDays() > 30 && info.isUpdateAllowed(AppUpdateType.FLEXIBLE)){
            // trigger Flexible flow
        }
    }
}

They said this feature will be available soon.

Check full video here: https://youtu.be/_o_q6hatcIs?t=566