Automating Android App Deployment with Fastlane and GitHub Actions

Jan 15, 2024 | Programming

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Deploying Android applications can often be a cumbersome process, but with tools like Fastlane and GitHub Actions, we can streamline the entire procedure. This guide will walk you through automating the publishing of an app to the Google Play Store using GitHub Actions along with Fastlane’s robust capabilities.

Overview of Our Process

By combining Fastlane with GitHub Actions, you can not only automate the build process but also efficiently handle testing and deployment to both beta and production tracks on the Google Play Store.

Setting Up Your Environment

To get started, follow these steps to set up your environment:

Ensure you have a working Android project ready for deployment.
Set up a GitHub repository to host your project.
Integrate Firebase for distributing your app builds for testing.

Key Workflow Files

In our sample repository, you will find several crucial workflow files:

distribute.yml: Distributes test builds using Firebase App Distribution.
releaseBeta.yml: Deploys the application to the beta track on the Google Play Store.
releaseProd.yml: Deploys the application to the production track on the Google Play Store.

Understanding Fastlane Configuration

The heart of this automation revolves around the Fastlane configuration, which contains lanes defining different tasks. Here’s how it works:

 
# Fastlane Configuration
desc "Lane for distributing app using Firebase App Distributions"
lane :distribute do
    gradle(task: "clean assembleRelease")
    firebase_app_distribution(
        service_credentials_file: "firebase_credentials.json",
        app: ENV[FIREBASE_APP_ID],
        release_notes_file: "FirebaseAppDistributionConfig/release_notes.txt",
        groups_file: "FirebaseAppDistributionConfig/groups.txt"
    )
end

desc "Deploy a beta version to the Google Play"
lane :beta do
    gradle(task: "clean bundleRelease")
    upload_to_play_store(track: "beta", release_status: "draft")
end

desc "Deploy a new version to the Google Play"
lane :production do
    gradle(task: "clean bundleRelease")
    upload_to_play_store(release_status: "draft")
end

Think of the Fastlane configuration as a recipe book for deploying your app. Each lane represents a unique recipe:

distribute: Cleans and assembles your app, then sends it to testers using Firebase.
beta: Prepares the app for beta testing by cleaning, bundling, and uploading it to the beta track.
production: Similar to the beta lane, but it’s meant for the production track release.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

As with any process, you might run into a few hiccups while deploying your application. Here are some common issues and solutions:

Issue: Failed to connect to Firebase.
Solution: Verify your firebase_credentials.json file path and ensure that it’s correctly referenced in your Fastlane configuration.
Issue: GitHub Actions fail due to permission issues.
Solution: Check your GitHub repository’s secrets to ensure that the necessary credentials for service account access are set correctly.
Issue: App does not appear on Google Play.
Solution: Confirm that your app has been uploaded to the correct track and that the release status is set to “draft” before publishing.

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Conclusion

In this blog, we’ve explored how to automate the Android app deployment process using Fastlane with GitHub Actions. By embracing these CI/CD practices, you can save time and reduce human errors in your deployment pipeline.

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.