# Releasing Sauci Mobile App This guide covers local release builds for Android and iOS. ## OTA update or full store release? Decide the delivery mechanism first — they are different pipelines: - **OTA update** ([Mobile over-the-air updates](mobile-ota.md)) ships only the JavaScript bundle and assets to already-installed builds. No store review, live in minutes, rolled back by repointing the XPREM channel. Valid only for changes that leave the native binary untouched (no native code, native dependencies, `ios/`/`android/` project changes, permissions, entitlements, Expo SDK, or `expo.version` bump). OTA reaches only installs of the current `expo.version`, because the runtime version is synchronized with the app version. - **Full store release** (this document) builds a new signed binary and ships it through App Store Connect and Google Play, including store review. It is required for anything OTA cannot carry. Rollback is coarser: halt a Play staged rollout, pause an iOS phased release, or supersede with the next version (an OTA update can often patch a bad JS-level regression in a live store build immediately). Prefer OTA when the change qualifies, and always report which mechanism was used. ## Prerequisites - **Java JDK 17** - Required for Android Gradle builds - **Android Studio** - For SDK and build tools (including Android SDK/NDK) - **Xcode** - For iOS builds (macOS only) - **EAS CLI** - `npm install -g eas-cli` - **Expo account** - Run `eas login` to authenticate --- ## EAS Build Local (Recommended) The `--local` flag runs the EAS build process on your machine instead of Expo's cloud servers. This automatically handles signing credentials and produces the same output as cloud builds. ### Quick Start ```bash cd apps/mobile # Android - produces .aab file (for Play Store) npm run release:android # iOS - produces .ipa file (for App Store) npm run release:ios ``` Output files are placed in the current directory by default. These scripts create signed artifacts only. An explicit request for a mobile release authorizes the complete pipeline for the stated platforms: build, verification, store upload, review submission, and rollout — including full production rollout. Rollout is recoverable (staged-rollout halt, phased-release pause, OTA supersession, or the next version), so agents should execute the whole requested pipeline and report, rather than pausing for re-confirmation. A request that explicitly narrows scope ("upload only", "TestFlight only", a named track) still bounds the work. ## Ship a verified artifact Credentials are never committed: production submission credentials are managed by EAS, and the Fastlane iOS lanes read an App Store Connect API key from the environment (`ASC_KEY_ID`, `ASC_ISSUER_ID`, `ASC_KEY_PATH`). Never add `.p8` files, Google service-account JSON files, or local credential paths to the repository or `eas.json`. Ship only an independently verified artifact by its exact absolute path. Before upload, verify and report the platform, exact path, bundle/package identifier, version, build number, signing identity, SHA-256 digest, and destination — then proceed through upload, review submission, and rollout without asking for a second confirmation. ### Full release (upload + review submission + rollout) ```bash cd apps/mobile # Android: commits the release on the production track. Play review runs # automatically and rollout proceeds on approval. bundle exec fastlane android release aab:/absolute/path/to/sauci.aab # Optional: track:beta, rollout:0.1 (10% staged rollout) # iOS: uploads, creates the App Store version, submits for App Review, and # releases automatically on approval. bundle exec fastlane ios release ipa:/absolute/path/to/sauci.ipa release_notes:"What's new..." # Optional: phased_release:true (7-day phased release), automatic_release:false ``` ### Upload only (when the request stops short of review) ```bash cd apps/mobile # Android internal-track draft; does not roll out the release. eas submit --platform android --profile production --path /absolute/path/to/sauci.aab --wait # App Store Connect/TestFlight; does not submit for App Review. eas submit --platform ios --profile production --path /absolute/path/to/sauci.ipa --wait ``` Do not use `--latest`; always pass the exact verified path. After upload or submission, read back the resulting state from Google Play Console or App Store Connect (track/rollout status, App Store version state) and report it. If a command returns an ambiguous result, inspect EAS and the store first; do not retry blind. ### Source integrity Sauci commits its native `ios/` and `android/` projects. Start a release from a clean worktree whose `HEAD` matches its fetched upstream, and do not run `expo prebuild` before a routine release build. EAS detects the native projects and packages the checked-in sources directly. After the build, inspect `git diff`. Only the expected local EAS version fields may change: `app.json`, the platform native version file, and the iOS widget `Info.plist` for an iOS build. Any widget implementation, resource, or Xcode project rewrite means the source was regenerated and the artifact must be rebuilt from the clean tracked sources. ### Android media permission policy Sauci uses the Android system photo picker for user-selected images and videos. Android release manifests must not contain `READ_MEDIA_IMAGES` or `READ_MEDIA_VIDEO`. Gallery save flows request add-only access and must not add broad read access. After any Expo, media-library, image-picker, or native Android change, run `:app:processReleaseMainManifest` and inspect the merged release manifest before building an artifact for Google Play. ### Building an APK (for Testing) The production profile creates an AAB (Android App Bundle), which can't be directly installed on devices. To build an APK for testing: ```bash # Use the preview profile (configured for APK output) eas build --platform android --profile preview --local ``` Or add a custom profile to `eas.json`: ```json { "build": { "local-apk": { "android": { "buildType": "apk" } } } } ``` Then run: ```bash eas build --platform android --profile local-apk --local ``` ### Installing the APK ```bash # Via ADB (device connected via USB) adb install ./build-*.apk # Or drag-and-drop onto Android Emulator ``` ### Build Profiles | Profile | Output | Use Case | |---------|--------|----------| | `production` | .aab | Play Store / App Store submission | | `preview` | .apk | Internal testing, device installation | | `development` | .apk | Dev client with hot reload | ### Environment Variables Useful for debugging build issues: | Variable | Purpose | |----------|---------| | `EAS_LOCAL_BUILD_SKIP_CLEANUP=1` | Keep build directory after completion | | `EAS_LOCAL_BUILD_WORKINGDIR=/path` | Custom build directory (default: /tmp) | | `EAS_LOCAL_BUILD_ARTIFACTS_DIR=/path` | Output directory for build artifacts | Example with debugging enabled: ```bash EAS_LOCAL_BUILD_SKIP_CLEANUP=1 \ EAS_LOCAL_BUILD_WORKINGDIR=~/eas-builds \ eas build --platform android --profile production --local ``` ### Limitations of Local Builds - **Single platform only** - Can't use `--platform all` - **Software versions ignored** - `node`, `yarn`, `ndk`, `image` fields in eas.json are ignored - **No caching** - Each build starts fresh - **Secret env vars not available** - Set them in your local environment instead - **macOS/Linux only** - Windows requires WSL (unsupported) ### Troubleshooting Local Builds **Java version mismatch:** ```bash # Check Java version (should be 17) java -version # On macOS, switch Java version export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home -v 17) ``` **Gradle daemon issues:** ```bash cd android && ./gradlew --stop && cd .. ``` **Native regeneration after dependency changes:** Treat `expo prebuild` as a source change, not a release step. Run it separately only when native dependencies intentionally changed, review the full native diff, verify it, and commit it before starting the release from a clean worktree. **Out of memory:** ```bash # Increase Gradle memory echo "org.gradle.jvmargs=-Xmx4g" >> android/gradle.properties ``` --- ## Manual Android Release Build ### Step 1: Get the Production Keystore The production keystore is stored in EAS. Download it: ```bash cd apps/mobile eas credentials --platform android ``` Select: 1. `production` 2. `Keystore` 3. `Download Keystore` Save the keystore file and note the **password** and **alias** shown. ### Step 2: Configure Signing Ensure `android/gradle.properties` has the keystore configuration: ```properties MYAPP_UPLOAD_STORE_FILE=sauci-release.keystore MYAPP_UPLOAD_KEY_ALIAS= MYAPP_UPLOAD_STORE_PASSWORD= MYAPP_UPLOAD_KEY_PASSWORD= ``` **Important:** Never commit these credentials to git. ### Step 3: Confirm tracked native sources The committed `android/` project is the release source. If native dependencies changed, regenerate and review that project as a separate change before release. ### Step 4: Build the Release Bundle ```bash cd android ./gradlew bundleRelease ``` The AAB file will be at: ``` android/app/build/outputs/bundle/release/app-release.aab ``` ### Step 5: Upload to Play Store Apply the artifact-verification policy above before opening or changing the release. Prefer the Fastlane `android release` lane; when using the console: 1. Go to [Google Play Console](https://play.google.com/console) 2. Select **Sauci** app 3. Go to the track named in the request (**Production** for a release request) 4. **Create new release** 5. Upload the `.aab` file 6. Add release notes and roll out the release — Play review runs automatically and the rollout proceeds on approval 7. Read back the track and rollout state A release request includes review submission and rollout; a bad rollout is halted from the same release page or superseded by the next version. ### Verifying Keystore Fingerprint To verify you're using the correct keystore: ```bash keytool -list -v -keystore android/sauci-release.keystore -storepass ``` Expected EAS production upload-key SHA1: `F0:60:26:C7:54:B0:46:F2:80:FE:AC:43:8A:69:10:BD:9A:62:B4:59` --- ## iOS Release Build ### Step 1: Confirm tracked native sources The committed `ios/` project is the release source. If native dependencies changed, regenerate and review that project as a separate change before release. ### Step 2: Install Pods ```bash cd ios pod install cd .. ``` ### Step 3: Build Archive in Xcode 1. Open `ios/Sauci.xcworkspace` in Xcode 2. Select **Any iOS Device (arm64)** as the build target 3. Go to **Product** → **Archive** 4. Wait for the build to complete ### Step 4: Upload to App Store Apply the artifact-verification policy above before using Xcode Organizer. 1. In Xcode Organizer (Window → Organizer), select the archive 2. Click **Distribute App** 3. Select **App Store Connect** → **Upload** 4. Follow the prompts to upload ### Step 5: Submit in App Store Connect A release request includes App Review submission and release on approval. Prefer the Fastlane `ios release` lane, which does all of this in one step; manually: 1. Go to [App Store Connect](https://appstoreconnect.apple.com) 2. Select **Sauci** 3. Create a new version or select the uploaded build 4. Fill in release notes and submit for review, with automatic release on approval unless the request says otherwise 5. Read back the version state and report it --- ## Version Management Version is managed locally by EAS with `appVersionSource: "local"` in `apps/mobile/eas.json`. Production builds auto-increment the platform build number and synchronize the tracked native version file. For a public-version bump, use the release version script rather than editing individual sources: it updates and verifies `app.json`, the explicit Expo runtime string, and the checked-in iOS and Android public/runtime values together. ```bash node .codex/skills/generate-release/scripts/set_version.mjs --version 1.0.7 node .codex/skills/generate-release/scripts/set_version.mjs --check ``` To inspect or deliberately set versions: ```bash # Check current version eas build:version:get # Set version manually eas build:version:set --platform android --version 1.0.1 eas build:version:set --platform ios --version 1.0.1 ``` The user-facing version remains in `app.json`: ```json { "expo": { "version": "1.0.1" } } ``` And for Android, update `android/app/build.gradle`: ```gradle versionCode 2 versionName "1.0.1" ``` --- ## Troubleshooting ### Wrong Keystore Error If Play Store rejects with "signed with wrong key": 1. Run `eas credentials --platform android` 2. Download the correct keystore 3. Verify fingerprint matches expected SHA1 4. Replace your local keystore file ### Build Failures After Dependency Changes ```bash # Clean the existing tracked Android project and rebuild it cd android && ./gradlew clean && cd .. cd android && ./gradlew bundleRelease ``` If native regeneration is genuinely required, do it as a separate reviewed and committed source change before running the release build. ### iOS Signing Issues Ensure your Apple Developer certificates and provisioning profiles are up to date in Xcode: - **Xcode** → **Settings** → **Accounts** → Download Manual Profiles