How to forward the silent updates in the flutter using the coast bird

Imagine that you just launched a great feature. Your app is climbing the chart, but then the first Big report has arrived. This is an important mistake of verifying payment. The fix dart code has the same line, but now you have a terrible app store review row, hours, maybe delay in days, while your users and revenue affect.

If you can ignore the store and provide this fix directly to your users in minutes?

This power noise bird brings you into your fluttering work. It’s not just about speed, it is about control, reliability, and the supply of high user experience.

This guide will take you from Nosky to a Pro, which will cover everything from the formation of noise bird to strong, from the production grade refreshing strategies. upgrader Package

Table of contents:

Provisions

Before diving, make sure you have the following knowledge and tools. This will help you easily follow the guide and avoid normal setup problems.

Knowledge and skill

• Knowledge of the basic clutter: You should stay comfortable in making a fluttering project, manage the packages along with pubspec.yamlAnd understanding the basic widget life cycle. This guide assumes that you have an existing flight request to work.

• Command line skills: You need to stay comfortable using terminal (such as Macos/Linux on a terminal or Windows), as the noise bird is mainly the command line interface (CLI) tool. This includes implementation of navigating directories and commands.

• Basic gut and version control: Understanding concepts such as committees, branches (mainFor, for, for,. hotfix), And checking the code is very important for releasing releases, making screws from specific code states, and enforcing rollback strategies.

Tools and environment

• A working flutter development environment:

  • The latest stable version of SDK.

  • An IDE formed for the flurry, like Vs. code Or Android Studio.

• A Beach Bird Account:

  • You will need to sign up for a free account The coast bird website. shorebird login The command is needed.

• Specific Blood Tools related to the platform:

  • For Android:

    • An installation of Android Studio And so on Android SD of.

    • A configured Signing to the store For,,,,,,,,,, for,, for,,,, for,,,, for,,, for,,,, for,,,, for,,,, for,,, for,,, for,,, for,,, for,,,, for,,, for,,, for,,,, for,,, for,,,, for,,, for,,, for,,,, for,,, for,,, for,,,, for,,, for,,,, for,,, for,,,, for,,, for,,,, for,,, for,,,, for,,,, for,,,, for,,,, for,,,, for,,,, for,,,, for,,, for,,, for,,, for,,, for,,,,, for,,,, for,,,, for,,,, for,, for,.key.jks) And key.properties File for your plan. Beach Bird needs to make a signed, ready -made release (ABS).

  • for iOS:

Optional (but suggested for a full strategy)

• A firebase project: Forced updates and remote feature flags to implement a complete, real -world strategy, you will need:

  • A firebase project is connected to your fluttering app.

  • Firebase Remote Config. Service enabled.

  • firebase_core And firebase_remote_config Packages added to you pubspec.yaml.

What is the coast bird?

The noise bird is a code push service specifically designed for blowing applications. This allows developers to deliver the traditional App Store review process, directly to consumer devices to supply small, delicate bug fixes and even new features. The summary is that it enables “Over the Year” (OTA) updates for fluttering apps.

This means that instead of waiting for hours or days to approve the App Store for a simple fix, you can immediately deploy the change, which ensures a very fast response to problems, the reduction of less time for consumers and the minimum impact on revenue. It provides you with more control over your app’s deployment life cycle and helps maintain a smooth, more reliable user experience.

1. “Why”: When to release vs

It is very important to understand “how” when/why/why “before diving. Not all updates are made equal. The use of the right tool for employment is the key to a stable and efficient development cycle.

Use shorebird patch For:

• Critical Big Fixes: Logic errors in your Dart Code (for example, calculation errors, call pointer exceptions, management of the wrong state).

• Minor UI Adaptation: Changing color, text, or setting logic without adding new assets.

• Feature Flag toggle: Pushing the code change that you have already made a feature of construction and deployment to make or inactive.

• Performance improvement: Improve the algorithm or dart level rendering logic.

Use a full store release for this:

• Changes to ancestral code: I any modification android Or ios Directors

• Plugin/Refuse of dependent: Adding a new package or upgrading to a present pubspec.yamlBecause it often changes the local code or includes pre -made binary.

• Asset changes: Adding new photos, fonts, JSON files, or any other asset.

• Release of the main feature: When the app functionality or UI changes significantly, it is best to take a full review (and often require from store policies).

Think about it like this: If there is a change Only in you .dart Files and hands do not look pubspec.yamlIt is potentially complicated.

2. Start: Installation and Project Setup

Let’s prepare your environment and project for coast bird.

Step 1: Install Beach Bird CLI

Open your terminal and run the official installation script:

curl  -sSf | bash

Step 2: Add the coast bird to your way

To use shorebird Command anywhere, add it to your shell configuration file (.zshrcFor, for, for,. .bashrcFor, for, for,. .bash_profileAnd so).

export PATH="$HOME/.shorebird/bin:$PATH"

Restart your terminal or run source ~/.zshrc (Or your relevant file) to affect the change.

Step 3: Confirm and log in

Confirm that the installation was successful and log into your coast bird account.

shorebird --version
shorebird login

This will open the browser window to verify your CLI through the Shorore Bird Service.

Step 4: Start the coast bird in your flurry project

Go to the Route Directory of your flurry project and run:

shorebird init

This command is your project entry point in the coastal bird ecosystem. This is what it does under the hood:

1. Creates shorebird.yaml: This file stores your unique app ID. Associate it with version control.

2. Edits pubspec.yaml: It automatically adds shorebird_code_push The pack, which is necessary for the app to communicate with coast bird servers.

3. Refreshments .gitignore: Adds .shorebird/ Directory to prevent temporary construction samples from committing.

3. Basic workflow: continuing and patching

Coast Bird Workfow is made on a simple concept: you create Base releaseAnd then you apply Screw On it

Step 1: Make a complete release

Before you can patch anything, you need a complete version of your app made with noise bird. The release will be offered at the App Store and the Play Store.

shorebird release android


shorebird release ios

This command compiles your app, uploads the necessary symbols to the Shorner bird servers so that they can make a patch later, and produce the release of the release from the stores (AAB/IPA) to upload to the stores.

Step 2: Make a patch and publish

After fixing a problem or adapting to your dart code, you can create a patch. The noise bird will compare your changes against the original release and make a small, effective binary difference.

shorebird patch android


shorebird patch ios

This patch is immediately available to users who have the same base release installed.

Step 3: User Experience

When you push a patch, the process is designed for without interruption:

1. Silent Download: Next app launch, shorebird_code_push Checks for a new SD patch. If anyone is found, it quietly downloads in the background.

2. Applied at the next re -launch: Downloaded patch is conducted and automatically applied Next time The user closes and reopens the app. This ensures that their current session is not interrupted.

4. Control: Update Logic in the flutter

LO you of more controlled experience, you can use shorebird_code_push Package to handle the update process inside your app.

import 'package:shorebird_code_push/shorebird_code_push.dart';

final _shorebirdCodePush = ShorebirdCodePush();


void checkForUpdate() async {
  
  final isUpdateAvailable = await _shorebirdCodePush.isNewPatchAvailableForDownload();

  if (isUpdateAvailable) {
    
    

    
    await _shorebirdCodePush.downloadUpdateIfAvailable();
  }
}


void forceRestart() async {
  
  if (await _shorebirdCodePush.isNewPatchReadyToInstall()) {
    
    
    await _shorebirdCodePush.installUpdateAndRestart();
  }
}

Call checkForUpdate() In you main() Function or initState Of your basic screen.

5. Nuclear Option: forcing update upgrader

Sometimes, a beach patch is not enough. For important updates that include local codes, new assets, or if you have to make sure that each user is still on the latest version, you need a blocking update screen. upgrader The package is best for it.

Step 1: Add dependent

dependencies:
  upgrader: ^7.0.0

Step 2: Implement the blocking UI

Wrap you up MaterialApp With UpgradeAlert The widget that cannot be excluded to create a blocking dialogue.

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:upgrader/upgrader.dart';

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    
    final upgrader = Upgrader(
      showIgnore: false,
      showLater: false,
      canDismissDialog: false,
      dialogStyle: UpgradeDialogStyle.material,
      shouldPopScope: () => false, 
    );

    return MaterialApp(
      home: UpgradeAlert(
        upgrader: upgrader,
        child: HomeScreen(), 
      ),
    );
  }
}

6. Real World’s Playbook: Coast Birds, Upgrader, and Remote Configures

Here is a way to tie everything together for a bulletproof update strategy. Let’s use a firebase remote conference to act as our remote “total switch”.

View: Version 1.2.0 Your app has an important payment bug.

Playbook:

1. Fix the bug: Correct the error in your Dart Code.

2. Press the coast bird patch:

    shorebird patch android --release-version 1.2.0+10 
    
   

   It determines active users quickly and quietly.

3. Set up a remote flag: In your Firebase Remote Confug Console, make the parameters such as force_update_for_version And set the value of it "1.2.0".

4. Implement the logic in your app: On the app start, check out this flag Ago Showing your important UI.

    import 'package:firebase_remote_config/firebase_remote_config.dart';
    import 'package:package_info_plus/package_info_plus.dart';
   
    Future<void> main() async {
      
   
      
      final packageInfo = await PackageInfo.fromPlatform();
      final currentVersion = packageInfo.version;
   
      
      final remoteConfig = FirebaseRemoteConfig.instance;
      await remoteConfig.fetchAndActivate();
      final forceUpdateVersion = remoteConfig.getString('force_update_for_version');
   
      
      if (currentVersion == forceUpdateVersion) {
        
        runApp(ForcedUpdateApp());
      } else {
        
        checkForUpdate(); 
        runApp(MyApp());
      }
    }
   
    
    class ForcedUpdateApp extends StatelessWidget {
      @override
      Widget build(BuildContext context) {
        return MaterialApp(
          home: UpgradeAlert(
            child: Scaffold(body: Center(child: Text('Checking for updates...'))),
          ),
        );
      }
    }
   

This dual strategy ensures that users who have not yet received noise bird patch are still preventing small versions from using and are sent to the store.

7. The best process of production grade

Before targeting the “patch” in production, you should treat noise bird like any other release pipeline: test construction, put it in waves, keep an eye on the crash matrix and automatically make boring parts. Some of the best procedures to follow this are:

First, always check the patch. Use shorebird preview Test your patch on a local device or emulator before deploying users.

shorebird preview

Use stage rollout with channels. Do not press a critical patch to 100 % users at the same time. Noise Bird’s “Channels” feature allows you to deploy in staging The audience first.

shorebird patch android --channel=staging


shorebird promote --channel=staging --release-version 1.2.0+10

If someone spoils patch things, you should also have a rollback plan. In this case, the fastest way to fix it Forward patch. Check the last leading committee by gut and run shorebird patch Once again, this new patch will overwhelm the bad.

And make sure you monitor everything. To do this, you can use firebase crushes or tools such as censorship to monitor the crash rates and app stability after the patch is released.

Finally, it is automatically helpful with CI/CD, and you can integrate the coast bird into your CI/CD pipeline on the right (for example, gut hub action). Do your repository SHOREBIRD_TOKEN As a secret and commands that use shorebird patch android --release-version --force To automate deployments.

8. Security, cost and limits

There are some other things that you should keep in mind when using noise birds.

First, all communication with Shorore Bird servers are more than TLS. The patchy cryptography are signed, and shorebird_code_push Confirmed this signature before applying an update of SD, ensuring that it has not been tampered with.

Second, the noise works with a free tier on the bird freemium model. The paid projects are based on the features of monthly active users (MAU) and unlock team. You can check the official price page for current details.

Also, keep in mind that there are some boundaries that we have already touched a little: for example, Shorer bird Just the patch dart code. You cannot update a native plugin, add/replace assets, or not edit the ancestral code (android).).ios Folders) With a patch. These changes always require complete store release.

Wrap

The Shoaur Bird is a change tool for any serious fluttering manufacturer. It transmits the release process in a solid, slow -cycle, dynamic, accountable.

By combining the coast with a strong forced-update strategy upgrader And the formation of a remote, you get unprecedented control over your production request. You can fix insects in minutes, reduce the risks, and keep your users happy – without waiting for the App Store.

References

1. The coast bird

2. Upgrader package

3. Supported tools and concepts