How to migrate from App center CodePush to Revopush

Introduction
Prerequisites
1. Installing Required Tools
2. Setting Up Revopush CLI
Migrating from Appcenter to Revopush
1. Logging In
2. Migrating Applications and Deployments
Setting Up Revopush from Scratch
Updating Your React Native App
1. iOS Configuration
2. Android Configuration
Releasing Updates
Summary and Resources

1. Introduction

Welcome! This guide will help you migrate your Over-the-Air (OTA) updates from Appcenter to Revopush. With Revopush's Command Line Interface (CLI), you can easily push updates directly to your users' devices without needing to go through app stores.

What You'll Learn:

How to install the Revopush CLI
Migrating your existing OTA updates from Appcenter
Setting up and managing your applications and deployments in Revopush
Updating your React Native app to use Revopush for OTA updates

Let’s get started!

2. Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following (depends on your platform and preferences):

Developer Tools Installed:
Node.js
npm or Yarn
npx
Android Studio
Xcode
Visual Studio Code
Permissions: Ability to install npm packages globally.
Revopush Account: Sign up at Revopush using GitHub or Google for authentication.
(If Migrating) Appcenter Access: Ensure you have access to your existing Appcenter account and its CLI.

2.1 Installing Required Tools

You manage most of CodePush's functionality using the App Center CLI. If you had one installed, you can update it to the latest version by running the following command:

bash

$ npm update -g appcenter

or install it from scratch by running the following command:

bash

$ npm install -g appcenter@latest

Upon installation or update, you can check the version of the App Center CLI by running the following command:

bash

$ appcenter -h

bash

$ appcenter -h
 
Visual Studio App Center helps you build, test, distribute, and monitor mobile apps.
Version 3.0.3
 
Usage: appcenter <command>
 
Commands:
analytics                      View events, audience info, sessions, and other analytics for apps
apps                           View and manage apps
build                          Start builds, get their status, and download artifacts
codepush                       View and manage CodePush deployments and releases
crashes                        Upload symbols for better crash reports
distribute                     Send builds to testers and manage distribution groups
orgs                           Manage organizations
profile                        Manage your profile
telemetry                      Manage telemetry preferences
test                           Start test runs and get their status
tokens                         Manage API tokens
help                           Get help using appcenter commands
login                          Log in
logout                         Log out
setup-autocomplete             Setup tab completion for your shell

2.2 Setting Up Revopush CLI

Similarly to Appcenter, Revopush manages most of CodePush's functionality using the CLI.

Install Revopush CLI:

bash

$ npm install -g @revopush/code-push-cli

Update Revopush CLI to the Latest Version:

bash

$ npm update -g @revopush/code-push-cli

Upon installation or update, you can check the version of the Revopush CLI and the list of available commands by running the following command:

Verify Installation:

bash

$ revopush -h

bash

revopush -h
____                 ____            _
|  _ \ _____   _____ |  _ \ _   _ ___| |__
| |_) / _ \ \ / / _ \| |_) | | | / __| '_ \
|  _ <  __/\ V / (_) |  __/| |_| \__ \ | | |
|_| \_\___| \_/ \___/|_|    \__,_|___/_| |_| CLI v0.0.1
============================================
Revopush is a service that enables you to deploy mobile app updates directly to your users devices. Visit our website https://revopush.org/
 
Usage: revopush <command>
 
Commands:
revopush access-key     View and manage the access keys associated with your account
revopush app            View and manage your CodePush apps
revopush collaborator   View and manage app collaborators
revopush debug          View the CodePush debug logs for a running app
revopush deployment     View and manage your app deployments
revopush login          Authenticate with the CodePush server in order to begin managing your apps
revopush logout         Log out of the current session
revopush patch          Update the metadata for an existing release
revopush promote        Promote the latest release from one app deployment to another
revopush register       Register a new CodePush account
revopush release        Release an update to an app deployment
revopush release-react  Release a React Native update to an app deployment
revopush rollback       Rollback the latest release for an app deployment
revopush session        View and manage the current login sessions associated with your account
revopush whoami         Display the account info for the current login session
 
Options:
--help     Show help  [boolean]
-v, --version  Show version number  [boolean]

3. Migrating from Appcenter to Revopush

You need to execute steps in this section if you have been using Appcenter for OTA updates and wish to migrate to Revopush. If you did not use Appcenter OTA updates before and just wish to apply OTA on top of Revopush for your app feel free to skip this section and go to section 4.

3.1 Logging In

Execute the following command to login to Appcenter CLI using provider of your choice (GitHub, Facebook, Microsoft, Google):

bash

$ appcenter login

Similarly, in a separate window login to Revopush CLI using the following command:

bash

$ revopush login

3.2 Migrating Applications and Deployments

1. List Your Appcenter Apps:

bash

$ appcenter apps list

Example Output:

bash

johndoe/rn2_android
johndoe/rn2_ios

For given guide we assume that johndoe/rn2_android is the React Native application for Android and johndoe/rn2_ios is the React Native application for iOS. You can check target OS of the app using command appcenter apps show -a <app name here>.

Android:

bash

$ appcenter apps show -a johndoe/rn2_android

bash

App Secret:            6c3cb412-105f-422f-b795-af53d0b36a5f
Description:
Display Name:          rn2_android
Name:                  rn2_android
OS:                    Android
Platform:              React-Native
Release Type:          Alpha
Owner ID:              a1265e53-0599-4340-8003-7c40f0caff38
Owner Display Name:    John Doe
Owner Email:           [email protected]
Owner Name:            johndoe
Azure Subscription ID:

iOS:

bash

$ appcenter apps show -a johndoe/rn2_ios

bash

App Secret:            37d1dce7-a991-4ccc-8a0c-1ff8ed00f45d
Description:
Display Name:          rn2_ios
Name:                  rn2_ios
OS:                    iOS
Platform:              React-Native
Release Type:
Owner ID:              a2265e53-0699-4340-8003-7c41f0caff39
Owner Display Name:    John Doe
Owner Email:           [email protected]
Owner Name:            johndoe
Azure Subscription ID:

2. Create Corresponding Revopush Apps:

Remove the username prefix when creating apps in Revopush.

bash

$ revopush app add rn2_ios
$ revopush app add rn2_android

Example Output:

bash

Successfully added the "rn2_ios" app, along with the following default deployments:
┌────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Name       │ Deployment Key                         │
├────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Production │ Z7v_81HyATiWlqZjvQFyu9GIicXAVJHvdy5W-g │
├────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Staging    │ PjAEsKZUdAytb5Rq3Kb6yHVfn-H3VJHvdy5W-g │
└────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────┘

bash

Successfully added the "rn2_android" app, along with the following default deployments:
┌────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Name       │ Deployment Key                         │
├────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Production │ EVGdS0GR4Sus584cdyZ95wmwI405VJHvdy5W-g │
├────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Staging    │ pkCafa80S-ji3y6Xey6zVcEju9AHVJHvdy5W-g │
└────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────┘

3. Replicate Deployments:

List Appcenter deployments:

bash

$ appcenter codepush deployment list -k -a johndoe/rn2_ios

Add the same deployments in Revopush with identical keys

bash

revopush deployment add rn2_ios appcenter_Staging -k <Staging_Key>
revopush deployment add rn2_ios appcenter_Production -k <Production_Key>

Repeat for Android

bash

appcenter codepush deployment list -k -a johndoe/rn2_android
revopush deployment add rn2_android appcenter_Staging -k <Staging_Key>
revopush deployment add rn2_android appcenter_Production -k <Production_Key>

Repeat for all other deployments you have in Appcenter and wish to continue to use in Revopush.

4. Setting Up Revopush from Scratch

If you're new to Revopush and want to set up OTA updates for your app, follow these steps.

4.1 Logging In

bash

$ revopush login

4.2 Creating Applications

For iOS

bash

$ revopush app add myAmazingApp_ios

For Android:

bash

$ revopush app add myAmazingApp_android

This will create your app along with default Staging and Production deployments.

4.3 Creating Deployments

If you need more deployments (e.g., Development, Testing), use:

bash

$ revopush deployment add myAmazingApp_android Development

List All Deployments:

bash

$ revopush deployment ls myAmazingApp_android -k

5. Updating Your React Native App

After setting up Revopush, update your React Native application to point to the Revopush server.

5.1 iOS Configuration

Open Info.plist: Add the following entries:

bash

<key>CodePushDeploymentKey</key>
<string>Your_Deployment_Key</string>
<key>CodePushServerURL</key>
<string>https://api.revopush.org</string>

An example for myAmazingApp_ios app and Staging deployment:

bash

<key>CodePushDeploymentKey</key>
<string>vUOFPtZfOlhXHPEDE3nkf7nP6lJ4VJHvdy5W-g</string>
<key>CodePushServerURL</key>
<string>https://api.revopush.org</string>

Dynamic Deployment Key (Optional): To switch deployments dynamically in your JavaScript code, use Code-Push options.

5.2 Android Configuration

Open strings.xml: Add the following entries:

bash

<string moduleConfig="true" name="CodePushDeploymentKey">Your_Deployment_Key</string>
<string moduleConfig="true" name="CodePushServerUrl">https://api.revopush.org</string>

An example myAmazingApp_android app and Staging deployment strings.xml:

bash

<string moduleConfig="true" name="CodePushDeploymentKey">kbAXqSrgEfLPcuvU3Fe0SCqX5HpOVJHvdy5W-g</string>
<string moduleConfig="true" name="CodePushServerUrl">https://api.revopush.org</string>

Dynamic Deployment Key (Optional): To switch deployments dynamically in your JavaScript code, use Code-Push options.

6. Releasing Updates

Once your app is configured, you can release updates to your users.

6.1 For iOS

bash

$ revopush release-react rn2_ios ios -d Staging

What Happens:

Bundles your JavaScript code.
Uploads the bundle and assets to Revopush.
Releases the update to the Staging deployment of rn2_ios.

Success Message:

bash

...
Successfully released an update containing the "/var/folders/my/lwrczz7503g5911_wf51jsvm0000gp/T/CodePush" directory to the "Staging" deployment of the "rn2_ios" app.

6.2 For Android

bash

$ revopush release-react rn2_android android -d appcenter-Staging

What Happens:

Bundles your JavaScript code.
Uploads the bundle and assets to Revopush.
Releases the update to the appcenter-Staging deployment of rn2_android.

Success Message:

bash

...
Successfully released an update containing the "/var/folders/my/lwrczz7503g5911_wf51jsvm0000gp/T/CodePush" directory to the "appcenter-Staging" deployment of the "rn2_android" app.

6.3 Additional Options

For more customization, view all options:

bash

$ revopush release-react -h

7. Summary and Resources

Migrating your OTA updates from Appcenter to Revopush is straightforward with our CLI tools. Whether you're migrating existing applications or setting up new ones, Revopush offers a seamless experience with familiar commands and robust features.

Helpful Resources:

React Native CodePush
React Native Client SDK docs
Best practices for Multi-Deployment Testing