Channels¶
Channels are a powerful feature that allows you to distribute different versions of your app to different groups of users. This way, you can test new features with a small group of users before rolling them out to everyone.
Default Channel¶
Each app has a default channel named default to simplify the initial setup. This channel is used when no specific channel is specified during the bundle upload process or when fetching updates in your app using the Live Update plugin. A default channel is not required for your app to function. You can rename, delete, or set another channel as the default channel at any time.
Protected Channels¶
Channels can be marked as "protected" to enhance the security of your live updates. When a channel is protected, all builds associated with that channel must be code-signed before they can be distributed to users. This ensures that only authorized builds are delivered through the protected channel. Read more about Code Signing in Capawesome Cloud.
Manage Channels¶
You can manage channels associated with your app using the Capawesome CLI or the Capawesome Cloud Console.
Create a channel¶
To create a channel using the Capawesome CLI, use the apps:channels:create command:
You will be prompted to select the app you want to create the channel for and to provide the name of the channel. The CLI will then create the channel in the Capawesome Cloud.
To create a channel using the Capawesome Cloud Console, navigate to the app you want to create the channel for, and click on the Channels menu item under the "Live Updates" section in the sidebar. Next, click on the "Create Channel" button and enter the name of the channel you want to create.
Update a channel¶
To update a channel using the Capawesome CLI, use the apps:channels:update command:
You will be prompted to select the app you want to update the channel for and to provide the ID of the channel. The CLI will then update the channel in the Capawesome Cloud based on the provided information.
To update a channel using the Capawesome Cloud Console, navigate to the app you want to update the channel for, and click on the Channels menu item under the "Live Updates" section in the sidebar. Next, select the channel you want to update. In the menu, click on the "Edit" button to update the name and settings of the channel.
Delete a channel¶
To delete a channel using the Capawesome CLI, use the apps:channels:delete command:
You will be prompted to select the app you want to delete the channel for and to provide the name of the channel. The CLI will then delete the channel from the Capawesome Cloud.
To delete a channel using the Capawesome Cloud Console, navigate to the app you want to delete the channel for, and click on the Channels menu item under the "Live Updates" section in the sidebar. Next, select the channel you want to delete. In the menu, click on the "Delete" button to delete the channel.
Set default channel¶
To set a channel as the default channel using the Capawesome Cloud Console, navigate to the app you want to set the default channel for, and click on the Settings menu item in the sidebar. Next, in the "Default Channel" section, select the channel you want to set as the default channel from the dropdown menu and click on the "Save" button.
Advanced¶
Expiration¶
You can set a custom expiration date for channels using the --expires-in-days flag:
This can be useful if you want to ensure that channels are only available for a limited time, such as for beta testing or temporary releases. After the specified number of days, the channel will be automatically deleted from Capawesome Cloud.