React-native-code-push: [Feature Request] Support codepush updating via a background service

[AndrewJack]

~Before this project becomes closed source~, I'd like to request this feature. If there's somewhere more appropriate to post this please let me know.

The ability to trigger a code push download in a Android JobScheduler service or ios background task would help speed up the deployment time of a code push.

I have attempted to do this with the current APIs however it requires starting up the JS runtime to trigger the bundle fetch. Additionally, the code that runs isn't optimised or supported in the background and only occasionally works.

Let me know if you need anymore detail or suggestions for implementation.

[yaronlevi]

+1 Could come as a very handy feature.

[Zakeelm]

Thanks for this feature request. This is a really cool idea. I would love to hear some additional details regarding the use cases and how you envision this feature would improve the current CodePush release flow!

[AndrewJack]

The release flow could look something like:

1) Release a CodePush update
2) Send a remote push trigger (APN, FCM, etc) or scheduled background job starts
3) Call CodePush api in Java or Objective C to sync the CodePush bundle
4) CodePush downloads the new bundle, if new bundle is available
5) CodePush can then wait for next app start to load the new bundle. Or if it is currently running follow some similar logic to the installMode used in the current JS sync method (ON_NEXT_RESTART or ON_NEXT_RESUME).

[Zakeelm]

Ah, I see. That makes sense. I can definitely see how that would improve the deployment time. I'm going to keep this open for now to see if others are interested in this as well!

[thevolcanomanishere]

@AndrewJack Codepush is becoming closed source?

[AndrewJack]

@thevolcanomanishere it says in the migration guide FAQs:

As of now, the only big change is the use of the App Center CLI and the structure of the commands. No changes in your code will be neccesarry until the release of the new SDK next year. In addition to this, CodePush will no longer be open sourced. The CodePush team would like to extend our graditude for your help in making CodePush what it is today. None of this would be possible without such an amazing community.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/appcenter/distribution/codepush/migrationguide#faq

[yogieputra8]

+1 Please support this feature 🙂

[kelset]

@Zakeelm any update on the roadmap between now & October? Will this feature be implemented? 😇

Or we should start shifting towards the App Center altogether?

[yaronlevi]

@Zakeelm "App Center" is a dashboard (and a set of SDKs). It dose not replaces code push. If I am not mistaken, it will be baked into app centers sdk.

[Zakeelm]

@AndrewJack @thevolcanomanishere We've updated our docs. CodePush will remain open sourced! At the moment, we have tentative plans to migrate the CodePush SDK into the App Center SDK, which is still open sourced. I'm not able to provide an ETA on this though.

[Zakeelm]

@kelset At the moment, we don't have any updates to share on the roadmap. Our team has had a priority shift, so new feature work isn't happening as fast. We do recommend switching over to the App Center CLI whenever you find time though. There will not be in disruptions in your workflow when using the CodePush CLI though

[Zakeelm]

@yaronlevi The plan is to move CodePush SDK into the App Center SDK. CodePush isn't going anywhere.

[FrenchMajesty]

How is this looking? This seems to be a popular feature and a practical use case for CodePush.

If I detect a bug in my mobile app, update it and send in a hot update then I don't want my users to have to open my app and potentially run into the patched bug.

It would make more sense to have the new bundle downloaded and installed behind the scenes so that when users do open the app, they always experience the latest version.

[never00miss]

is there any update about this feature?

i am using this codepush for our big application, i hope there is this feature for helping customer get background bundle update, instead of waiting for apps to open and update.