Device Management App

Introduction

The device management app is an app designed to help with the registration and maintenance of devices on The Things Network. The app is written in React Native and uses the Expo development platform. The app is currently available for download via Testflight (Apple's Beta Testing Program). If you wish to run the app from source code instead, please consult the quick start guide

Quick start (Running from source)

Install Node Package Manager (npm)

Either:

• Mac - brew install node

• Linux - sudo apt install npm

• Windows - Download and install node.js

Install dependencies

• Install the required node dependencies with npm i

Expo

Note: Global expo cli is now deprecanted in favor of local cli

• There are 3 options when it comes to what you can run the app on:
  • iPhone simulator - Requires Xcode
  • Android simulator - Requires Android studio
  • Physical Phone - Requires the expo app be installed from app store or google play
• In main directory of project, start expo - npm start
• Choose medium to run the app. i.e a if running on android simulator
• If running on a physical phone select d to bring up developer tools in your browser the scan the qr code with the device's camera

Running iPhone simulator

Note: A mac is required to run an iPhone simulator

• To run an iPhone simulator download Xcode from the app store
• Go to Xcode > Preferences > Locations > Command Line Tools and select a command line tool
• Open simulator application by going to Xcode > Open Devloper Tool > Simulator

Note: No new GUI will pop up but you will notice the application name in top left hand side of the screen changes from Xcode to Simulator

• Next select a new simulator by navigating to File > Open Simulator > iOS > iPhone 13 (or any simulator of your choice)
• Tip: It is a good idea right click the simulator app on the dock and select keep on dock so you don't have to open xcode every time you wish to run the simulator
• Run npm start and then select i to run on iOS

Running Android simulator

• Can be run on any operating system
• To run an Android simulator download Android studio
• Go through the installation process selecting the default options
• When on the Welcome Screen select More Actions > AVD Manager
• On the bottom of the window select Create New Virtual Device > Pixel 5 > x86 Images
• Click download on the Image with the following details:

Release Name	API Level	ABI	Target
S	31	x86_64	Android 12.0 (Google APIs)

• When image has been downloaded select Next
• Name the device whatever you wish and then click Finish, this will now create a new device
• To start the device select the green play button next to the folder icon in the right most column
• Run npm start and then select a to run on android

Publishing updated build to the Apple App Store

• The Github Action is set up to automatically build and publish to the app store on a push to the main branch

• This is a guide for if you wish to do it manually

Prerequisites

• Apple Developer Account - Required to release an app on the app store or testflight
• Transporter - Used to push the build to the app store, other tools can be used. For more information look here
• Expo account - Used to build the project and download .ipa file

Building

• In the app.josn file of the project, ensure the version number has been updated. (Publish to app store will fail if version numbers already taken)

Build using eas

• To build the app using eas - eas build -p ios --non-interactive
• When app has finished building run eas submit -p ios --latest --non-interactive to push the latest build to the app store
• If build fails check out these links:
  • expo/expo#15248
  • https://github.com/expo/expo-cli/issues/3884

Publishing to Testflight

• Once deployment is complete, go to App Store Connect and sign in with your developer account
• Go to My Apps > Device Management App
• Select the TestFlight Tab and then select iOS under the Builds section on the left column
• Your build pushed to the app store using transporter will appear here, if it doesn't wait as it often takes a while for it to appear
• Once the build appears it will be greyed out and say (Processing), this can take an hour or two.
• Once build has finished processing select it
• In the Groups section click + and select the DPI group
• Fill in required prompts and then click Submit for Review

Publishing to Public App Store

• Select the App Store Tab
• Scroll down to the Build section and click the + icon and select the updated build that you pushed using transporter
• If all other information is complete and valid click Add for Review
• The review process for a live app can take up to a couple of days
• Once approved app will be live on the app store

More information can be found here

Useful links

• Continuous Deployment using expo https://techblog.geekyants.com/github-actions-for-automating-builds-for-your-app