Disable Google Analytics when in development

Question

My question is pretty simple: is there any way for Google Analytics to be disabled automatically when the application is signed with the debug certificate? Means it should be active only in release version. Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

If you're using ADT 17 and above, you can utilize the BuildConfig class:

if(BuildConfig.DEBUG) {
    GoogleAnalytics googleAnalytics = GoogleAnalytics.getInstance(getApplicationContext());
    googleAnalytics.setAppOptOut(true);
}

The BuildConfig class is automatically generated like R.java is. It only contains the DEBUG boolean, which is set to true by default, and to false when you export an apk.

Answer 2

Well you can set it to not be active easily enough:

if (...) {
  GoogleAnalytics ga= GoogleAnalytics.getInstance(getApplicationContext());
  ga.setAppOptOut(true);
}

I usually just check the hardware serial number of some known devices used for testing:

if (Arrays.asList("x", "y").contains(getHardwareSerial()))

Where getHardwareSerial() is:

public static String getHardwareSerial() {
        try {
            Field serialField = Build.class.getDeclaredField("SERIAL");
            return (String) serialField.get(null);
        } catch (NoSuchFieldException nsf) {
        } catch (IllegalAccessException ia) {
        }
        return Build.UNKNOWN;
    }

Answer 3

With the latest version of Google Analytics, you should be using the following code:

if(BuildConfig.DEBUG){
    GoogleAnalytics.getInstance(this).setDryRun(true);
}