Android: Managing different server URL for development and release

Question

I am developing an Android application that interacts with server via REST APIs. Obviously I need to use different URL for development and release builds. Commenting and un-

Answer 1

I had a similar problem with writing to logcat. I wanted to write all the messages if the app was signed with the debug key, otherwise write almost none of them. I solved the problem with this line of code:

boolean showAllMessages = ((getApplicationInfo().flags & ApplicationInfo.FLAG_DEBUGGABLE) != 0);

then using that boolean in my log writer. You should be able to do something similar when you initialize the URIs.

I am using Eclipse. I can't say with certainty that this will work in other IDE environments. This answer implies that it might be an Eclipse-only feature

Answer 2

I had a similar issue and I solved it using

if (BuildConfig.DEBUG) { } 

You will need to import

import com.commandsoftware.androidbookingapp.BuildConfig;

Answer 3

If you are using Android Studio, use buildConfigField to add custom fields to your BuildConfig class.

buildTypes {
        debug {
          buildConfigField "String", "SERVER_URL", '"http://test.this-is-so-fake.com"'
        }

        release {
          buildConfigField "String", "SERVER_URL", '"http://prod.this-is-so-fake.com"'
        }

        mezzanine.initWith(buildTypes.release)

        mezzanine {
            buildConfigField "String", "SERVER_URL", '"http://stage.this-is-so-fake.com"'
        }
    }

Here, I have three build types: the standard debug and release, plus a custom mezzanine one. Each defines a SERVER_URL field on BuildConfig.

Then, in Java code, you just refer to BuildConfig.SERVER_URL. That field will have a value based on what build type you used to build that particular edition of the app.

Answer 4

It can be managed by using ProductFlavours in app build.gradle. ProductFlavours will manage different URL ie. development and release.

Please have a look it on medium. It involves detailed explanation.