DeepLynks

A Flutter package for implementing deep links. It facilitates seamless redirection to the Play Store or App Store for app downloads if the app isn't installed. Otherwise, it opens the app directly and remembers the link throughout the installation process.

Features

• Deferred Deep Links: Track clicked links across installation.
• Easy Setup: Quick integration with minimal configuration.
• Platform Support: App links for Android and universal links for iOS (optional but recommended).
• Free to Use: Open-source and free.

Installation

1. Add this package to your pubspec.yaml:

   dependencies:
     deeplynks: <latest_version>
   

2. Run flutter pub get to install the package.

Usage

1. Initialize DeepLynks

Initialize the service at the start of your app. This generates a unique app ID that persists unless the application ID or bundle ID changes.

final appId = await DeeplynksService().init(
  context: context,
  metaData: MetaInfo(
    name: 'Deeplynks Demo',
    description: 'This app is a working demo for showcasing Deeplynks features',
  ),
  androidInfo: AndroidInfo(
    sha256: [],
    playStoreURL: '',
    applicationId: 'com.example.deeplynks',
  ),
  iosInfo: IOSInfo(
    teamId: '',
    appStoreURL: '',
    bundleId: 'com.example.deeplynks',
  ),
);
print(appId);

Arguments

Argument	Type	Description
context	BuildContext	The build context.
metaData	MetaInfo	App meta data. Used for link preview.
metaData.name	String	App name / title for link preview.
metaData.description	String	App description for link preview.
metaData.imageURL	String	Image for link preview, typically an App Logo.
androidInfo	AndroidInfo	Android-specific configuration.
androidInfo.sha256	List<String>	List of release SHA-256 keys
androidInfo.playStoreURL	String	The Play Store download URL for your app.
androidInfo.applicationId	String	The application ID (package name) of your app.
iosInfo	IOSInfo	iOS-specific configuration.
iosInfo.teamId	String	Your Apple Developer Team ID.
iosInfo.appStoreURL	String	The App Store download URL for your app.
iosInfo.bundleId	String	The bundle ID of your app.

2. Listen to incoming deep link data

DeeplynksService().stream.listen((data) {
    print(data);
});

3. Create a Deep Link

Generate a deep link with your custom data, which can include absolute URLs, relative URLs, query parameters, JSON objects, plain text, or any other format you want to retrieve later.

final link = await DeeplynksService().createLink(jsonEncode({
  'referredBy': '12345',
  'referralCode': 'WELCOME50',
}));
print('Generated link: $link');

3. Mark Link Data as Used

Mark the link data as completed to prevent future triggers.

DeeplynksService().markCompleted();

Platform Setup (Optional)

Android

1. Open android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml.
2. Add the following <meta-data> tag and <intent-filter> inside the <activity> tag with .MainActivity. Replace <app_id> with the unique app ID generated during the first DeepLynksService.init() call.

<meta-data android:name="flutter_deeplinking_enabled" android:value="true" />
<intent-filter android:autoVerify="true">
  <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
  <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
  <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
  <data android:scheme="http" android:host="deeplynks.web.app" android:pathPrefix="/<app_id>/" />
  <data android:scheme="https" android:host="deeplynks.web.app" android:pathPrefix="/<app_id>/" />
</intent-filter>

3. Update MainActivity.kt to handle deep links:

import android.net.Uri
import android.os.Bundle
import android.content.Intent
import io.flutter.plugin.common.MethodChannel
import io.flutter.embedding.engine.FlutterEngine
import io.flutter.embedding.android.FlutterActivity

class MainActivity : FlutterActivity() {
    private val CHANNEL = "app.web.deeplynks"
    private var initialLink: String? = null

    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
        intent?.let {
            if (Intent.ACTION_VIEW == it.action) {
                initialLink = it.data.toString()
            }
        }
    }

    override fun configureFlutterEngine(flutterEngine: FlutterEngine) {
        super.configureFlutterEngine(flutterEngine)
        MethodChannel(flutterEngine.dartExecutor.binaryMessenger, CHANNEL).setMethodCallHandler { call, result ->
            if (call.method == "getInitialLink") {
                result.success(initialLink)
                initialLink = null
            } else {
                result.notImplemented()
            }
        }
    }

    override fun onNewIntent(intent: Intent) {
        super.onNewIntent(intent)
        intent.data?.let {
            flutterEngine?.dartExecutor?.binaryMessenger?.let { messenger ->
                MethodChannel(messenger, CHANNEL).invokeMethod("onLink", it.toString())
            }
        }
    }
}

4. Test on Emulator

• Install / Run the app on the Emulator.

• Close the app.

• Run this command on the terminal.

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "<generated_link>" <package_name>

• If successful, the app will launch.

iOS

1. Add FlutterDeepLinkingEnabled Key in Info.plist

<key>FlutterDeepLinkingEnabled</key>
<true/>

2. Add Associated Domains

1. Open the Runner.xcworkspace file in Xcode.
2. Select the top-level Runner project in the Navigator.
3. Go to the Signing & Capabilities tab.
4. Click the + Capability button.
5. Select Associated Domains.
6. In the Associated Domains section, click the + button.
7. Add the domain: applinks:deeplynks.web.app.

3. Update AppDelegate.swift

Modify AppDelegate.swift to handle incoming deep links:

import UIKit
import Flutter

@main
@objc class AppDelegate: FlutterAppDelegate {
    override func application(
        _ application: UIApplication,
        didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?
    ) -> Bool {
        GeneratedPluginRegistrant.register(with: self)
        return super.application(application, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions: launchOptions)
    }

    // TODO: ADD THIS METHOD
    override func application(
        _ application: UIApplication,
        continue userActivity: NSUserActivity,
        restorationHandler: @escaping ([UIUserActivityRestoring]?) -> Void
    ) -> Bool {
        if userActivity.activityType == NSUserActivityTypeBrowsingWeb,
           let url = userActivity.webpageURL,
           let flutterViewController = window?.rootViewController as? FlutterViewController {
            let channel = FlutterMethodChannel(name: "app.web.deeplynks", binaryMessenger: flutterViewController.binaryMessenger)
            channel.invokeMethod("onLink", arguments: url.absoluteString)
        }
        return true;
    }
}

4. Test on Simulator

1. Install / Run the app on the Simulator.
2. Close the app.
3. Run this command on the terminal.

xcrun simctl openurl booted <generated_link>

4. If successful, the app will launch.

Additional information

Think you've found a bug, or would like to see a new feature? We'd love to hear about it! Visit the Issues section of the git repository. DO NOT FORGOT TO MENTION THE PACKAGE NAME "deeplynks" IN THE TITLE.