🚀 Check App Version #

Check App Version Preview

Check App Version is the modern, robust, and elegant solution to manage application versioning and updates in Flutter. Evaluate installed versions against remote or local configuration sources in a single line of code, handle both soft and mandatory updates effortlessly, and present ready-to-use Material 3 UI layouts that automatically adapt to your application theme.

✨ Features #

⚡ 30-Second Implementation: A single, static entry point (CheckAppVersion.get(...)) handles network requests, local assets, caching, and semver comparison.
🎨 4 Ready-to-Use Material 3 UIs: Pre-built Dialogs, Modal Bottom Sheets, Full-Screen Pages, and animated Overlay Banners that adapt automatically to Light and Dark modes.
📱 Granular Platform Isolation: Configure isolated thresholds and flags per platform (android, ios, macos, windows, linux, web). Enforce a mandatory update on iOS while keeping it optional on Android.
🌐 Any Source Supported: Accepts remote HTTP/HTTPS URLs, Flutter asset paths (assets/version.json), or raw JSON strings.
🧠 Smart In-Memory Caching: Avoids redundant network roundtrips with configurable TTL (10-minute default) and cache invalidation methods.
🛡️ Resilient & Crash-Proof: Catches format and network errors (TypeError, FormatException, timeouts) returning clean, inspectable status codes instead of throwing unhandled exceptions.

📦 Installation #

Add check_app_version to your Flutter project:

flutter pub add check_app_version

Or add it directly to your pubspec.yaml:

dependencies:
  check_app_version: ^3.0.1

🚀 Quick Start #

Step 1: Provide your Version Configuration #

Host a version.json file on your server (CDN, S3, Firebase Hosting, GitHub Gist, or custom REST API):

{
  "platforms": {
    "android": {
      "package_name": "com.example.myapp",
      "min_required_version": "1.5.0",
      "min_required_build": 36,
      "latest_version": "1.6.0",
      "latest_build": 40,
      "force_update": false
    },
    "ios": {
      "bundle_id": "com.example.myapp",
      "app_store_id": "1234567890",
      "min_required_version": "1.5.0",
      "min_required_build": 36,
      "latest_version": "1.6.0",
      "latest_build": 40,
      "force_update": true
    }
  }
}

Step 2: Check & Display Update #

Invoke the check on app startup or on a settings page:

import 'package:check_app_version/check_app_version.dart';
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';

Future<void> checkForUpdates(BuildContext context) async {
  // 1. Evaluate current installed version against your JSON source
  final decision = await CheckAppVersion.get(
    'https://example.com/version.json',
  );

  // 2. Display one of the built-in UI components if an update is available
  if (decision.shouldUpdate && context.mounted) {
    CheckAppVersion.showUpdateDialog(
      context,
      decision: decision,
      onOpenStore: () {
        // Use url_launcher to navigate to the App Store / Play Store
      },
    );
  }
}

📑 JSON Configuration Schema #

The configuration supports granular multi-platform control. You can configure only the platforms your app targets:

{
  "app_id": "com.example.myapp",
  "config_version": 1,
  "platforms": {
    "android": {
      "package_name": "com.example.myapp",
      "min_required_version": "1.5.0",
      "min_required_build": 36,
      "latest_version": "1.6.0",
      "latest_build": 40,
      "force_update": false
    },
    "ios": {
      "bundle_id": "com.example.myapp",
      "app_store_id": "1234567890",
      "min_required_version": "1.5.0",
      "min_required_build": 36,
      "latest_version": "1.6.0",
      "latest_build": 40,
      "force_update": false
    },
    "macos": {
      "bundle_id": "com.example.myapp.macos",
      "app_store_id": "1234567890",
      "min_required_version": "1.4.0",
      "min_required_build": 30,
      "latest_version": "1.5.0",
      "latest_build": 35,
      "force_update": false
    },
    "windows": {
      "package_name": "example",
      "product_id": "9NBLGGH4R315",
      "min_required_version": "1.0.0",
      "min_required_build": 2,
      "latest_version": "1.1.0",
      "latest_build": 5,
      "force_update": true
    },
    "linux": {
      "package_name": "example",
      "min_required_version": "1.3.0",
      "min_required_build": 25,
      "latest_version": "1.4.0",
      "latest_build": 28,
      "force_update": false
    },
    "web": {
      "package_name": "example",
      "min_required_version": "1.0.0",
      "min_required_build": 0,
      "latest_version": "1.0.0",
      "latest_build": 0,
      "force_update": false
    }
  }
}

Schema Field Reference #

Key	Type	Description
`min_required_version`	`String`	Lowest semver string permitted without triggering a mandatory update (e.g. `"1.5.0"`).
`min_required_build`	`int`	Lowest build number permitted without triggering a mandatory update (e.g. `36`).
`latest_version`	`String?`	Most recent release available on the store. Triggers a soft update prompt if installed version is lower.
`latest_build`	`int?`	Most recent build number. Triggers a soft update prompt if installed build is lower.
`force_update`	`bool`	When `true` and the installed app is below minimum requirements, marks `decision.isForceUpdate = true`.
`app_store_id`	`String?`	Apple App Store identifier for iOS/macOS store links.
`product_id`	`String?`	Microsoft Store product ID for Windows store links.

Note

Priority Rule: Hard minimums (min_required_build & min_required_version) take precedence over soft targets (latest_build & latest_version). If an app falls below the minimum requirement and force_update: true, it is classified as a mandatory update.

🎨 Presentation Layouts #

Choose between four pre-designed presentation styles according to your user experience needs:

1. Classic Dialog #

A clean Material 3 popup card overlaying your app content. Ideal for standard update notifications.

CheckAppVersion.showUpdateDialog(
  context,
  decision: decision,
  onOpenStore: () => openStore(),
  onLater: () => print('User clicked later'), // Optional callback
  title: 'Update Available',                 // Optional custom title
  message: 'A new version is waiting for you!', // Optional custom message
  updateLabel: 'Update Now',
  laterLabel: 'Later',
  popAfterPressed: true, // Automatically dismisses dialog on update tap
);

An elegant, swipe-friendly sheet sliding up from the bottom. Great for non-blocking soft updates.

CheckAppVersion.showUpdateModal(
  context,
  decision: decision,
  onOpenStore: () => openStore(),
  title: 'New Features Available',
  popAfterPressed: true,
);

3. Full-Screen Blocking Page #

An immersive, full-screen view preventing user interaction until updated. Perfect for critical, breaking changes.

CheckAppVersion.showUpdatePage(
  context,
  decision: decision,
  onOpenStore: () => openStore(),
  title: 'Mandatory Update Required',
  icon: Icons.system_update_rounded,
  popAfterPressed: false,
);

4. Top Overlay Banner #

A non-intrusive animated banner placed at the top of your screen (e.g. inside a Stack).

Stack(
  children: [
    YourMainWidget(),
    if (showBanner && decision.shouldUpdate)
      Positioned(
        top: 0,
        left: 0,
        right: 0,
        child: SafeArea(
          child: UpdateOverlay(
            decision: decision,
            onOpenStore: () => openStore(),
            onDismiss: () => setState(() => showBanner = false),
          ),
        ),
      ),
  ],
)

Tip

Automatic Dismissal (popAfterPressed): All modal and dialog helpers default to popAfterPressed: true, automatically dismissing the popup when the user taps the update button.

🛠️ Headless Mode (Custom UI) #

If you prefer to design your own UI from scratch, use CheckAppVersion.get(...) headlessly and inspect the UpdateDecision entity:

final decision = await CheckAppVersion.get(
  'https://example.com/version.json',
);

if (decision.shouldUpdate) {
  if (decision.isForceUpdate) {
    // Show your custom blocking screen or route
  } else {
    // Show your custom banner or snackbar
  }
}

Properties of `UpdateDecision` #

Property	Type	Description
`shouldUpdate`	`bool`	`true` if the app should be updated (either mandatory or soft).
`isForceUpdate`	`bool`	`true` if the update is strictly required (`force_update: true` & below minimum).
`reason`	`UpdateReason`	Enum explaining why the decision was produced (see below).
`installedVersion`	`String`	Currently installed version (e.g. `"1.4.2"`).
`installedBuild`	`int`	Currently installed build number (e.g. `32`).
`requiredMinVersion`	`String`	Server-defined minimum required version.
`requiredMinBuild`	`int`	Server-defined minimum required build number.
`latestVersion`	`String?`	Server-defined latest version.
`latestBuild`	`int?`	Server-defined latest build number.
`appStoreId`	`String?`	iOS/macOS App Store ID (if configured).
`productId`	`String?`	Windows Store product ID (if configured).

`UpdateReason` Enum #

UpdateReason.upToDate: Installed version satisfies all thresholds.
UpdateReason.belowMinimum: Installed version or build is below minimum required threshold.
UpdateReason.belowLatest: Installed version or build is below latest release (eligible for soft update).
UpdateReason.cached: Decision served from in-memory cache.
UpdateReason.networkError: Network request failed or HTTP status code != 200.
UpdateReason.parseError: Payload could not be parsed as valid JSON.
UpdateReason.platformUnsupported: Current platform is missing from the platforms node in JSON.

⚙️ Caching & Update Policies #

By default, every successful check is cached in memory for 10 minutes. You can fine-tune this with UpdatePolicy:

final decision = await CheckAppVersion.get(
  'https://example.com/version.json',
  policy: const UpdatePolicy(
    cacheTtl: Duration(minutes: 30),        // Custom cache lifetime
    forceRefresh: true,                     // Ignore cache and force HTTP request
    httpTimeout: Duration(seconds: 4),      // Custom HTTP timeout
    debugMode: true,                        // Output diagnostics via dart:developer
    platform: SupportedPlatform.android,    // Override platform (useful for testing)
  ),
);

Cache Control APIs #

// Invalidate all cached decisions across your app
CheckAppVersion.clearCache();

// Invalidate a specific source cache entry
CheckAppVersion.invalidateCache(cacheKey);

🔄 Migration Guide (v2.x ➔ v3.x) #

1. JSON Schema Upgrade #

In v2.x, configuration was flat and shared across platforms. In v3.x, each platform has dedicated, isolated rules:

Legacy v2.x Schema	Modern v3.x Schema
Flat keys (`android_package`, `new_app_version`)	Nested under `platforms.<platform_name>`
Same version enforced on all platforms	Independent min & latest thresholds per platform

// Modern v3.x Schema
{
  "platforms": {
    "android": {
      "package_name": "com.example.app",
      "min_required_version": "1.2.0",
      "min_required_build": 15,
      "latest_version": "1.3.0",
      "latest_build": 20,
      "force_update": false
    }
  }
}

2. Dart API Migration #

Before (v2.x)

final dialog = AppVersionDialog(
  jsonUrl: 'https://example.com/version.json',
  context: context,
  title: 'New Update Available',
  onPressConfirm: () => openStore(),
);
await dialog.show();

Now (v3.x)

// 1. Evaluate logic
final decision = await CheckAppVersion.get('https://example.com/version.json');

// 2. Render UI
if (decision.shouldUpdate && context.mounted) {
  CheckAppVersion.showUpdateDialog(
    context,
    decision: decision,
    onOpenStore: () => openStore(),
  );
}

📄 API Reference #