github_apk_updater 1.0.3

Auto-update your Flutter Android app via GitHub Releases. Zero cost, zero third-party services, zero server needed. Just push to GitHub — users get update dialog automatically.

github_apk_updater

Auto-update your Flutter Android app via GitHub Releases — no server, no third-party service.

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How It Works

You push code to GitHub
  → GitHub Actions builds APK automatically
  → Uploads APK to GitHub Releases (free)
  → Updates version.json

User opens your app
  → App checks version.json silently
  → If new version exists → shows update dialog
  → User taps Update Now → downloads & installs

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⚠️ Required: Copy Workflow File (Do This First)

Every project using this package needs a GitHub Actions workflow file. Without this file, GitHub will NOT build your APK automatically.

Step 1 — Create this folder in your project root:

your_project/
└── .github/
    └── workflows/
        └── build_apk.yml   ← create this file

Step 2 — Paste this into build_apk.yml:

name: Build & Release APK

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main

permissions:
  contents: write

jobs:
  build:
    name: Build APK
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
      - name: Checkout repository
        uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Setup Java
        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
        with:
          distribution: 'zulu'
          java-version: '17'

      - name: Setup Flutter
        uses: subosito/flutter-action@v2
        with:
          channel: 'stable'

      - name: Get Flutter packages
        run: flutter pub get

      - name: Build APK
        run: flutter build apk --release

      - name: Get version from pubspec
        id: get_version
        run: |
          VERSION=$(grep '^version:' pubspec.yaml | sed 's/version: //' | sed 's/+.*//' | tr -d ' ')
          echo "VERSION=$VERSION" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT

      - name: Create GitHub Release
        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
        with:
          tag_name: v${{ steps.get_version.outputs.VERSION }}
          name: v${{ steps.get_version.outputs.VERSION }}
          files: build/app/outputs/flutter-apk/app-release.apk
        env:
          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}

      - name: Update version.json
        run: |
          VERSION=${{ steps.get_version.outputs.VERSION }}
          REPO="${{ github.repository }}"
          APK_URL="https://github.com/$REPO/releases/download/v$VERSION/app-release.apk"
          printf '{\n  "latest_version": "%s",\n  "apk_url": "%s",\n  "force_update": false,\n  "release_notes": "New update available!"\n}\n' "$VERSION" "$APK_URL" > version.json

      - name: Commit version.json
        run: |
          git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
          git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
          git add version.json
          git diff --staged --quiet || git commit -m "chore: bump version.json to v${{ steps.get_version.outputs.VERSION }}"
          git push
        env:
          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}

Step 3 — Add version.json to your project root:

{
  "latest_version": "1.0.0",
  "apk_url": "https://github.com/USERNAME/REPO/releases/download/v1.0.0/app-release.apk",
  "force_update": false,
  "release_notes": "Initial release."
}

---

Install Package

dependencies:
  github_apk_updater: ^1.0.0

---

Add to Your App

import 'package:github_apk_updater/github_apk_updater.dart';

final updater = GithubApkUpdater(
  config: UpdaterConfig(
    githubUsername: 'your_username',  // ← your GitHub username
    githubRepo: 'your_repo',          // ← your GitHub repo name
  ),
);

@override
void initState() {
  super.initState();
  WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
    updater.check(context);
  });
}

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Every Push Routine

# 1. Bump version in pubspec.yaml
#    example: 1.0.0+1 → 1.0.1+2

# 2. Push
git pull --rebase && git add . && git commit -m "update" && git push origin main

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Configuration Options

Option	Default	Description
githubUsername	required	Your GitHub username
githubRepo	required	Your repository name
branch	main	Branch with version.json
dialogTitle	Update Available	Dialog title
updateButtonText	Update Now	Update button label
laterButtonText	Later	Dismiss button label

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Force Update

Set force_update: true in version.json — users cannot skip the update.

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Custom UI

final info = await updater.getUpdateInfo();
if (info != null && info.hasUpdate) {
  // use info.latestVersion, info.apkUrl, info.releaseNotes
}

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Android Permission

Add to android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES"/>