Install the "dev" build of the Android app on the side market version

Question

I just released my first Android app through the market. I am currently working on some new features for the next version and would like to install this "dev-build" on my phone without deleting the "production" version (among other things, this will stop future updates from the market).

I am particularly interested in this because I would like to give the APK to friends / beta testers, but I do not want them to delete the released application first.

In any case, there are two applications on one device: "Application (via the market)" and "Application (DEV)"

Will this be due to using a different signature key or changing the manifest in any way?

Thanks!

Answer 1

You can simply rename the package, so both applications are installed.

You need to change the package name in the manifest as well as in the source folder. To do this, use Eclipse refactoring, and it will be done in a minute.

They do not need to subscribe with the same key.

Answer 2

Using Gradle is very simple. Here is an excerpt from one of my Gradle files:

android { // ... defaultConfig { resValue "string", "app_name", "<app name>" // ... } buildTypes { release { // ... } debug { resValue "string", "app_name", "<app name> (debug)" applicationIdSuffix ".debug" // ... } } } 

The key part for another installation is to use the applicationIdSuffix installed in the debug assembly. Under the hood, this basically does the same as suggested by the force; it changes the application id of your application.

Setting resValue app_name allows us to have different application names, this greatly simplifies keeping track of which installation is the one that (since both applications will get the same name otherwise).

Remember to remove app_name from your strings.xml and fill in your own application name instead of <app name> if you decide to set the application name in the Gradle file, as I did above.