1. Pre-Deployment Checklist

1.1 Code Optimization

  • Minification:android { buildTypes { release { isMinifyEnabled = true proguardFiles(getDefaultProguardFile("proguard-android-optimize.txt"), "proguard-rules.pro") // Add custom ProGuard rules for KMP libraries proguardFile("multiplatform-proguard-rules.pro") } } }
  • Resource Shrinking: Remove unused assets with shrinkResources true in your Android build configuration.
  • Binary Size Analysis: Use the Android App Bundle Explorer to identify large dependencies:bundletool build-apks --bundle=app.aab --output=app.apks bundletool get-size total --apks=app.apks
  • JavaScript Optimization: For web targets, enable dead code elimination:kotlin { js(IR) { browser { webpackTask { output.libraryTarget = "umd" // Enable tree shaking mode = org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.targets.js.webpack.KotlinWebpackConfig.Mode.PRODUCTION } } } }

1.2 Security Hardening

PlatformActionImplementation Details
AndroidObfuscate with R8/ProGuardAdd -keepattributes SourceFile,LineNumberTable to preserve crash reporting
iOSEnable app transport security (ATS)Add NSAllowsArbitraryLoads: false in Info.plist
WebUse HTTPS and CSP headersSet Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self' in server config
DesktopSign binaries with digital certificatesUse platform-specific signing tools (signtool.exe, codesign)

Additional Security Measures:

  • Certificate Pinning: Implement SSL pinning for API communications// In shared code expect fun setupCertificatePinning(host: String, pins: List<String>) // Android implementation actual fun setupCertificatePinning(host: String, pins: List<String>) { OkHttpClient.Builder() .certificatePinner(CertificatePinner.Builder() .add(host, *pins.toTypedArray()) .build()) .build() }
  • Secure Storage: Use encrypted storage for sensitive data
  • API Key Protection: Never hardcode API keys; use BuildConfig fields or platform-specific secure storage

1.3 Testing Protocol

  1. Unit Tests:./gradlew allTests Ensure test coverage across all platforms with platform-specific test configurations:kotlin { sourceSets { val commonTest by getting { dependencies { implementation(kotlin("test")) implementation("io.kotest:kotest-assertions-core:5.6.2") } } val androidUnitTest by getting { dependencies { implementation("junit:junit:4.13.2") implementation("androidx.test:runner:1.5.2") } } val iosTest by getting } }
  2. UI Tests:class LoginScreenTest { @Test fun invalidLoginShowsError() { composeTestRule.setContent { AppTheme { LoginScreen() } } // Input invalid credentials composeTestRule.onNodeWithTag("email_field").performTextInput("invalid@email") composeTestRule.onNodeWithTag("password_field").performTextInput("short") composeTestRule.onNodeWithTag("login_button").performClick() // Verify error is displayed composeTestRule.onNodeWithText("Invalid credentials").assertIsDisplayed() } }
  3. Real Device Testing:
    • Android: Use Firebase Test Lab with a variety of device configurations./gradlew assembleDebug gcloud firebase test android run --type instrumentation \ --app app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk \ --test app/build/outputs/apk/androidTest/debug/app-debug-androidTest.apk \ --device model=Pixel6,version=33,locale=en,orientation=portrait
    • iOS: Deploy to TestFlight for real device testing across different iOS versionsfastlane pilot distribute --ipa "iosApp.ipa" --groups "Internal Testers"
    • Cross-Platform Consistency: Create a test matrix to verify feature parity across platforms

2. Android Deployment to Google Play

2.1 Generate Signed Bundle

Step 1: Create Keystore

keytool -genkeypair -v -keystore release.jks -keyalg RSA -keysize 4096 -validity 10000 -alias my-app  
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Important: Store this keystore securely – losing it means you cannot update your app!

Best Practices for Keystore Management:

  • Store in a secure password manager or company vault
  • Create backup copies in secure locations
  • Document the keystore password and key alias in a secure location
  • Consider using Google Play App Signing for additional security

Step 2: Configure Gradle

signingConfigs {  
    create("release") {  
        storeFile = rootProject.file("release.jks")  
        // Don't hardcode passwords in build files
        storePassword = System.getenv("STORE_PASSWORD") ?: properties["STORE_PASSWORD"].toString()
        keyAlias = "my-app"  
        keyPassword = System.getenv("KEY_PASSWORD") ?: properties["KEY_PASSWORD"].toString()
        // Enable v1 and v2 signing for maximum compatibility
        enableV1Signing = true
        enableV2Signing = true
    }  
}  

buildTypes {  
    release {  
        signingConfig = signingConfigs["release"]
        // Additional release optimizations
        isShrinkResources = true
        isMinifyEnabled = true
    }  
}  
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Step 3: Build AAB

./gradlew :androidApp:bundleRelease

The AAB file will be located at androidApp/build/outputs/bundle/release/androidApp-release.aab

Verify Bundle Contents:

bundletool build-apks --bundle=androidApp-release.aab --output=androidApp.apks
bundletool extract-apks --apks=androidApp.apks --output-dir=extracted --device-spec=device-spec.json

2.2 Play Store Submission

  1. Create Store Listing:
    • Comply with Store Policy
    • Localize metadata for target regions using Play Console’s translation service
    • Complete all required fields:
      • App name (30 characters max)
      • Short description (80 characters max)
      • Full description (4000 characters max)
      • App category and tags
      • Content rating questionnaire
      • Contact details and privacy policy URL
  2. Upload Assets:
    • Icon: 512×512 PNG with transparency
    • Feature Graphic: 1024×500 JPG or PNG (no transparency)
    • Screenshots:
      • Phone: At least 2 screenshots (16:9 aspect ratio recommended)
      • 7″ tablet: At least 2 screenshots (16:9 aspect ratio)
      • 10″ tablet: At least 2 screenshots (16:9 aspect ratio)
    • Video: YouTube URL with public or unlisted visibility
  3. Release Tracks:
    • Internal testing: Limited to 100 testers for quick feedback
    • Closed testing: Alpha/Beta tracks for larger testing groups
    • Open testing: Public beta with Play Store visibility
    • Production: Staged rollout (start with 10%, then 25%, 50%, 100%)

Play Store Optimization Tips:

  • Use A/B testing for store listings to optimize conversion
  • Monitor Android vitals for crash reports and ANRs
  • Respond to user reviews promptly
  • Update screenshots with each major UI change

3. iOS Deployment to App Store

3.1 Xcode Archive Workflow

  1. Configure Signing:
    • Create App ID in Apple Developer Portal
    • Generate provisioning profiles:
      • Development: For testing on physical devices
      • Distribution: For App Store submission
    • Set up automatic signing in Xcode:// In Xcode project settings DEVELOPMENT_TEAM = "YOUR_TEAM_ID"; CODE_SIGN_STYLE = Automatic;
    • Add capabilities as needed (Push Notifications, In-App Purchases, etc.)// In Xcode project capabilities tab // Or manually in entitlements file <key>com.apple.developer.in-app-payments</key> <array> <string>merchant.com.yourcompany.app</string> </array>
  2. Build Archive:# Build the Kotlin framework ./gradlew :iosApp:linkReleaseFrameworkIosArm64 # Archive the app (can also be done through Xcode UI) xcodebuild -workspace iosApp.xcworkspace -scheme iosApp -configuration Release -sdk iphoneos -archivePath build/iosApp.xcarchive archive # Export IPA xcodebuild -exportArchive -archivePath build/iosApp.xcarchive -exportOptionsPlist exportOptions.plist -exportPath build/ipa exportOptions.plist example:<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>method</key> <string>app-store</string> <key>teamID</key> <string>YOUR_TEAM_ID</string> </dict> </plist>

3.2 App Store Connect Submission

  1. Prepare Metadata:
    • App Information:
      • App name (30 characters max)
      • Subtitle (30 characters max)
      • Keywords (100 characters max, comma-separated)
      • Support URL
      • Marketing URL (optional)
    • Privacy nutrition labels: Complete App Privacy questionnaire
      • Data types collected
      • Tracking purposes
      • Third-party data sharing
    • Age ratings: Complete Age Rating (CARROT) questionnaire
      • Content types
      • Web access limitations
      • Gambling and contests
  2. TestFlight Upload:# Using Fastlane fastlane pilot upload --ipa "build/ipa/iosApp.ipa" --api_key_path "AuthKey.p8" --api_key_id "YOUR_KEY_ID" --issuer_id "YOUR_ISSUER_ID" # Or using Transporter app xcrun altool --upload-app -f build/ipa/iosApp.ipa -t ios -u "YOUR_APPLE_ID" -p "YOUR_APP_SPECIFIC_PASSWORD" TestFlight Distribution:
    • Internal testers (up to 100 members of your team)
    • External testers (up to 10,000 users via email or public link)
    • Beta App Review required for external testing (1-2 day review process)
  3. App Review Tips:
    • Provide demo account credentials in App Review Information
    • Include detailed testing instructions
    • Explain KMP in review notes to clarify any unusual implementation details
    • Prepare for common rejection reasons:
      • Crashes and bugs
      • Broken links
      • Incomplete information
      • Misleading descriptions
    • Average review time: 1-3 days (can be expedited in special circumstances)

4. Web Deployment (Kotlin/JS)

4.1 Production Build

# Generate optimized JS bundle
./gradlew jsBrowserProductionWebpack  
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Output: Static files in build/distributions including:

  • Main JS bundle
  • CSS files
  • HTML entry point
  • Source maps (optional)

Optimization Options:

kotlin {
    js(IR) {
        browser {
            commonWebpackConfig {
                cssSupport {
                    enabled.set(true)
                }
                // Enable code splitting
                outputFileName = "app.[contenthash].js"
            }
            // Enable progressive web app features
            webpackTask {
                output.libraryTarget = "umd"
                // Add service worker for offline support
                output.globalObject = "this"
            }
            // Optimize bundle size
            dceTask {
                keep("app.org.example.main")
            }
        }
        binaries.executable()
    }
}
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

4.2 Hosting & Optimization

HostAdvantageDeploy CommandAdditional Setup
VercelAutomatic CDN, SSR supportvercel deploy --prodCreate vercel.json for routing
GitHub PagesFree hosting for OSS projectsgit push origin gh-pagesSet up GitHub Actions workflow
FirebaseIntegrated analytics & authfirebase deploy --only hostingConfigure firebase.json
NetlifyContinuous deployment, formsnetlify deploy --prodCreate netlify.toml
AWS S3/CloudFrontScalable, global CDNaws s3 sync build/distributions s3://bucket-nameSet up CloudFront distribution

Performance Tips:

  • Compression: Enable Brotli compression for smaller file sizes# Nginx configuration brotli on; brotli_comp_level 6; brotli_types text/plain text/css application/javascript application/json;
  • Caching: Set appropriate cache headers# For static assets with content hash in filename location ~* \.(js|css|png|jpg|jpeg|gif|ico|svg|woff|woff2|ttf|otf|eot)$ { expires 1y; add_header Cache-Control "public, max-age=31536000, immutable"; } # For HTML and other dynamic content location / { expires -1; add_header Cache-Control "no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate"; }
  • Lazy Loading: Implement route-based code splitting
  • Core Web Vitals: Optimize for:
    • Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): < 2.5s
    • First Input Delay (FID): < 100ms
    • Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): < 0.1

Deployment Verification:

  • Test on multiple browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
  • Verify mobile responsiveness
  • Run Lighthouse audit for performance scoring
  • Check console for JavaScript errors

5. Desktop Deployment (Windows/macOS/Linux)

5.1 Package Generation

# Windows  
./gradlew :desktopApp:packageMsi  

# macOS  
./gradlew :desktopApp:packageDmg  

# Linux  
./gradlew :desktopApp:packageDeb  
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Configuration Options:

compose.desktop {
    application {
        mainClass = "MainKt"
        
        nativeDistributions {
            targetFormats(TargetFormat.Dmg, TargetFormat.Msi, TargetFormat.Deb)
            
            // Windows-specific options
            windows {
                menuGroup = "Kotlin Multiplatform Apps"
                // Add icon and installer customization
                iconFile.set(project.file("icon.ico"))
                upgradeUuid = "your-app-upgrade-uuid"
                perUserInstall = true
            }
            
            // macOS-specific options
            macOS {
                bundleID = "com.example.app"
                // Add signing identity for notarization
                signing {
                    sign.set(true)
                    identity.set("Developer ID Application: Your Name (TEAM_ID)")
                }
                // Add entitlements for App Sandbox
                entitlementsFile.set(project.file("entitlements.plist"))
            }
            
            // Linux-specific options
            linux {
                packageName = "kmp-app"
                debMaintainer = "support@example.com"
                appCategory = "Development"
                menuGroup = "Development"
            }
        }
    }
}
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

5.2 Distribution Channels

  • Microsoft Store:
    1. Convert MSI to MSIX with MSIX Packaging Tool
    2. Create app identity in Partner Center
    3. Sign package with store-provided certificate:SignTool sign /fd SHA256 /a /f MyCertificate.pfx /p MyPassword MyApp.msix
    4. Submit through Partner Center dashboard
    5. Pass Windows App Certification Kit (WACK) tests
  • Apple Notarization:# Step 1: Create App-Specific Password in Apple ID account # Step 2: Submit for notarization xcrun notarytool submit MyApp.dmg --apple-id "your@email.com" --password "app-specific-password" --team-id "TEAM_ID" # Step 3: Check status xcrun notarytool info [REQUEST_UUID] --apple-id "your@email.com" --password "app-specific-password" --team-id "TEAM_ID" # Step 4: Staple ticket to DMG xcrun stapler staple MyApp.dmg Notarization Requirements:
    • Code must be signed with Developer ID certificate
    • App must use the Hardened Runtime
    • App must have secure timestamp
    • DMG must be signed
  • Snap Store:# snapcraft.yaml name: my-kmp-app base: core22 version: '1.0' summary: KMP Desktop Application description: | A cross-platform desktop application built with Kotlin Multiplatform and Compose for Desktop. grade: stable confinement: strict apps: my-kmp-app: command: bin/desktop extensions: [gnome] desktop: usr/share/applications/my-kmp-app.desktop parts: my-kmp-app: plugin: dump source: build/compose/binaries/main/deb stage-packages: - libgtk-3-0 - libx11-6 Publishing to Snap Store:# Login to Snap Store snapcraft login # Build snap package snapcraft # Upload to store snapcraft upload --release=stable my-kmp-app_1.0_amd64.snap
  • Homebrew Cask (macOS):# my-kmp-app.rb cask "my-kmp-app" do version "1.0.0" sha256 "calculated-sha256-of-your-dmg" url "https://github.com/yourusername/my-kmp-app/releases/download/v#{version}/MyApp-#{version}.dmg" name "My KMP App" desc "Cross-platform desktop application built with Kotlin Multiplatform" homepage "https://example.com/my-kmp-app" app "My KMP App.app" end

5.3 Desktop-Specific Considerations

Platform Integration:

  • Windows:
    • Register file associations in registry
    • Add to Start Menu with proper categories
    • Support high-DPI displays with manifest settings
  • macOS:
    • Support dark mode with proper color schemes
    • Implement Services menu integration
    • Add Spotlight metadata
  • Linux:
    • Create proper .desktop file with MIME types
    • Support XDG standards for file locations
    • Test on multiple distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora)

Update Mechanisms:

  • Auto-updates:// In shared code expect class UpdateManager { fun checkForUpdates() fun downloadUpdate() fun installUpdate() } // Platform-specific implementations actual class UpdateManager { actual fun checkForUpdates() { // Platform-specific update check } // ... }

6. CI/CD Automation

6.1 GitHub Actions Workflow

name: KMP Deploy  
on:  
  push:  
    branches: [ main ]  
  pull_request:
    branches: [ main ]

jobs:  
  android:  
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest  
    steps:  
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4  
      - uses: actions/setup-java@v3  
        with:  
          java-version: 17
          distribution: 'temurin'
          cache: 'gradle'
      - name: Build Android App Bundle
        run: ./gradlew :androidApp:bundleRelease  
      - name: Sign Android App Bundle
        uses: r0adkll/sign-android-release@v1
        with:
          releaseDirectory: androidApp/build/outputs/bundle/release
          signingKeyBase64: ${{ secrets.SIGNING_KEY }}
          alias: ${{ secrets.KEY_ALIAS }}
          keyStorePassword: ${{ secrets.KEY_STORE_PASSWORD }}
          keyPassword: ${{ secrets.KEY_PASSWORD }}
      - name: Upload to Google Play
        if: github.event_name != 'pull_request'
        uses: r0adkll/upload-google-play@v1  
        with:  
          serviceAccountJson: ${{ secrets.GCP_SA }}  
          packageName: com.example.app
          releaseFiles: androidApp/build/outputs/bundle/release/androidApp-release.aab
          track: internal
          status: completed

  ios:  
    runs-on: macos-latest  
    steps:  
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4  
      - uses: actions/setup-java@v3
        with:
          java-version: 17
          distribution: 'temurin'
          cache: 'gradle'
      - name: Build iOS Framework
        run: ./gradlew :iosApp:linkReleaseFrameworkIosArm64
      - name: Install Apple Certificates
        if: github.event_name != 'pull_request'
        uses: apple-actions/import-codesign-certs@v1  
        with:  
          p12-file-base64: ${{ secrets.IOS_P12 }}
          p12-password: ${{ secrets.IOS_P12_PASS }}
      - name: Build and Archive iOS App
        if: github.event_name != 'pull_request'
        run: |
          cd iosApp
          xcodebuild -workspace iosApp.xcworkspace -scheme iosApp -configuration Release -sdk iphoneos -archivePath build/iosApp.xcarchive archive
      - name: Export IPA
        if: github.event_name != 'pull_request'
        run: |
          cd iosApp
          xcodebuild -exportArchive -archivePath build/iosApp.xcarchive -exportOptionsPlist exportOptions.plist -exportPath build/ipa
      - name: Upload to TestFlight
        if: github.event_name != 'pull_request'
        uses: apple-actions/upload-testflight-build@v1
        with:
          app-path: iosApp/build/ipa/iosApp.ipa
          api-key-id: ${{ secrets.APPSTORE_API_KEY_ID }}
          api-key-issuer-id: ${{ secrets.APPSTORE_API_KEY_ISSUER_ID }}
          api-key-content: ${{ secrets.APPSTORE_API_KEY_CONTENT }}
          
  web:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - uses: actions/setup-java@v3
        with:
          java-version: 17
          distribution: 'temurin'
          cache: 'gradle'
      - name: Build Web App
        run: ./gradlew jsBrowserProductionWebpack
      - name: Deploy to Firebase
        if: github.event_name != 'pull_request'
        uses: FirebaseExtended/action-hosting-deploy@v0
        with:
          repoToken: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
          firebaseServiceAccount: ${{ secrets.FIREBASE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT }}
          channelId: live
          projectId: your-firebase-project-id
          
  desktop:
    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
    strategy:
      matrix:
        os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest, macos-latest]
        include:
          - os: ubuntu-latest
            task: packageDeb
            artifact: build/compose/binaries/main/deb/*.deb
          - os: windows-latest
            task: packageMsi
            artifact: build/compose/binaries/main/msi/*.msi
          - os: macos-latest
            task: packageDmg
            artifact: build/compose/binaries/main/dmg/*.dmg
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - uses: actions/setup-java@v3
        with:
          java-version: 17
          distribution: 'temurin'
          cache: 'gradle'
      - name: Build Desktop Package
        run: ./gradlew :desktopApp:${{ matrix.task }}
      - name: Upload Artifact
        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
        with:
          name: desktop-${{ matrix.os }}
          path: ${{ matrix.artifact }}
      - name: Create GitHub Release
        if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
        with:
          files: ${{ matrix.artifact }}
Code language: PHP (php)

6.2 Cost Optimization and Performance

  • Caching Strategies:- name: Cache Gradle packages uses: actions/cache@v3 with: path: | ~/.gradle/caches ~/.gradle/wrapper ~/.konan key: ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-${{ hashFiles('**/*.gradle*', '**/gradle-wrapper.properties') }} restore-keys: | ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-
  • Self-hosted Runners:jobs: build: runs-on: self-hosted # Job steps... Benefits:
    • Faster builds with pre-installed dependencies
    • No GitHub-hosted runner minute limitations
    • Custom hardware for resource-intensive builds
  • Parallel Execution:
    • Use matrix strategy for multiple platform builds
    • Split test execution by modules or test types
    • Use Gradle’s parallel execution flag: ./gradlew --parallel

6.3 Monitoring and Alerting

Release Health Monitoring:

  • Firebase Crashlytics integration:// In build.gradle.kts dependencies { implementation("com.google.firebase:firebase-crashlytics:18.4.0") }
  • App Store Connect Analytics:
    • Monitor crash reports and user feedback
    • Track adoption rates of new versions
  • Automated Alerts:# GitHub workflow for crash alerts name: Crash Alert on: schedule: - cron: '0 */6 * * *' # Every 6 hours jobs: check-crashes: runs-on: ubuntu-latest steps: - name: Check Firebase Crashlytics uses: firebase/firebase-admin-node@v1 with: # Custom script to check crash rates script: | const crashes = await firebase.crashlytics().getCrashRate(); if (crashes > THRESHOLD) { // Send alert to Slack/Teams/Email }

7. Post-Deployment Best Practices

7.1 Version Management

Semantic Versioning:

  • Major: Breaking changes (2.0.0)
  • Minor: New features, backward compatible (1.1.0)
  • Patch: Bug fixes (1.0.1)

Implementation:

// In build.gradle.kts
val versionMajor = 1
val versionMinor = 0
val versionPatch = 0
val versionBuild = 0 // Incremented for each build

android {
    defaultConfig {
        versionCode = versionMajor * 10000 + versionMinor * 1000 + versionPatch * 100 + versionBuild
        versionName = "$versionMajor.$versionMinor.$versionPatch"
    }
}
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7.2 Phased Rollouts

Android Staged Rollout:

  • Start with 10% of users
  • Monitor crash-free rate and ANRs
  • Gradually increase to 25%, 50%, 100%

iOS Phased Release:

  • Enable “Phased Release for Automatic Updates” in App Store Connect
  • Automatic 7-day rollout (Day 1: 1%, Day 2: 2%, Day 3: 5%, etc.)

Web Canary Deployments:

# Firebase hosting configuration
hosting:
  target: production
  releases:
    production:
      - version: "1.0.0"
        percentage: 10
      - version: "0.9.0"
        percentage: 90
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7.3 Rollback Strategies

Emergency Rollback Plan:

  1. Android: Halt staged rollout, revert to previous version
  2. iOS: Remove app from sale temporarily if critical
  3. Web: Instant rollback with CDN configuration
  4. Desktop: Provide downgrade path in auto-updater

Automated Rollback Triggers:

name: Auto-Rollback
on:
  workflow_dispatch:
  schedule:
    - cron: '*/15 * * * *'  # Check every 15 minutes

jobs:
  monitor:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Check Error Rates
Code language: PHP (php)

6. CI/CD Automation

Continuous Integration Best Practices

Parallel Testing Strategy:

  • Split tests by module to reduce build times:jobs: test: strategy: matrix: module: [shared, androidApp, iosApp, webApp] steps: - run: ./gradlew :${{ matrix.module }}:test

Caching Dependencies:

- name: Cache Gradle packages
  uses: actions/cache@v3
  with:
    path: |
      ~/.gradle/caches
      ~/.gradle/wrapper
      ~/.konan
    key: ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-${{ hashFiles('**/*.gradle*') }}
Code language: PHP (php)

Environment-Specific Configurations:

// build.gradle.kts
android {
    buildTypes {
        create("staging") {
            initWith(getByName("debug"))
            buildConfigField("String", "API_URL", "\"https://staging-api.example.com\"")
            manifestPlaceholders["appName"] = "MyApp (Staging)"
        }
    }
}
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

7. Post-Deployment Monitoring

7.1 Analytics Integration

Cross-Platform Analytics:

// In shared code
expect class AnalyticsTracker {
    fun logEvent(name: String, params: Map<String, Any>)
}

// In Android
actual class AnalyticsTracker {
    private val firebaseAnalytics = FirebaseAnalytics.getInstance(context)
    
    actual fun logEvent(name: String, params: Map<String, Any>) {
        val bundle = Bundle()
        params.forEach { (key, value) -> 
            when (value) {
                is String -> bundle.putString(key, value)
                is Int -> bundle.putInt(key, value)
                // Handle other types
            }
        }
        firebaseAnalytics.logEvent(name, bundle)
    }
}

// In iOS
actual class AnalyticsTracker {
    actual fun logEvent(name: String, params: Map<String, Any>) {
        Analytics.logEvent(name, parameters: params as? [String: NSObject])
    }
}
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

Key Metrics to Track:

  • Installation Success Rate: Track failed installations vs successful ones
  • Crash-Free Users: Percentage of users who don’t experience crashes
  • Feature Adoption: Usage of new features after deployment
  • Performance Metrics: App startup time, screen load times, memory usage

7.2 Crash Reporting

Unified Error Handling:

// In shared code
fun reportException(exception: Throwable, metadata: Map<String, String> = emptyMap()) {
    try {
        platformCrashReporter.reportException(exception, metadata)
    } catch (e: Exception) {
        // Fallback logging
        println("Failed to report exception: $exception")
    }
}

// Platform-specific implementations
expect object platformCrashReporter {
    fun reportException(exception: Throwable, metadata: Map<String, String>)
}
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

Automated Alerts:

  • Set up Slack/Teams notifications for critical crashes
  • Create severity-based alerting thresholds
  • Implement on-call rotation for production issues

8. App Store Optimization (ASO)

8.1 Google Play Optimization

Metadata Best Practices:

  • Title: Include primary keyword (49 characters max)
  • Short Description: Focus on benefits, not features (80 characters)
  • Long Description: Include all relevant keywords naturally (4000 characters)
  • Promotional Text: Update regularly without app submission

Screenshot Guidelines:

  • Show key features in first 3 screenshots
  • Include text overlays explaining benefits
  • Localize screenshots for top markets
  • Use device frames for context

Release Notes Strategy:

  • Highlight new features prominently
  • Address fixed issues users reported
  • Keep tone consistent with app branding
  • Include call-to-action for ratings

8.2 App Store Optimization

iOS-Specific ASO:

  • App Name: 30 characters including primary keyword
  • Subtitle: 30 characters with secondary keywords
  • Keywords Field: 100 characters of comma-separated keywords (no spaces)
  • Promotional Text: 170 characters that can be updated without review

Review Prompt Implementation:

// In iOS app
func requestReview() {
    if #available(iOS 14.0, *) {
        if let scene = UIApplication.shared.connectedScenes.first(where: { $0.activationState == .foregroundActive }) as? UIWindowScene {
            SKStoreReviewController.requestReview(in: scene)
        }
    } else {
        SKStoreReviewController.requestReview()
    }
}
Code language: PHP (php)

A/B Testing Store Listings:

  • Use Google Play Experiments for Android
  • Test icon variations, screenshots, and descriptions
  • Run tests for at least 7 days with significant traffic

9. Versioning and Updates

9.1 Semantic Versioning

Version Scheme:

// In build.gradle.kts
val versionMajor = 1
val versionMinor = 2
val versionPatch = 3
val versionBuild = 45

android {
    defaultConfig {
        versionCode = versionMajor * 10000 + versionMinor * 1000 + versionPatch * 100 + versionBuild
        versionName = "$versionMajor.$versionMinor.$versionPatch"
    }
}
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

Version Tracking:

  • Use git tags for release versions
  • Automate version bumping in CI/CD
  • Include build number for internal tracking

9.2 Phased Rollouts

Android Staged Rollout:

  • Start with 5-10% of users
  • Monitor crash-free rate for 24-48 hours
  • Increase to 25%, then 50%, then 100% if stable

iOS Phased Release:

  • Enable “Phased Release for Automatic Updates”
  • Monitor App Store Connect metrics daily
  • Be prepared to halt rollout if issues arise

Web Progressive Deployment:

  • Use feature flags for new functionality
  • Deploy to staging environment first
  • Use canary deployments for high-risk changes

9.3 Hotfix Strategy

Emergency Release Process:

  1. Create hotfix branch from production tag
  2. Fix critical issue with minimal changes
  3. Test thoroughly on all platforms
  4. Deploy with expedited review request (if applicable)
  5. Monitor closely after release

Rollback Plan:

  • Document exact steps for reverting to previous version
  • Maintain previous version infrastructure
  • Practice rollback procedures regularly

10.1 Privacy Policies

Cross-Platform Requirements:

  • GDPR compliance for European users
  • CCPA compliance for California residents
  • App-specific privacy policies for each store

Implementation Example:

// In shared code
@Composable
fun PrivacyPolicyScreen() {
    val privacyPolicyUrl = rememberPlatformPrivacyPolicyUrl()
    
    Column(modifier = Modifier.padding(16.dp)) {
        Text("Privacy Policy", style = MaterialTheme.typography.h5)
        Spacer(Modifier.height(16.dp))
        Text("Please review our privacy policy to understand how we collect and use your data.")
        Spacer(Modifier.height(16.dp))
        Button(onClick = { openUrl(privacyPolicyUrl) }) {
            Text("View Privacy Policy")
        }
    }
}

// Platform-specific implementation
expect fun rememberPlatformPrivacyPolicyUrl(): String
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

10.2 Terms of Service

Key Components:

  • User rights and responsibilities
  • Intellectual property protection
  • Limitation of liability
  • Dispute resolution process

Versioning Terms:

  • Track user acceptance of terms
  • Prompt for re-acceptance after significant changes
  • Store acceptance records securely

10.3 Accessibility Compliance

Cross-Platform Accessibility:

// In shared code
@Composable
fun AccessibleButton(
    onClick: () -> Unit,
    text: String,
    contentDescription: String? = null
) {
    Button(
        onClick = onClick,
        modifier = Modifier.semantics {
            if (contentDescription != null) {
                this.contentDescription = contentDescription
            }
        }
    ) {
        Text(text)
    }
}
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

Accessibility Testing Checklist:

  • Screen reader compatibility
  • Sufficient color contrast (WCAG AA/AAA)
  • Touch target size (at least 44×44 dp)
  • Keyboard navigation support

Conclusion

Deploying Kotlin Multiplatform applications requires careful planning and platform-specific knowledge, but the benefits of code sharing and unified deployment processes make it worthwhile. By following this comprehensive guide, you can streamline your deployment workflow, ensure compliance with platform requirements, and deliver high-quality applications to users across Android, iOS, web, and desktop platforms.

Remember that deployment is not the end of the development cycle but rather an ongoing process of monitoring, optimization, and improvement. Regular updates, responsive customer support, and continuous performance monitoring will help ensure your KMP application’s long-term success.

Additional Resources:

This continuation completes the deployment guide with detailed sections on CI/CD best practices, post-deployment monitoring, app store optimization, versioning strategies, and legal compliance considerations. Each section includes practical code examples, configuration snippets, and actionable advice for Kotlin Multiplatform developers.

Internal Links

External Links

For ongoing maintenance, monitor Kotlin Releases and update dependencies quarterly. 🚀

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