Glossary - Understanding some common terms
Here's some commonly used terms that might confuse you
Build File
A fully built up compiled file of your app that a user can install on their device via App Store or Play Store.
Also known as ipa for app store and apk for play store
Build
The process of generating the build file of your app for the first time.
When you purchase the BDK Native Service, you are basically purchasing the build.
The build file for iOS apps is directly uploaded by us to your App listing
The build file for Android apps is provided by us to you for uploading to your App listing
Rebuild
The process of regenerating the build
Typically required if you want to change some details submitted on project page e.g. app icon
Required if you want to upgrade you BDK Native Engine to a newer version
App Listing
The details about an app that you see on searching for an app on appstore
Implies details such as app description, screenshots, update notes, privacy policy link etc.
You create your app's listing on Apple's Appstore Connect for iOS & Google's Play Store Console for Android
In an app listing there is a place to uploaded the build file described above
App Metadata
Another term for the content on app listing i.e. app description, screenshots, update notes, privacy policy link etc.
Bundle Name
A unique id for an app listing. Needs to specified when the app listing is created
Typically written as something like com.facebook.app resembling the reverse of a domain just as a convention
BDK Native Engine
Our core product, which allows your Native Apps (bdk) bubble plugin to communicate back and forth with the native device
BDK Native Release
We keep adding new features & enhancements to the native engine.
When a collection of these is tested and made available to you, we call it a 'engine release'
Check out this list of engine releases till date
Every time you order a rebuild, you app is updated to the latest engine version
Appstore Connect
Apple's portal where you can create app listings for iOS apps
We upload build file inside an app listing
Previously known as iTunes Connect
Playstore Console
Google's portal where you can create app listings for Android apps
We provide you the build file to upload inside the app listing
Apple Developer Account (Organization Enrollment)
Apple's annual membership which allows you to publish apps to app store
There is Individual, Organization and Enterprise developer account types
Individual and Organization accounts cost the same $99.
We support either types of accounts.
Onesignal Player ID
Just like bubble generates a unique ID for everything (such as user's unique id), onesignal also generates a unique ID for each device for a specific app
This unique ID generated by onesignal is called 'Player ID'. Together with your onesignal app ID and api key, it can be used to send notification to a specific device
A typical approach is to save the player ID to a field in your bubble user object, so that you can send notifications to that user
Updated on: 02/19/2022
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