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Getting Started with Play Core: Dynamic Features and In-App Updates for Android Apps

vijay k

Introduction

In today’s fast-evolving mobile ecosystem, app performance, modularity, and user experience are crucial. Play Core is a Google-provided Android library that empowers developers to enhance user experience with dynamic delivery, in-app updates, on-demand asset loading, and more—without requiring users to leave the app or install unnecessary features upfront.

With Play Core, you can build modular apps, reduce initial APK size, deliver content just-in-time, and push seamless updates—all within your Android environment, directly integrated with Google Play services.

💡 What is Play Core?

Play Core is a set of Android libraries offered by Google Play that allows Android apps to interact with and leverage Google Play services dynamically from within the app.

Key Capabilities of Play Core:

  • Dynamic feature delivery: Download and install features on demand.
  • In-app updates: Notify users of updates and install them without leaving the app.
  • Asset delivery: Load large assets or game files just-in-time to save space.
  • Review flow: Prompt users to leave ratings/reviews without leaving the app.
  • Integrity API: Validate app authenticity and security.
  • On-device search indexing: Improve searchability of app content using on-device indexes.

🎯 Major Use Cases of Play Core

  1. Modular Android Applications
    • Split apps into feature modules and load them only when needed to optimize initial download size.
  2. In-App Updates
    • Prompt users to install app updates without visiting the Play Store—ideal for critical bug fixes or security patches.
  3. Gaming and Media Apps
    • Use on-demand asset delivery to load textures, music, or video files only when required.
  4. User Engagement Boost
    • Use the in-app review API to request user feedback at optimal times.
  5. Licensing & Security Validation
    • Validate the integrity and authenticity of the app via the Play Integrity API.
  6. Reducing APK Size
    • Defer downloading features not needed during the first launch, improving install conversion and speed.

⚙️ How Play Core Works: Architecture Overview

Play Core integrates with Google Play infrastructure and operates within your app to offer runtime delivery of modules, assets, and services.

🔧 Key Components:

  1. Play Core Library
    • Embedded in your Android app to interface with Google Play.
  2. Google Play Services
    • Delivers the modules or assets on demand through the Play Store backend.
  3. Dynamic Feature Modules (DFMs)
    • Individual modules defined in the app that are not included in the base APK but downloaded as needed.
  4. Play Asset Delivery
    • Provides access to large asset packs through Google Play, using optimized compression and storage.
  5. Update and Review APIs
    • Enable interactions with users for update prompts and feedback collection.

📐 Architecture Flow (Simplified)

[App Request] 
   ↓
[Play Core API]
   ↓
[Google Play Services]
   ↓
[Fetch Module/Asset/Update/Review]
   ↓
[Deliver to App at Runtime]

🔄 Basic Workflow of Play Core

  1. Define feature modules in your Gradle configuration.
  2. Use Play Core APIs to request module/asset/update/review.
  3. Google Play Services processes request and delivers content.
  4. Content is available in the app without a full reinstall.
  5. Monitor delivery and handle user interaction as needed.

🚀 Step-by-Step Getting Started Guide for Play Core

🧰 Prerequisites

  • Android Studio (latest version)
  • Android Gradle Plugin 7.0+
  • App uploaded to the Google Play Console (for live testing of Play Core)
  • Target SDK ≥ 21
  • A signed and uploaded app bundle (for dynamic delivery)

✅ Step 1: Add Play Core Dependencies

Add the following to your build.gradle:

dependencies {
    implementation 'com.google.android.play:core:1.10.3'
    implementation 'com.google.android.play:core-ktx:1.8.1' // optional Kotlin extensions
}

📁 Step 2: Configure Dynamic Features (Optional)

In settings.gradle:

include ':app', ':feature_module_name'

In build.gradle of the feature module:

apply plugin: 'com.android.dynamic-feature'

android {
    ...
    defaultConfig {
        minSdkVersion 21
    }
}

dependencies {
    implementation project(":app")
}

🧭 Step 3: Request a Dynamic Feature at Runtime

val request = SplitInstallRequest.newBuilder()
    .addModule("feature_module_name")
    .build()

splitInstallManager.startInstall(request)
    .addOnSuccessListener { sessionId -> /* handle success */ }
    .addOnFailureListener { exception -> /* handle failure */ }

🔄 Step 4: Use In-App Update API

val appUpdateManager = AppUpdateManagerFactory.create(context)

val appUpdateInfoTask = appUpdateManager.appUpdateInfo
appUpdateInfoTask.addOnSuccessListener { info ->
    if (info.updateAvailability() == UpdateAvailability.UPDATE_AVAILABLE &&
        info.isUpdateTypeAllowed(AppUpdateType.FLEXIBLE)) {
        
        appUpdateManager.startUpdateFlowForResult(
            info, AppUpdateType.FLEXIBLE, activity, REQUEST_CODE_UPDATE
        )
    }
}

⭐ Step 5: Trigger In-App Review

val manager = ReviewManagerFactory.create(context)
val request = manager.requestReviewFlow()
request.addOnCompleteListener { task ->
    if (task.isSuccessful) {
        val reviewInfo = task.result
        manager.launchReviewFlow(activity, reviewInfo)
    }
}

🔖 Summary

Play Core is a game-changing toolkit for Android developers who want to build modular, scalable, and user-centric apps. From on-demand feature modules and asset packs, to seamless in-app updates and smart review prompts, Play Core allows you to deliver modern, lightweight, and interactive experiences while staying deeply integrated with the Play Store ecosystem.

If you’re looking to reduce APK size, optimize UX, and boost app engagement, Play Core is an essential addition to your Android development toolkit.

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