Google is introducing huge modifications to its insurance policies concerning apps submitted to the Play Retailer. As a part of its new insurance policies, the software program big says that from late 2018, apps and app updates might want to goal newer Android API ranges to make sure optimum safety and efficiency. Right here’s what builders want to bear in mind:
Goal API Stage Requirement from Late 2018
- New apps must goal latest API ranges from August 2018
- Current apps must push updates primarily based on the newer APIs from November 2018
- In each circumstances, apps might want to goal API stage 26 (Android 8.0 Oreo) or greater
From 2019, the targetSdkVersion will advance yearly, requiring new apps and app updates to focus on the corresponding API stage or greater. Nonetheless, builders will nonetheless be capable of use a minSdkVersion of their selection, so they are going to nonetheless be capable of write apps for older Android variations.
Whereas Google says that “current apps that aren’t receiving updates will stay unaffected”, there’s a massive caveat to that exemption. In accordance with the weblog publish detailing its coverage modifications, “Future Android variations may even limit apps that don’t goal a latest API stage and adversely influence efficiency or safety”. Which implies apps that aren’t up to date for very lengthy will cease working with newer Android variations altogether, however this shouldn’t disrupt the tens of millions of customers who’re nonetheless anticipated to proceed utilizing older variations of the working system.
64-bit Help Requirement from 2019 (For Apps Utilizing Native Libraries)
One other upcoming change pertains to 64-bit help, which was initially launched in Android 5.0. With over 40% of related Android gadgets supporting 64-bit structure, builders which have to this point not launched 64-bit codes of their software program will now have to get with this system, however provided that their apps use native libraries. Such apps will have to have a 64-bit library both throughout the identical APK or in any other case. The change will come into impact from August 2019. Apps that don’t embrace any native code will stay unaffected by this alteration.
Inclusion Safety Metadata in Early 2018
The third and closing change pertains to Android safety, one thing that has all the time been a sensitive topic. Beginning early subsequent 12 months, Google will add a small quantity of safety metadata to every APK to suggest the authenticity of an app. The metadata won’t alter or modify the performance of apps in any means, form or type, however will be capable of confirm that the software program was formally distributed by the Play Retailer. Google says that it’ll regulate the max APK measurement to replicate the addition of the metadata. In contrast to the 2 earlier modifications, builders received’t have any extra workload for the implementation of this specific change.
