news digest from RuStore
Development
Flutter 3.10 includes many improvements for web, mobile, graphics, security, and more. The Material library is now compliant with the latest Material Design specification and has new components and skins. In the M3 version, it is easy to enable innovations using a flag useMaterial3 : true in the MaterialApp schema.
The NavigationBar and NavigationDrawer components have also been updated with new M3 designs. SearchBar and SearchAnchor have been improved to provide predictive text for search queries. DatePicker, TimePicker, BottomSheet, ListTile and TextField have been updated both in design and functionality – they have become more convenient to use due to support for native gestures.
The update brought support for SLSA 1, APNG decoder, spell checker on iOS, Android CameraX.
In addition, Google presented the Flutter 2023 strategy, which focused on performance, platform scaling, high-quality machine code generation, platform compatibility, security, and so on. More details can be read at link.
JetBrains updated the Kotlin development map. The following items received the completed status:
support for a new IR backend in the JVM, including compile time improvements;
beta version of the new memory manager;
beta version of Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile;
kotlinx-serialization 1.4 release;
plugin Stabilize Eclipse;
and other.
The following items have been added to the roadmap:
promoting Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile to a stable release;
first public release of K2-based IntelliJ plugin;
Kotlin Notebooks IDE plugin
improving the KDo library;
documentation for Kotlin API.
You can learn more about the development plans for Kotlin in road map.
Frameworks and IDEs
New Features in Android Studio
Android Studio Hedgehog offers developers a much faster development process with Android Studio Bot, a chatbot that uses Google’s core Codey programming model. It allows you to correct errors in the code and expand theoretical knowledge about programming.
The new release also includes Google Pixel Fold and Google Pixel Tablet virtual devices, Wear OS 4 Developer Preview emulator, support for Watch Face Format. In beta format, you can try out the language changer for applications, support for Kotlin DSL and Version Catalogs, as well as the new Android SDK Upgrade Assistant for quickly updating the targetSdkVersion.
IntelliJ IDEA 2023.1.2 release
IntelliJ IDEA developers have released a new version that fixes technical bugs but does not bring new functionality. In particular, we fixed an issue that caused editor tabs to scroll slowly, incorrect counting of projects stored on NFS disks.
Also, spring.model.utils.resources no longer causes abnormally high CPU usage, and re-syncing Gradle projects no longer fails with a “Missing gradleIdentityPath” error.
Version 1.7.0 will bring improvements to the Core API, in particular, the developer reports a significant increase in performance. The old K/N memory model is no longer supported. Fixed a bug in the debugger of coroutines when it incorrectly determined their state.
In addition, versions of Kotlin, Atomicfu, JavaFx have been updated. Added support for JPMS, fixed a bug due to which canceled withTimeout handles were persisted during JS execution. And a lot of bugs fixed.
New version of Android Jetpack libraries
In May, Google traditionally made a lot of fixes to the Android Jetpack libraries. For example, in the Camera Version, the VideoCapture function was fixed, which did not work correctly in a number of devices – Samsung Galaxy S23 and Xiaomi 2107113SG. Emoji2 fixed a crash in nested emoji picker popup.
The Navigation library added support for the Accompanist Navigation Animation, as well as a dependency on Compose 1.5.0-beta01. Webkit adds support for the Image drag function in the WebView component.
The developer reminds about the need for regular library updates to work with new features.
Android
The second Android 14 beta will bring improvements to the camera and media, privacy and security, system UI, and productivity for developers. The mobile OS can be downloaded on devices from iQOO, Lenovo, Nothing, OnePlus, OPPO, Realme, Tecno, vivo and Xiaomi.
Android 14 beta 2 adds support for 10-bit HDR images, lossless audio formats over wired USB headsets, smoother animations for interface elements, new Camera Extension features for additional image processing such as low-light photos. A health and fitness data store for Health Connect users appears, which allows data to be shared between applications.
Trends
Technology Radar 2023 for Android Developers
Thoughtworks’ Technology Radar publication bi-annually shares innovations and updates related to software development. This radar consists of four quadrants: programming languages and frameworks, tools, platforms and techniques, each of which can be accepted for use, tested in practice, for evaluation or hold.
On the radar for Android developers, it is recommended to periodically remove unused dependencies to speed up build times. GitHub Actions also have a recommended commit level to help with continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) processes. ChatGPT are new technologies for writing unit tests or improving application implementation. Gradle Kotlin DSL is another item supported by both Google and Gradle and is recommended for new projects. Finally, various techniques are evaluated, such as AI-based testing.
In 2022, according to data.ai, the total spending on mobile applications has exceeded $500 billion. At the same time, the markets of Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Great Britain and the USA turned out to be the most solvent.
Spending within app stores amounted to $167 billion: 50% came from the AppStore, $25 from the Google Play Market. At the same time, the most earning applications prefer monetization not only within the store, but also through advertising. This strategy is followed by Facebook*, Instagram*, TikTok, Twitter, Candy Crush Saga, Uma Musume Pretty Derby, YouTube, Disney+, piccoma.
Interestingly, YouTube, which made $220 million in 2022, has opted for a strategy of selling paid subscriptions to block ads to further expand monetization opportunities.
70% of non-gaming app revenue through stores comes from subscriptions. A different trend continues for the game – 98% of revenue comes from one-time in-app purchases. At the same time, for dating apps, the median payer retention for 11 months is only 6.2%.
RuStore
For Russian self-employed in RuStore has become possible monetization through paid apps, subscriptions and in-app sales. Previously, monetization was available only for legal entities.
During 2023, the RuStore version will be available on smart TVs and set-top boxes. Developers will be able to offer users new solutions for work and entertainment.
New Roles for Developers
In the developer console, a division of users into roles has appeared, which will allow different participants in the development process to delimit the possibilities for working with applications.
Also in the near future we plan to release the role of a technical support specialist!
Adaptation for tablets
There was a landscape orientation, as well as the function of downloading screenshots for tablets. Developers can now separate images for smartphones and tablets by uploading them to their respective sections when publishing an app.
Tablet orientation screenshots will be displayed for a device with a screen size of more than 7 inches.
*products of the company Meta, recognized as an extremist organization in the territory of the Russian Federation.
