How To Force Update On An App When Backend-changes Requires An Updated App

I have read different posts about forcing an update of an app, and the only idea that ppl has had (as far as I can tell) is to create a web service which the app calls to see what

Solution 1:

As zapl has commented, the backend should ALWAYS allow backward compatibility. Whenever your app makes a call to the backend server the app should report its version number and the backend should respond accordingly.

As for forcing an app update, you should look at GCM to push a notification which will then take the user to the update although in reality this wouldn't actually 'force' the user to update.

Either way, as long as both the backend and app report their version numbers to each other (perhaps with a notification of 'update available') then you can design things so 1). they continue to work and 2). users will update ASAP when they need to.

I understand that publishing to Google Play can have delays but as long as the backend retains backward compatibility, it shouldn't be a problem.

Solution 2:

You can use appgrades.io to force app updates using custom view/popup that you can design (no code required) on appgrades Dashboard