28.14. Push Notifications in Flutter with Firebase: App Publishing and Distribution

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Chapter 28.14 of our e-book course "How to Create Apps from Zero to Advanced Using Flutter and Dart Complete Course" is dedicated to implementing push notifications in Flutter with Firebase and publishing and distributing apps. This is a crucial aspect of app development as it allows developers to keep users engaged and informed about updates, promotions and other important events.

Push notifications are short messages that can be sent to users even when the app is not in use. They are an effective marketing tool that can increase user retention, improve user experience and drive user interaction. In Flutter, you can implement push notifications using Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM), a cloud messaging service that lets you send messages reliably and for free.

To start implementing push notifications in Flutter, you first need to add the firebase_messaging package to your pubspec.yaml file. Next, you need to configure FCM in the Firebase console and get the server key. After that, you can launch FCM in your Flutter app and configure the message handlers.

There are different types of messages you can send with FCM. Notifications are messages that can be displayed to users in the system notification tray. Data messages are messages that contain data payload that can be processed by the application. You can also send topic messages that will be delivered to all devices that have subscribed to a specific topic.

To send a notification, you can use the Firebase console interface or the FCM HTTP API. In the Firebase console, you can create a new notification, set the title and text, select the target app, and set other options. With the FCM HTTP API, you can send notifications programmatically from your server or from a Firebase Cloud Function.

After implementing push notifications, the next step is to publish and distribute your application. This involves preparing your app for release, building a list of apps on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, submitting your app for review, and monitoring your app's performance after launch.

To prepare your application for release, you need to configure a launch icon, a welcome screen, release versions, and signatures. You also need to test your app on multiple devices and configurations to make sure it works correctly.

To create a list of apps on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, you need to provide details about your app such as title, description, category, keywords, screenshots, promotion video and contact information. You also need to set the price for your app and select the countries in which it will be available.

Once you submit your app for review, it will be reviewed by the Google Play Store or Apple App Store team. If your app is approved, it will be published on the app store and available for users to download. If your app is rejected, you'll receive feedback on issues you need to fix.

Once your app is released, it's important to monitor its performance to understand how it's being used and how you can improve it. You can use tools like Google Analytics for Firebase to track important events like app installs, app sessions, in-app purchases, and app crashes.

In summary, push notifications in Flutter with Firebase and app publishing and distribution are essential aspects of app development that can help improve user experience, increase user retention, and drive your app's success .

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