This document outlines the steps needed to configure your app for submission to the Google Play Store, including the required integration of the Google Play Store API into distribution.

These steps require the Google Play Store app to have already been created and setup in the Goolge Play Console. If this is a brand new app, please follow the steps from Google to create a new app in the Google Play Console.

Creating the Firebase Project

Google Play Store apps require Google Services in order to function correctly - Google Services are integrated into an app using Firebase. Note: This is separate to Firebase Push Notifications or Firebase Analytics, both of which are optional, however all Google Play services in the app must be configured using Firebase.

If you have already setup an existing Firebase Account and Project then we can integrate into this. Otherwise please follow the steps from Google.

Setting up the Google Cloud project

The basic setup of a Firebase Account and Project using the link above will automatically create a Google Cloud Account and Associated Project for this app. However if you have an existing Google Cloud Account/Project and want to setup the Firebase Project with this, then please follow the documentation provided by Google.

Android Publisher Service Account

A Google Cloud Service Account is required for Pugpig to communicate with your Google Play App's backend. Please follow the steps provided by Google, to setup a new Service Account and enable Google Play Android Developer API for the associated Google Cloud Project.

The sets to create a Service Account for include giving permissions to the Service Account User Email. We do not require all the permissions but we do require the following for app functionality and automation processes.

• View app information (read only)
• Edit and delete draft apps
• Release apps to testing tracks
• Manage testing tracks and edit tester links
• Manage store presence

When creating the Service Account it may be beneficial to give the account a useful name in order to navigate and identify the account easily:

Pugpig's systems need to be given a Service Account Key in order to authenticate us to be able to use the APIs. Please follow Google's documentation on creating a new service account key if you are recently migrating an existing account to Pugpig we recommend creating a new key in order to keep our authorisation separate to any previous integrations.

We require the Service Account Key in the JSON format - when creating the key, please sure you export the contents as JSON

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Configuring the Service Account to access Firebase information

One the service account is created Firebase Viewer permissions need to be given to the service account so the Google Play Store addon can fetch configuration files to prepare Google Services in the app.

1. In your Google Cloud Project navigate to IAM & admin > IAM

   

2. Select Grant access and type in the email address of your new Service Account

   

3. In the Role field select Firebase Viewer and Save. It may take a few moments for changes to take effect.