January 2022 Summaries

Stencil v2.13.0 now supports Jest v27, though upgrading is not mandatory, allowing users to continue using their current Jest version without any issues. For those choosing to upgrade to both Stencil v2.13.0 and Jest v27, it is advised to perform the upgrades in two separate steps to facilitate debugging: first upgrading Stencil, ensuring functionality, and then upgrading Jest. If issues arise during the Jest upgrade, it could be due to breaking changes in Jest v27, and users are encouraged to consult the Jest v27 announcement blog or the Stencil GitHub tracker for assistance. Notably, Stencil has made changes to ensure backward compatibility with older Jest versions, with jest-jasmine2 being the only supported test runner, and users should be aware that the first test run may be slower due to changes in Jest’s caching mechanism.

Stencil v2.13 introduces support for Jest 27, a significant update for the Stencil community, as Jest is integral to Stencil's testing framework. While Jest 27 offers new capabilities, it also includes breaking changes, prompting the release of an upgrade guide to assist users. For those whose workflows do not necessitate Jest 27, Stencil can still be upgraded without altering the current Jest version. Additionally, new Stencil projects will default to using Jest 27, and updates have been made to the MockEvent functionality, now supporting the composedPath() method, enhancing event handling. Users are encouraged to review the detailed release notes for further information.

Ionic has made a significant update to its Angular Toolkit by splitting the package into two separate functionalities: @ionic/angular-toolkit, which continues to support Angular apps with schematics for generating new pages/routes, and a newly introduced package, @ionic/cordova-builders, specifically for Cordova-based apps. This change aims to enhance efficiency and maintainability by addressing the breaking changes in Angular's tooling API that primarily affected the builders, rather than the schematics. Users of @ionic/angular with Capacitor can update to the latest version of @ionic/angular-toolkit and remove outdated ionic-cordova-build entries from their configuration. In contrast, Ionic/Cordova users need to install @ionic/cordova-builders and update their build tasks accordingly. This update also includes support for Angular v13.0, addressing a popular demand from developers.

In a discussion about mobile app development support, Max Lynch, CEO of Ionic, highlights the challenges developers face when using popular frameworks like Flutter and React Native, which lack dedicated support from their creators, Google and Facebook. These platforms, while robust, have large volumes of unresolved issues and do not offer direct support, leaving developers stranded when problems arise. In contrast, Ionic differentiates itself by providing comprehensive official support and enterprise integrations, ensuring that users have access to prompt assistance and solutions. Lynch emphasizes the importance of considering support options when choosing a mobile development framework, noting that Ionic's business model focuses on customer satisfaction, offering individualized support and quick resolution of issues, which is particularly valuable in urgent situations.

The Android App Bundle (AAB) format, introduced by Google Play in 2018, has become a requirement for all new Android apps since August 2021, replacing the older APK format. AABs enhance app performance and reduce download sizes by optimizing APKs for various device configurations and languages, potentially increasing installation rates. Transitioning from APK to AAB involves generating an AAB binary and enabling Play App Signing, which can be done locally using Android Studio or via cloud services like Appflow. Appflow simplifies the process by automatically creating AAB binaries and facilitating their deployment to Google Play. Existing apps are not mandated to switch to AAB but can voluntarily enroll in Play App Signing to benefit from its advantages. The AAB format offers improved performance, smaller app sizes, and enhanced security, making it advantageous for both developers and users.

In an effort to enhance end-to-end testing for Ionic and Capacitor/Cordova apps, Ionic has introduced a reference app with built-in testing capabilities using WebdriverIO and Appium, regarded as the best stack for building Web Native tests. This initiative aims to address the challenges teams face in creating robust tests, which often leads them to either avoid testing their native apps or use inadequate web-only solutions. The reference app employs the Page Object Pattern and offers a development mode for rapid test development in Chrome, along with commands for building native binaries for iOS and Android. It also includes Ionic-specific test helpers to facilitate interaction with core UI components. Ionic's long-term plan involves developing a library and CLI tool for a streamlined testing experience and integrating cloud testing through Ionic's Appflow platform, addressing the need for a solution that covers both native and web apps, unlike other tools such as Cypress or XCUITest, which are either platform-specific or web-focused. The reference app is available as an alpha release to gather community feedback and is part of a broader effort to foster a stronger testing culture within the Ionic community.

At the second annual Enterprise App Summit, a cross-platform conference application was developed using Ionic technology, including Live Updates, Capacitor 3, and Ionic 6, to provide event attendees with information about speakers, session schedules, and a swag giveaway. The app, designed by Ben Sperry and developed by Liam DeBeasi and Matt Netkow, was built asynchronously by a small team, employing tools like Figma for design and Appflow for CI/CD processes. Utilizing Ionic 6 and Angular 13 for the UI, and Capacitor 3 for native runtime, the app featured functionalities such as push and local notifications, seamless UI adaptation to device platforms, and offline data support via JSON storage. Appflow's Live Updates ensured the app remained current with schedule changes without needing app store resubmissions. The successful integration of these technologies highlighted the potential for building efficient cross-platform conference apps, making the EAS 2021 app a valuable reference for developers.