API for Retrieving Packaged Version

[Nick Imrich]

Is there an API for getting the packaged AdMob SDK version (e.g. "8.4.0") within the Android SDK?  I was expecting maybe a static getVersion method on MobileAds or some way to access the VERSSION_NAME off the BuildConfig, but have not found anything.  Much thanks for the help!

[Vu Chau (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Hi Nick,

The SDK comes bundled with the newest Play services.  So if you are compiling your app against the latest Play services library (that you specified in your Gradle dependency), you can simply check for its version, and there goes your SDK version.

I'm using the GoogleApiAvailability class from the Play services library to retrieve the version code, so I removed the "ads" portion from my dependency to make it more inclusive (i.e. compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services:8.4.0'):

int playServicesVersion = GoogleApiAvailability.GOOGLE_PLAY_SERVICES_VERSION_CODE;

 

returns 

8487000 

since I'm compiling against v.8.4.0. 

Other than that, we currently don't expose an explicit API call for the SDK itself.

Vu Chau

Mobile Ads SDK Team

[Nick Imrich]

Vu,

Thanks for the quick and thorough response.  I had previously found GOOGLE_PLAY_SERVICES_VERSION_CODE, but I was not sure how that number translates to version name (i.e. "8.4.0").  I assume this version code is just an ever incrementing number that reflects the current Google Play Services build number.  I was hoping there was a similar GOOGLE_PLAY_SERVICES_VERSION_NAME, but it sounds like this is not the case.

Thanks!

Nick

[Vu Chau (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Hi Nick,

You are correct - GOOGLE_PLAY_SERVICES_VERSION_CODE returns the incremental number of the Play services library that Gradle will grab based on the short form (8.4.0) you specify in your dependency.  So, if you specify compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services:8.4.0', 8487000 (or whatever the latest build is) will be fetched.  The GOOGLE_PLAY_SERVICES_VERSION_CODE is exactly the integer that's shown in your @integer/google_play_services_version and is just one of the latest that is available server-side.  If you take a look at our release history, we specify the SDK's version number as X.Y, which are the first two digits of the version code, so you can easily translate the version code to the build number.

There is a way to get the version name, but that one checks your local Play services on the device, rather than the version the app is compiled against.

Vu Chau

Mobile Ads SDK Team

[Nick Imrich]

Vu,

Based on previous version codes, it looks like the version code of 8487000 can be translated to 8.4.0.  The major and minor version always appear to be the first two digits of the version code.  Is the last digit of the version code always the patch version?

Much thanks!

Nick

On Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 8:28:38 AM UTC-4, Nick Imrich wrote:

[Nick Imrich]

Sorry, I posted my latest reply before I saw your last message.  Perfect.  Is the third number usually the last number in the version code?

I am aware that you can pull the version name of the service that is installed on device, but I am specifically looking for the compiled version.

Thanks!

Nick

[Vu Chau (Mobile Ads SDK Team)]

Hi Nick,

From what I have seen, the third digit of the version number (8.4.0) is always zero, and it is also the last digit in the version code.  Unless there is some sort of emergency when we need to bump the version, the third digit will remain 0.

Cheers,

Vu Chau
Mobile Ads SDK Team

[Nick Imrich]

Vu,

You have been most helpful.  I really appreciate your thorough explanations.

Thanks!

Nick