Working with remote configuration in devtodev

Remote Configuration (Remote config or RC) allows you to customize the app by sending key-value pairs directly to the user’s device. These configs are defined in the devtodev interface and sent to the SDK immediately or at a scheduled time. Remote configs are stored on the devtodev servers. This allows to trigger changes in the app, without updating app versions or changing app code every time.

Preparation

Before using a remote configuration in devtodev interface, you need to set variables through the SDK and use the methods to apply new parameters. If the app is offline and will not be able to present the config to the user, they will see default values and the app will continue to function correctly.

Integrate remote configs with devtodev SDK:

How to create a remote configuration

In order to create and send a remote configuration to user devices, you need to set parameter values and define conditions to select audience.

1

Create conditions

Define the audience and schedlue changes

2

Create parameters

Set values and select conditions

3

Publish changes

The configuration is finilised and sent to user devices.

Click Publish changes to update the configuration.

Conditions

Conditions define the user group (similar to a segment) that will see the modified interface. You can use basic and custom user properties, as well as previously created segments to filter the audience.

The order of conditions determines their evaluation sequence. The parameter value is assigned based on the first condition that evaluates to true. The condition at the top of the list has the most priority.

The order is important since several conditions may apply to one user. For example, Parameter A is sent to users from the US that have finished 5 levels. Parameter B is for users that have completed the onboarding (onboarding is obligatory). In this case, both parameters can apply to the US, 5+ levels group of users. You can change the order of the Conditions to define the parameter configuration this users will see.

You can filter the conditions by selecting Filter in the top roght corner.

Create new condition

Click +Condition to add a new condition.

1. Configure your condition settings:

• Condition name

• Color – select a color tag. You can use the color tags to organize and filter your conditions.

• Description – add details about this condition and audience.

1. Next, define the Audience conditions with user propeties.

1. Select when the new parameter value will apply to the condition audience:

• Permanent – the changes will apply instantly.

• Scheduled – the changed parameter value will apply only during the set time frame.

Click Finish to complete condition creation.

You can change the condition settings later using the Edit button (pencil icon) or simply by clicking on the condition card.

Parameters

Parameters represent changes in the app’s UI/UX, a configuration of the interface visible to selected users. They should be pre-implemented in the app and linked to a variable. Parameter value is stored in a key-value format, for example, “button_color” = “green“.

The Parameters section shows detailed information about all of your created parameters:

• Parameter – name, value type and description.

• Condition – to what audience does this parameter apply.

• Value – shows parameter value for each condition.

• Users – how many users have this configuration.

• Last published – date when the configuration was published.

You can filter the parameters by selecting Filter in the top roght corner.

Create new parameter

Click +Parameter to add a new parameter.

Configure your parameter settings:

• Parameter name (key) – the name should be unique and correspond to the variable in your app code.

• Type – value type can be a Number, String, JSON or Boolean.

• Description – what does this parameter change in the app.

• Default value – set the default value for any condition.

  • You can use in-app default – in this case the parameter will use the default value define in your app code.

Next, configure Conditional values.

1. Click +Condition and select one or multiple conditions from the list.

2. Define a parameter value for each condition or use an in-app deafult.

3. Click Finish to complete parameter creation.

If you do not have any created Conditions yet, you can click Finish and add a condition later.

You can change the parameter later using the Edit button in three dots menu.

Folders

For convenience, you can orginize parameters in folders. Click Add Folder, give it a name and description and click Create Folder.

You can move parameters to different folders.

• Click on three dots on the right and click Move to folder, select a destination folder and click Move.

• You can also move parameters in bulk: select the necessary parameters and click Move to Folder button in the top right corner.

To edit folder information, delete or ungroup a folder, select a corresponding option in the three dots menu.

Changelog

Each configuration of parameters and conditons is stored as a different version.

You can compare the versions side by side and, if needed, Roll back to an old version of the configuration. Rolling back will create a new version of the config and send changes to user devices.

Using remote configuration with A/B tests

We will add an option to send a parameter configuration directly from the A/B test page in the future updates.

If a user enters an A/B test, they will receive parameter values accoring to their test group configuration.

The priority order for parameter value source is the following:

1. Top priority – A/B test parameter value.

2. Remote config value from devtodev server.

3. Least priority – Default value defined in the application code.

For now, if you would like to check, which parameter configuration performs better during an A/B test, you need to do the following:

1. Before launching an A/B test, create a condition with the same audience that will be used in the test.

2. Create a parameter configuration that you would like to test with this condition.

3. Publish changes. The configuration will be sent to user devices.

4. Launch the A/B test. The SDK will update the configuration on device and all events will be marked with an A/B test group.

Limitations

• For now, you cannot use Custom events to define a condition audience. However, you can create a user segment with the necessary event and use this segment instead.

• You cannot see current configuration in the user card.

• The changelog stores around 200 confiuration versions.