Capacitor CLI: Project Setup Guide

Want to build iOS and Android apps with one codebase? Capacitor CLI simplifies the process, letting you create native apps using web technologies. Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Quick Setup: Install Capacitor CLI and initialize your project in minutes.
• Platform Integration: Add iOS and Android support with simple commands.
• Live Updates: Use Capgo for instant over-the-air updates.
• Common Fixes: Troubleshoot issues like sync errors or build failures.

Key Steps to Get Started:

1. Install Node.js, npm, JDK, Xcode, and Android Studio.
2. Run npm install @capacitor/core @capacitor/cli and initialize your project.
3. Add iOS and Android platforms using npx cap add ios and npx cap add android.
4. Optional: Set up Capgo for live app updates.

This guide covers everything you need to set up Capacitor CLI, configure platforms, and deploy your app. Let’s dive in!

Introducing Capacitor Configure

Setup Requirements

To get started, make sure you have the following tools installed:

• Node.js (version 14 or newer) and npm
• Java JDK (version 11 or newer)
• Xcode (version 12 or newer for iOS builds)
• Android Studio (for Android builds)
• Capacitor CLI (version 6 or 7)

Optional: If you want to enable live updates, check out the “Capgo Setup Guide” below.

CLI Installation Steps

Before starting, ensure you have Node.js, npm, JDK, Xcode, and Android Studio set up. Once ready, you can install the Capacitor CLI by running:

npm install --save @capacitor/core @capacitor/cli
npx cap init

This command installs Capacitor and sets up its core components.

After completing this step, move on to Creating a New Project to scaffold your application.

Creating a New Project

To get started with your project using Capacitor CLI, follow these steps:

mkdir my-app && cd my-app
npm init -y
npx cap init my-app com.company.app --web-dir dist

Updating the Configuration File

Edit the capacitor.config.json file to include the following settings:

{
  "appId": "com.company.app",
  "appName": "My App",
  "webDir": "dist",
  "bundledWebRuntime": false,
  "server": {
    "hostname": "app.example.com",
    "androidScheme": "https"
  }
}

Once updated, use this configuration to set up Capacitor for your project.

Platform Setup

Now that the project scaffolding is done, it’s time to set up iOS and Android targets.

Adding iOS and Android

Start by installing the necessary platform-specific packages using the Capacitor CLI:

npm install @capacitor/ios @capacitor/android
npx cap add ios
npx cap add android

For iOS, make sure you have Xcode 14 or later, CocoaPods 1.11 or newer, and macOS 12 or higher. For Android, you’ll need Android Studio Giraffe (2022.3.1+), JDK 17 or later, and Gradle 7.5 or above.

Once installed, you’ll need to keep your native targets updated with changes to your web application.

Platform Updates

To sync your platforms with the latest web changes, follow these steps after updating your web app:

npm run build
npx cap sync

The cap sync command handles two tasks:

• Copies updated web assets to the native platforms
• Updates native configurations and plugins to match the latest changes

IDE Setup

Open the platform-specific projects in the appropriate IDEs:

npx cap open ios     # Opens Xcode
npx cap open android # Opens Android Studio

In Xcode:

1. Choose your development team.
2. Set up signing certificates.
3. Update your bundle identifier.

In Android Studio:

1. Modify the application ID in build.gradle.
2. Configure the keystore for signing.
3. Set up both debug and release build variants.

When everything is configured, build the projects using npx cap build ios or npx cap build android. Don’t forget to run npx cap sync again to ensure all assets are up to date.

Capgo Setup Guide

Set up Capgo to enable instant over-the-air updates for your app.

Key Features of Capgo

Capgo offers several tools to streamline app updates:

• End-to-end encryption ensures secure delivery of updates.
• Updates run in the background when the app launches.
• Analytics tools help track update success rates and user engagement.
• A one-click rollback option lets you quickly recover from problematic updates.
• Use the channel system for staged rollouts and beta testing.

Installing Capgo

Follow these steps to get started with Capgo:

1. Install the Capgo CLI:

   npm install --save @capgo/cli

2. Initialize Capgo in your project:

   npx capgo init

3. Build and release updates:

   npm run build
   npx capgo release

4. Open the app to trigger the background update process.

Best Practices

• Use channels to test updates before rolling them out to all users.
• Monitor analytics to ensure updates are delivered successfully and users stay engaged.
• Enable error tracking to catch and fix issues early.
• Keep the rollback feature ready to quickly address any problems.

Capgo is compatible with Capacitor 6 and 7, integrates smoothly with CI/CD pipelines, and complies with Apple and Google store requirements.

Common Issues and Tips

Once you’ve completed the platform and Capgo setup, you might face some common errors. Here’s how to address them quickly.

Environment Setup Issues

• CLI Not Found
  Error: The command npx cap fails.
  Fix: Run npm install --save @capacitor/cli @capacitor/core and try again.

• Node Version Mismatch
  Error: CLI commands fail due to Node.js version errors.
  Fix: Install Node.js version 14 or higher as outlined in the setup requirements.

Configuration Problems

• Config Mismatch
  Error: Changes in capacitor.config.json don’t take effect.
  Fix: Make sure the appId and webDir values match your project’s package.json and the web build output folder.

• Platform Sync Errors
  Error: Running npx cap sync results in plugin version conflicts.
  Fix: Update @capacitor/android and @capacitor/ios to the same major version, then rerun the sync command.

Build and Deployment

• Build Signing Failures
  Error: iOS or Android builds fail due to missing certificates or a keystore.
  Fix: Follow the IDE setup instructions. For iOS, add your development team in Xcode. For Android, configure the keystore in build.gradle.

• Web Directory Not Found
  Error: npx cap sync can’t find the web assets.
  Fix: Run your web build command (e.g., npm run build) before syncing the platforms.

Live Update Issues

• Capgo Update Failures
  Error: Updates are not appearing in the production app.
  Fix: Double-check your Capgo API key in capacitor.config.json and ensure you’re targeting the correct channel.

For more details on platform-specific setup, revisit the Platform Setup section. If you’re working with live updates, consult the Capgo Setup Guide for additional troubleshooting tips.

Summary

Setup Review

Start your web app with Capacitor CLI, set up iOS and Android platforms, and optionally include Capgo for live updates.

Here’s how to get started:

• Use the Capacitor CLI to initialize your project.
• Set up your app’s package ID and define the web output directory.
• Add support for iOS and Android platforms.
• Install and set up Capgo with the following command: npm install --save @capgo/cli && npx capgo init

For detailed setup instructions or troubleshooting, check out the official Capacitor and Capgo documentation.