Android App: Pre-Production Checklist

 Android App: Pre-Production Checklist

1. Crash-Free Experience

• Integrate Firebase Crashlytics

• Test:

  • cold start

  • background → foreground

  • process death restore

• No crashes on:

  • null API responses

  • config changes

👉 Target: Crash-free users > 99%

2. Performance & Smoothness

• App launch time optimized (avoid heavy work in Application / MainActivity)

• No work on Main Thread

• Proper coroutine usage:

  • Dispatchers.IO → network/db

  • Dispatchers.Main → UI

• Avoid:

  • unnecessary recompositions (Compose)

  • nested layouts (XML)

👉 Check with Android Profiler

3. Lifecycle Safety

• Handle:

  • screen rotation

  • process death

• Use:

  • ViewModel

  • SavedStateHandle (critical flows)

👉 No data loss when app recreates

4. Network Handling

• Timeouts configured

• Graceful error handling:

  • No internet

  • 500 errors

• Show proper UI:

  • loading / success / error states

👉 Never crash on API failure

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5. Security (Critical)

• No API keys in code

• Enable:

  • HTTPS only

  • ProGuard / R8 obfuscation

• Secure storage:

  • encrypted shared prefs / keystore

👉 AI-generated apps often fail here

6. Logging & Analytics

• Add Firebase Analytics

• Track:

  • screen visits

  • user actions

  • drop-offs

👉 Without analytics → no product decisions

7. Testing Basics

• Unit tests:

  • ViewModel

  • UseCases

• Test edge cases:

  • slow internet

  • empty state

  • retry flows

👉 Minimum safety net before scaling

8. Architecture Sanity

Even if AI wrote code, verify:

• ViewModel ≠ God class

• Repository abstraction present

• No direct API calls from UI

👉 Follow:

• SRP

• DIP

9. State Management (Jetpack Compose)

• State survives:

  • recomposition

  • configuration change

• Use:

  • remember vs rememberSaveable correctly

👉 Avoid UI glitches / resets

10. Build & Release

• Test release build (not just debug)

• Enable:

  • minify (R8)

  • shrink resources

• Versioning:

  • versionCode

  • versionName

11. Permissions & Play Store

• Ask only required permissions

• Handle denial gracefully

• Add:

  • Privacy Policy

  • App description

  • Proper screenshots

12. UX Essentials

• Loading states everywhere

• Empty states (no data)

• Error states (not just Toasts)

• Proper back navigation

👉 UX polish = retention

13. ANR Prevention

• No long operations on main thread

• Avoid blocking calls (runBlocking, heavy loops)

• Monitor ANRs in Play Console

14. Offline / Edge Handling

• What if:

  • API fails?

  • user loses internet?

• Show fallback UI

15. Post-Launch Readiness

• Monitor:

  • crashes

  • ANR

  • retention

• Keep ability to:

  • push quick fixes

  • rollback if needed

Common Mistakes in AI-Built Android Apps

• ❌ Everything inside Activity / ViewModel

• ❌ No lifecycle handling

• ❌ Main thread network calls

• ❌ Hardcoded strings / configs

• ❌ No error states

• ❌ No analytics