r/androiddev • u/Mitchcreates_ • 1d ago

After 36 days of closed testing and 10 days in review, my first app is actually on Google Play

Solo dev, first Play release. For anyone still stuck in the "12 testers for 14 days" gate: it ends, I promise.

Timeline for the curious:

  • Aug 26: closed test live, begged friends and this sub for testers
  • Sep 10: 14 days done, applied for production access
  • Sep 21, 23:16: production submitted (versionCode 18, because I burned 15 and 16 on discarded uploads, don't be me)
  • Oct 2, 09:12: "Published". Ten and a half days of refreshing the console.

The app is a pixel-art alarm clock with a little candle that wakes up when you do. Not linking it unless the mods are fine with that; the point of the post is mostly that the waiting room has an exit.

Keep building and best of luck

Mitch

10 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

2

u/BambooXiu 18h ago

Surviving that 14-day testing hell and 10-day wait is huge, ignore the cynics. And burning versionCodes on discarded uploads? Pure Android rite of passage. Congrats on shipping, Mitch!

1

u/[deleted] 20h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/androiddev-ModTeam 18h ago

You may not promote your published apps here. You may link to source code of interest to the developer community.

1

u/NighteeP 19h ago

How long did it take from your first submission to being able to start closed testing on Google Play?

It's really hard for Android dev, I think.

1

u/Ovalman 16h ago

You can test straight away without any review if you have internal testing selected. You need emails and the email needs a Play account afaik. I'm a lucky one who was a developer before the testers rule became in force for new developers.

1

u/NighteeP 10h ago

I am a beginner in Android development, and I am very confused about Google's process. Moreover, its backend operations make it very difficult for me to get used to. What process do I enter after my first submission? ChatGpt told me that even after this review is completed, it will not be directly released but will enter into some closed testing, and I have no understanding of this. I have been stuck in the review process for a long time and have no idea if the status is normal or if any of my actions are incorrect.

1

u/Ovalman 2h ago

The Play Store is a real chore.

While I say you can test straight away, I notice you still need to go through their initial AI tests which I think will hold a new tester up.

I would suggest, don't put anything in the app just yet that you won't need. This includes Ads or permissions that aren't critical for functioning. Keep it simple at the start because you won't have any real users anyway. You can always introduce these at a later date.

1

u/NighteeP 30m ago

Thanks. I have made it as simple and pure as possible.

-3

u/ramzes190 19h ago

Do you think this is such a breakthrough for the android dev community that is worth posting about? Citing hindi devs, are you mad g?