Roku - App Setup and Creation

Introduction

This document details how to make the initial configuration to build an app in Zapp for Roku devices. 

Prerequisites

• To create an app you need to have
  • An account in Zapp - contact Applicaster support
  • Access to Zapp - contact Applicaster support
• To build a Roku app you need to have
  • A Roku developer account Roku - Setup a Roku Developer Account
  • A Roku device set up Roku - Enabling developer mode on a Roku device
  • Developer credentials to build an app Roku - Developer credentials for building an app

Follow the the flow outlined in this article. The end result will be a basic app with minimal layout built and installed on a Roku Device. From there the layout can be further developed.

The general flow is

• Create an App Family in Zapp
  • Prepare a basic layout in UI Builder
    • Create a new App Version in Zapp
      • Add Plugins to your app
        • Configure Styles to your app
          • Add Assets to your app
            • Build your App

 1. Create the App Family

👉In Zapp select "NEW APP" then select "CREATE BLANK" 

👉Fill in the required information as in the screenshot below

- Name of app

- Default language

- Account the app will be attached to

Then select "Create App"

2. Prepare the layout

Although we haven’t yet built an app it is necessary to assign an initial layout configuration to your app at this stage.

Follow the steps in this article to configure a layout Roku - Layout creation

Then return to this article and complete the remaining steps.

Note this layout is not final - it can be modified as you wish at any stage after building the app.

3. Create a New Version of the app within your App Family

👉Select "NEW VERSION" and then "CREATE BLANK" 

This screen will launch

 In the fields select or enter the following parameters

👉STORE Select the Roku Store

👉DEVICE TARGET Select Roku

👉APP VERSION NAME Name your app

👉VERSION Enter a valid Semver# (1.2.3 format)

👉BUNDLE IDENTIFIER for example, com.appname

👉DEVICE TARGET select universal

👉SDK VERSION Will auto fill with the highest version # for stable version

👉USE QUICK BRICK leave unchecked

👉NOTES Enter any notes to describe your build e.g

👉URL SCHEMES Enter any URL schemes to be used in your app

👉ACTIVE LAYOUT Select the layout that you created in step 2

👉Select "CREATE"

This will take approx 13 mins. When complete the wait icon will turn to a blue arrow

4. Add Plug-ins

👉Select PLUGIN CONFIGURATIONS from the Dropdown menu

Refer to this article to decide which plugins to add to your Roku app Roku - Standard Plugins

5. Configure Styles

Refer to this article to configure the build time SDK styling keys Roku - SDK Style Keys

Then return to this article and complete the remaining steps.

 6. Upload Assets

Refer to this article to configure the build time SDK assets Roku - SDK Assets

Then return to this article and complete the remaining stepsv

7. Build and upload your app to a Roku device

Refer to theses articles for app build procedure

Roku - Developer credentials for building an app 

Roku - Uploading an app to a device

At the end of this stage you should have a basic app loaded to your Roku device from which you can develop your app layout.