# Over-the-air (OTA) updates — deployment schema **v0**

<!-- doc-meta:start -->
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Anton Afanasyeu |
| Revision | R1 |
| Creation date | 2026-05-20 |
| Last modification date | 2026-05-20 |
| Co-authored |  |
| Severity | medium |
| State | in progress |
| Document type | technical |
<!-- doc-meta:end -->

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\newpage

---


The app checks a **stable channel URL**, follows it to a per-build manifest, then downloads the update. Version comparison uses **`major.minor.build`** (packed into Android `versionCode` at build time). Deploy never computes `versionCode` by hand.

The client runs checks and downloads in **`OtaUpdateService`** (a standalone `Service`, not embedded in cast/receiver services). Launch checks enqueue work there; download uses a **foreground service** (`dataSync`) with a progress notification.

MQTT is fully supported for OTA sources using retained topic payloads (`mqtt://...` / `mqtts://...`). The URI path is treated as the exact topic to subscribe.

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## Table of contents

<!-- toc -->
- [URL layout](#url-layout)
- [Versioning](#versioning)
- [JSON files](#json-files)
- [Optional HTTP bundle (.otabundle.zip)](#optional-http-bundle-otabundlezip)
- [MQTT transport](#mqtt-transport)
- [Publish from a release APK](#publish-from-a-release-apk)
  - [Docker build + staging channel](#docker-build-staging-channel)
- [App configuration](#app-configuration)
- [Checklist](#checklist)
<!-- /toc -->

**Documentation index:** [README.md](README.md)

---

## URL layout

```text
https://host/v0/ota/channel/stable.json
https://host/v0/ota/00/00.{major}/00.{major}.{minor}/android_cast_00.{major}.{minor}.{build}.otapkg
https://host/v0/ota/00/00.{major}/00.{major}.{minor}/android_cast_00.{major}.{minor}.{build}_sign.json
https://host/v0/ota/00/00.{major}/00.{major}.{minor}/android_cast_00.{major}.{minor}.{build}_manifest.json
https://host/v0/ota/00/00.{major}/00.{major}.{minor}/android_cast_00.{major}.{minor}.{build}.otabundle.zip
```

- **`v0`** — deployment schema version (default channel).
- **`00`** after `ota/` — OTA payload format revision within v0.
- Components are **zero-padded to 2 digits** in paths and filenames (`00.01.05`).

## Versioning

In `app/build.gradle` (overridable via `local.properties`):

```properties
ota.major=0
ota.minor=1
ota.build=0
```

Packed rule (each part 0–99):

```text
versionCode = major * 10000 + minor * 100 + build
```

Example: `0.1.5` → `versionCode` **105**.

## JSON files

**`v0/ota/channel/stable.json`**

```json
{
  "schema": "v0",
  "manifestUrl": "https://host/v0/ota/00/00.01/00.01.05/android_cast_00.01.05_manifest.json"
}
```

**`*_manifest.json`**

```json
{
  "schema": "v0",
  "major": 0,
  "minor": 1,
  "build": 5,
  "versionName": "0.1.5",
  "apkUrl": "https://host/v0/ota/00/00.01/00.01.05/android_cast_00.01.05.otapkg",
  "signUrl": "https://host/v0/ota/00/00.01/00.01.05/android_cast_00.01.05_sign.json",
  "sizeBytes": 42100000,
  "bundleUrl": "https://host/v0/ota/00/00.01/00.01.05/android_cast_00.01.05.00.otabundle.zip",
  "bundleSha256": "…",
  "bundleSizeBytes": 42150000,
  "mandatory": false,
  "releaseNotes": ""
}
```

**`*_sign.json`**

```json
{
  "schema": "v0",
  "sha256": "…"
}
```

The app loads `sha256` from `sign.json` when the manifest omits it (APK hash inside the bundle or standalone `.otapkg`).

## Optional HTTP bundle (`.otabundle.zip`)

`generate-ota-v0.sh` emits a **STORE** (uncompressed) zip so the APK is not re-deflated:

| Entry inside zip | Content |
|------------------|---------|
| `manifest.json` | Same as `*_manifest.json` |
| `sign.json` | Same as `*_sign.json` |
| `package.apk` | Release APK bytes |

**Check path (lightweight):** channel → small `*_manifest.json` (+ optional `*_sign.json`) — no bundle download until the user installs.

**Download path (HTTP):** if `bundleUrl` is `http`/`https`, the app downloads one zip, verifies `bundleSha256`, unpacks, verifies `package.apk` against `sha256`, then runs the installer. If `bundleUrl` is absent, it falls back to separate `apkUrl` / `signUrl` fetches (required for MQTT).

**MQTT:** keep **per-artifact** retained topics (`manifest.json`, `sign.json`, `.otapkg`). Do not publish full bundles on MQTT (message size limits). The app ignores `bundleUrl` when the scheme is not HTTP(S).

## MQTT transport

Use the same JSON payload shapes as HTTP, but publish them as **retained** messages on topics that match your URI paths:

- `mqtt://host:1883/v0/ota/channel/stable.json` -> retained payload is `stable.json` content
- `mqtt://host:1883/v0/ota/00/..._manifest.json` -> retained payload is manifest JSON
- `mqtt://host:1883/v0/ota/00/..._sign.json` -> retained payload is sign JSON
- `mqtt://host:1883/v0/ota/00/...otapkg` -> retained payload is raw APK/otapkg bytes

When `ota.trusted=true` and build is debug, strict checksum/sign enforcement is relaxed for that source. Release builds always remain strict.

## Publish from a release APK

```bash
chmod +x scripts/generate-ota-v0.sh
./scripts/generate-ota-v0.sh app/build/outputs/apk/release/app-release.apk https://your-host:port ./ota-publish staging
```

Fourth argument is the **channel** file name (`stable`, `staging`, `next`, …). Upload `ota-publish/v0/` to your web root so `https://your-host/v0/ota/...` resolves.

### Docker build + staging channel

See [BUILD_DEPLOY.md](BUILD_DEPLOY.md):

```bash
export OTA_BASE_URL=https://apps.f0xx.org
./scripts/docker-build-ota.sh
./scripts/deploy-ota-staging.sh   # after setting OTA_DEPLOY_TARGET
```

## App configuration

**`local.properties`** (not committed):

```properties
ota.channel.url=https://your-host/v0/ota/channel/stable.json
ota.major=0
ota.minor=1
ota.build=0
```

Or set the channel URL under **Developer settings → App updates (OTA)**.

Legacy `ota.manifest.url` still works as a direct manifest URL fallback.

## Checklist

1. Bump `ota.major` / `ota.minor` / `ota.build` (or Gradle defaults).
2. Build signed release APK (`versionCode` is derived automatically).
3. Run `generate-ota-v0.sh` and upload `v0/ota/**` (including `.otabundle.zip`).
4. Confirm `stable.json` points at the new `*_manifest.json`.
5. **Production:** BE `location ^~ /v0/ota/` + artifact mount; **FE** `location /v0/ota/` → `http://artc0:80` (`install-fe-ota-nginx.sh`). Public URL must return **200**, not 400.
