Question

I want to create an “app loader” (primary) application, which will fetch a license from a server — this license in turn will determine the features available in two other (secondary) applications.

I’d like to know the best approach to this. Should I:

1. just fetch the two secondary apks from the same server as the licensing info and attempt their installation from within the app loader code;
2. pack the secondary apks into the primary app apk. Am I able to then install the secondary apks from within the ‘parent’ apk’s resource/assets at runtime?
3. recreate the secondary applications as multiple activities within one parent app — with multiple launchers?

I require advice on the individual scenarios’ feasibility, a preference (with a reason why) and indeed which ones are actually possible.

Many thanks.

Answer 1

Am I able to then install the secondary apks from within the ‘parent’ apk’s resource/assets at runtime?

Not without copying those files to external storage. Since you cannot modify resources or assets at runtime, your “packed” “secondary” APKs will remain in the parent APK, for better or worse.

I require advice on the individual scenarios’ feasibility

All are feasible, within the constraints outlined above.