App Lifecycle Events

The Datafly mobile SDKs automatically track key app lifecycle events. This is enabled by default and can be disabled via the trackAppLifecycle configuration option.

Events tracked

Application Installed

Fired on the very first launch after install. Detected by checking for the absence of a stored app version.

{
  "type": "track",
  "event": "Application Installed",
  "properties": {
    "version": "2.1.0",
    "build": "42"
  }
}

Application Updated

Fired on the first launch after an app update. Detected by comparing the stored version/build with the current values.

{
  "type": "track",
  "event": "Application Updated",
  "properties": {
    "version": "2.2.0",
    "build": "45",
    "previous_version": "2.1.0",
    "previous_build": "42"
  }
}

Application Opened

Fired when the app enters the foreground.

{
  "type": "track",
  "event": "Application Opened",
  "properties": {
    "version": "2.2.0",
    "build": "45",
    "from_background": true
  }
}

The from_background property is false on cold launch and true when resuming from background.

Application Backgrounded

Fired when the app enters the background.

{
  "type": "track",
  "event": "Application Backgrounded",
  "properties": {}
}

Session management

The SDK maintains a session that tracks user engagement:

A new session is created when:

1. The app is launched for the first time
2. The app returns to foreground after being backgrounded for longer than the session timeout (default 30 minutes)

Implementation details

iOS

The SDK observes UIApplication notifications:

• willEnterForeground — triggers foreground logic + session check
• didEnterBackground — triggers background logic + records timestamp

Android

The SDK registers ActivityLifecycleCallbacks on the Application:

• Tracks an activity counter to determine foreground/background state
• Handles multi-activity apps correctly (only fires backgrounded when all activities are stopped)

Disabling lifecycle tracking

// iOS
let config = DataflyConfig(
    pipelineKey: "dk_live_abc123",
    endpoint: "https://data.example.com",
    trackAppLifecycle: false
)

// Android
val config = DataflyConfig(
    pipelineKey = "dk_live_abc123",
    endpoint = "https://data.example.com",
    trackAppLifecycle = false
)

When disabled, you can still manually track these events using track().