Testing your app for Android for Work

Posted by, Rich Hyndman, Developer Advocate

Testing is important whether you’re building a dedicated app for the workplace, rolling out new features, or making it easy for IT departments to deploy.

Test DPC is now available for you and is a fully featured, open-source, sample Device Policy Controller (DPC) which allows you to test your apps with any Android for Work feature. A DPC manages the security policies and work apps on devices using Android for Work. You can configure Test DPC to be either a device or profile owner to test all the Android for Work scenarios:

• Profile Owner: Employees using their personal phones for work and allowing their company to own the work applications and data (i.e. bring your own device or BYOD)
• Device Owner: Enterprises providing devices to employees and managing the entire device
• Device Owner: Enterprises deploying devices for a narrow use case, such as a mall directory or restaurant menu (i.e. corporate owned, single use devices)

Test DPC simplifies testing and development because you can use it to set the kinds of policies an IT administrator might enforce. You can establish app and intent restrictions, set up managed work profiles, enforce policies, and can even set up fully managed Android devices — something you might find as an info board or kiosk in a public place.

The Test DPC app can be found on Google Play with the source on GitHub. Set up Test DPC as a device/profile owner on your device by checking out this user guide.

If you want to learn more about Android for Work and its capabilities, check out Android for Work Application Developer Guide for full guidance on optimizing your app for Android for Work.

Note: Your test Android device needs to run Android 5.0 or later and be able to support Android for Work natively.