Welcome to the AdWatch Earnings project! This guide will walk you through the entire process of acquiring, setting up, and deploying the source code for an application designed to generate revenue by allowing users to watch advertisements. Whether you are a developer looking to customize your own earnings app or an entrepreneur seeking to understand the technical foundation, this document provides the detailed steps you need to get started. **Prerequisites: Technical Knowledge and Tools** Before you begin the download process, it is crucial to ensure you have the necessary technical background and tools installed on your development machine. Attempting to proceed without these will result in errors and an inability to run the project. 1. **Development Environment:** * **Android:** You will need **Android Studio**, the official Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Android development. It includes the Android SDK, an emulator, and all necessary build tools. Ensure you have the latest stable version installed. * **iOS:** For an iOS version, you will need a Mac computer with **Xcode** installed. Xcode contains the SDKs, compilers, and simulators required to build iOS applications. 2. **Programming Language & Framework:** The specific requirements depend on the project's stack. * **Native Android:** The code will likely be written in **Java** or **Kotlin**. Familiarity with one of these languages is essential. * **Native iOS:** The code will be in **Swift** (or possibly legacy **Objective-C**). Knowledge of Swift is recommended. * **Cross-Platform (Common):** Many modern earnings apps are built using cross-platform frameworks like **Flutter** (Dart language) or **React Native** (JavaScript/TypeScript). Check the project documentation to confirm the framework. You will need to install Flutter SDK and configure it for Android and iOS, or set up a Node.js environment for React Native. 3. **Backend & Database:** The app will require a backend server to manage users, track ad views, and process payments. * The backend could be built with **Node.js, Python (Django/Flask), PHP (Laravel), or Java (Spring Boot)**. * A database is essential. Common choices include **MySQL, PostgreSQL, or a NoSQL database like MongoDB** or **Firebase Firestore**. * You will need a local server environment (like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP) or use Docker containers to run the backend and database locally. 4. **Version Control:** The source code is managed using **Git**. You must have Git installed on your system to clone the repository. Basic knowledge of Git commands is beneficial. 5. **Ad Network Accounts (Critical):** This application's core functionality relies on integrating with advertising networks. You **must** pre-register for developer accounts with these networks to obtain API keys and SDKs. Common networks include: * **Google AdMob:** The most popular mobile ad network. * **Unity Ads:** Known for high-quality video and interactive ads. * **IronSource / AppLovin:** Other major mediation platforms. * You will need to create "Ad Units" (e.g., Rewarded Video, Interstitial) within these networks' dashboards. The app's source code will be configured to use these specific Ad Unit IDs. **Step-by-Step Guide to Downloading and Setting Up the Source Code** **Step 1: Acquiring the Source Code** The source code will typically be hosted on a version control platform like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. You will receive a URL to the repository. 1. **Locate the Repository URL:** This is usually provided by the code vendor. 2. **Clone the Repository:** Open your terminal (or command prompt) and navigate to the directory where you want to store the project. Use the `git clone` command followed by the repository URL. * Example: `git clone https://github.com/username/adwatch-earnings-app.git` 3. **Navigate into the Project Directory:** `cd adwatch-earnings-app` **Alternative Method:** If the code is provided as a ZIP file, simply download and extract it to your desired project folder. **Step 2: Project Configuration and Exploration** Once the code is on your local machine, open the project in your respective IDE. 1. **Open in IDE:** * For Android: Open Android Studio and select "Open an existing project," then navigate to the `/android` folder (if it's a cross-platform project) or the root project folder. * For iOS (if separate): Open Xcode and open the `.xcworkspace` file located in the `/ios` folder. * For Flutter: Open Android Studio or VS Code and open the root folder. Ensure the Flutter and Dart plugins are installed. 2. **Review the Structure:** Spend time understanding the project structure. Key areas include: * `/lib` (for Flutter) or `/app/src/main/java` (for Android): Contains the main application code. * `/ios`: Contains the iOS-specific code. * `/backend` or `/server`: Contains the server-side code, if included. * Configuration files like `build.gradle`, `pubspec.yaml` (Flutter), or `package.json` (React Native/Node.js). **Step 3: Installing Dependencies** Modern applications rely on third-party libraries. You must install these before building the project. 1. **For Android:** Android Studio will usually prompt you to sync the project, which will download the Gradle dependencies. You can also manually trigger this via `File > Sync Project with Gradle Files`. 2. **For Flutter:** In the terminal, at the root of your project, run `flutter pub get`. This command reads the `pubspec.yaml` file and downloads all the required Dart packages. 3. **For React Native:** Run `npm install` or `yarn install` to install the Node.js modules. 4. **For Backend:** Navigate to the backend directory and run the appropriate command, such as `npm install`, `pip install -r requirements.txt`, or `composer install`. **Step 4: Configuring Application Settings and API Keys** This is the most critical step for making the app functional. The code will not work with placeholder API keys. 1. **Locate Configuration Files:** Look for files where API keys and configuration settings are stored. Common files include: * `google-services.json` (for Android Firebase) * `GoogleService-Info.plist` (for iOS Firebase) * `.env` files or `constants.dart`/`Config.java` files containing placeholder values. 2. **Replace Placeholder Values:** You must replace every placeholder with your own credentials. * **Ad Network IDs:** Insert the Ad Unit IDs you created in your AdMob, Unity Ads, etc., dashboards. * **Firebase Configuration:** If the app uses Firebase for authentication, database, or cloud functions, you must create a new Firebase project and replace the configuration files with your own. * **Server URL:** If the app connects to a remote backend, update the base URL to point to your deployed server or localhost during development. * **Payment Gateway Keys:** If integrated, add your Stripe, PayPal, or other payment gateway keys. **Warning:** Never commit real API keys or configuration files to a public GitHub repository. Use environment variables or secure storage methods for production. **Step 5: Setting Up the Backend and Database** 1. **Run the Backend Locally:** Follow the instructions in the backend README file. This usually involves starting a local server (e.g., `node app.js`, `python manage.py runserver`). 2. **Database Setup:** Create a new database in your local MySQL/PostgreSQL server or set up a cloud instance. Import any provided SQL schema file to create the necessary tables (users, transactions, ad history, etc.). 3. **Update Database Connection String:** In the backend's configuration, update the database connection string with your local or cloud database credentials. **Step 6: Building and Running the Application** You are now ready to build and run the app. 1. **Connect a Device or Emulator:** * For Android: Enable "Developer Options" and "USB Debugging" on your physical phone, or start an Android Virtual Device (AVD) from Android Studio. * For iOS: You will need a physical Apple device or use the iOS Simulator in Xcode (Mac only). 2. **Execute the Build Command:** * In Android Studio, click the "Run" button (green play icon). * In a Flutter project, use `flutter run` in the terminal. * In Xcode, select your target device and click the "Run" button. If all previous steps were completed correctly, the application should compile successfully and launch on your device or emulator. **Step 7: Testing Core Functionality** Do not assume everything works after the first build. Thoroughly test all features. 1. **User Journey:** Register a new user, log in, and navigate the app. 2. **Ad Integration:** This is crucial. Tap the "Watch Ad" button. It should trigger a test ad from the integrated network (e.g., AdMob). Check