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This section describes the lifecycle of a Mini App, from initial creation to publication and ongoing maintenance. Understanding this lifecycle helps merchants plan development, testing, and release activities correctly.

Lifecycle Overview

A Mini App progresses through the following stages:
1

Create

Register Mini App and set up project
2

Develop

Build UI, logic, and backend integrations
3

Test

Validate functionality in sandbox
4

Submit

Package and submit for review
5

Review

Rebell reviews for compliance and quality
6

Publish

Release to production users
7

Maintain

Bug fixes, updates, and versioning
Each stage has a specific purpose and set of responsibilities.

Create

The lifecycle begins with the creation of a Mini App project. At this stage:
  • A new Mini App is registered in the Rebell developer console
  • A unique Mini App identifier is assigned
  • The Mini App type is selected (Native or H5)
  • Basic metadata is defined (name, description, category)
Creation does not make the Mini App visible to users. It only establishes the project container used during development.

Registration Information

FieldDescriptionRequired
Mini App NameDisplay name in SuperAppYes
DescriptionShort description of serviceYes
CategoryService category (e.g., Food, Transport)Yes
Mini App TypeNative or H5Yes
IconApp icon for displayYes

Develop

During development:

UI Implementation

Mini App UI and client-side logic are implemented

Backend Integration

Backend APIs are integrated

Navigation

Navigation flows are defined

Payments

Payment triggers are implemented where required
Development is typically performed using Mini Program Studio, supported by:
  • Local simulator
  • Logging and debugging tools
At this stage, the Mini App exists only in the sandbox environment.

Development Checklist

  • All pages and components implemented
  • Navigation flows working correctly
  • Data binding and state management complete
  • Error handling implemented
  • API endpoints connected
  • Authentication flow implemented
  • Data loading and caching working
  • Error states handled
  • Payment flow triggers implemented
  • Payment UI integration complete
  • Error and cancellation handling
  • Success/failure states displayed

Test

Testing validates that the Mini App behaves correctly before submission.

Testing Activities

  • Test all user flows end-to-end
  • Validate navigation and transitions
  • Test form inputs and validation
  • Verify data display and updates
  • New user first-time experience
  • Returning user flow
  • User with empty data state
  • User with maximum data
  • Network timeout
  • API error response
  • Invalid data input
  • Session expiration
  • Successful payment
  • User cancels payment
  • Payment fails (insufficient funds)
  • Network error during payment
Only Mini Apps that pass internal testing should proceed to submission.

Submit

Once development and testing are complete, the Mini App is submitted for review. Submission involves:
1

Package

Mini App code is packaged for deployment
2

Select Environment

Choose target environment (typically production)
3

Provide Metadata

Supply required metadata and documentation
4

Submit

Submit package to Rebell for review
Submission freezes the version being reviewed. Further changes require creating a new version.

Submission Requirements

RequirementDescription
FunctionalityAll features working as documented
MetadataComplete and accurate app information
ScreenshotsScreenshots for store listing
Privacy PolicyPrivacy policy URL (if collecting user data)
Test AccountsTest credentials for reviewers (if needed)

Review

Rebell performs a review before allowing publication.

Review Areas

Compliance

Platform guidelines and policies

Security

Security and data usage practices

Payment Flow

Payment flow correctness

UX Consistency

User experience consistency

Technical Stability

Technical stability and performance

Content

Content appropriateness

Review Outcomes

  • Mini App is eligible for publication
  • No further action required before publishing
  • Merchant can choose when to go live
Review timelines and criteria are defined by Rebell and may vary by Mini App category.

Publish

After approval, the Mini App can be published to production. Publishing:
  • Makes the Mini App available to real users
  • Activates production configuration
  • Enables live payments
Publication is an explicit action and does not occur automatically after approval.

Pre-Publication Checklist

  • Production backend deployed
  • Production credentials configured
  • Webhook endpoints ready
  • Monitoring enabled
  • Production API endpoints configured
  • Production credentials active
  • Sandbox references removed
  • Support team briefed
  • Runbook prepared
  • Escalation paths defined

Maintain

After publication, the Mini App enters the maintenance phase. Maintenance includes:

Bug Fixes

Address issues reported by users

Feature Enhancements

Add new capabilities

Performance

Optimize performance

Security Updates

Address security issues
Each update:
  • Requires a new version
  • Follows the same submit → review → publish process

Versioning & Rollback

Mini Apps are versioned explicitly.

Versioning Principles

PrincipleDescription
Version per releaseEach release corresponds to a version
Multiple internal versionsMultiple versions may exist internally
Single active versionOnly one version is active for users
Immutable releasesPublished versions cannot be modified

Rollback

Rollback is available for risk mitigation:
  • Critical bug discovered after release
  • Performance degradation in production
  • Security vulnerability identified
  • Compliance issue detected
Versioning and rollback are essential for safe long-term operation. Always maintain at least one stable previous version.

Lifecycle Responsibilities

StagePrimary Responsibility
CreateMerchant
DevelopMerchant
TestMerchant
SubmitMerchant
ReviewRebell
PublishMerchant
MaintainMerchant

Lifecycle State Diagram

Next Steps

With the Mini App lifecycle understood, the next step is to explore the APIs and capabilities available to Mini Apps: