Developing Managed SuiteApps
Managed SuiteApps let you control when SDF SuiteApps are upgraded in accounts. When a managed SuiteApp is installed, the installer agrees to subscribe to future upgrades. As upgrades are developed, the SuiteApp release manager can install them into the accounts without the account admin needing to do anything.
One of the issues that solution providers face is ensuring that users of their SuiteApps apply upgrades as they become available. Managed SuiteApps allow you to upgrade SuiteApps in the accounts where they are installed whenever a new version is available.
Users who've installed a managed SuiteApp don't have to worry about updates; you, as the SuiteApp release manager, handle updates whenever you want. For managed SuiteApps, only a user with the SuiteApp Release Manager role can apply upgrades to the install base. For information about installing upgrades, see Pushing a SuiteApp Version Upgrade to Users. To view current managed SuiteApp upgrades in progress, see Viewing SDF SuiteApp Upgrades.
If you want your users to manually upgrade a SuiteApp in their accounts, choose Unmanaged when you create the SuiteApp definition in SuiteApp Control Center. For more information, see Creating a SuiteApp Definition.
Managed upgrades from SuiteApp Control Center aren't possible for Sandbox and Release Preview accounts. Users can see the upgrade button on the SuiteApp details page in the SuiteApp Marketplace.
If the user that pushed a managed SuiteApp upgrade from the SuiteApp Control Center exists in the target account, the “Set By” column in system notes shows the internal ID of this user. If that user doesn't exist in the target account, this column shows the administrator that has the lowest internal ID in the target account.
Managed SuiteApps - Best Practices
Follow these practices when distributing managed SuiteApps:
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Develop a communication plan for your upgrades. You can push bug fix upgrades quickly and seamlessly without disturbing your install base. For new versions, be sure to communicate with your install base ahead of time.
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Avoid pushing upgrades during install base's peak hours.
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Be sure that SuiteApp upgrades don't overlap with the NetSuite phased release cycle if your upgrades rely on new features that are only available in the leading version.
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Be aware that the order in which scripts run in the source account is maintained when the SuiteApp is installed in target accounts. You can set up script execution order for client and user event scripts on the Scripted Records page, at Customization> Scripting > Scripted Records. See The Scripted Records Page.
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Lock objects in managed SuiteApps to avoid clobbering customizations in target accounts.