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Replace AppsFlyer 5-field event schema

Replace AppsFlyer with a strict 5-field event schema

Migrate from AppsFlyer to a 5-field event schema. Extras rejected at the API. Helps developers avoid collecting personal data in the first place.

Example AppsFlyer call (the "before")

swift Respectlytics
import AppsFlyerLib

// ATT prompt path — required before AppsFlyer reads IDFA:
ATTrackingManager.requestTrackingAuthorization { _ in
    AppsFlyerLib.shared().start()
    AppsFlyerLib.shared().logEvent("af_purchase", withValues: [
        AFEventParamRevenue: price,
        AFEventParamCurrency: "USD",
        AFEventParamContentId: sku,
    ])
}

Most analytics SDKs accept dozens of custom parameters per event. Respectlytics's API stores exactly five fields per event: event_name, session_id (rotated every two hours), timestamp, platform, and country. Extra fields are rejected with a 400. The discipline is structural — engineers can't accidentally add PII over time because the API refuses it.

Remove AppsFlyer cleanly

  1. 1

    Remove the AppsFlyer SDK from your build (AppsFlyerFramework / af-android-sdk / react-native-appsflyer / appsflyer_sdk)

  2. 2

    Remove AppsFlyerLib.shared().start() and logEvent(...) call sites

  3. 3

    Re-check your Info.plist for NSUserTrackingUsageDescription — if no other SDK needs ATT, remove it (Apple flags apps that ship the key without code that calls ATTrackingManager)

  4. 4

    Re-check your Android merged manifest for com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID and remove the corresponding <uses-permission> if no other SDK contributes it

  5. 5

    Plan how you'll attribute installs without AppsFlyer — Apple SKAdNetwork + Google Play Install Referrer (both first-party, no SDK needed) cover most cases

AppsFlyer vs Respectlytics — 5-field event schema

AppsFlyerRespectlytics
Stored fields per event— see tool note above (typically dozens of params)Exactly 5
API enforcement of schemaLenient (extras stored)Strict (extras rejected with 400)
Per-user state computableYes (people profiles, user properties)No (use account system)
Custom event properties accepted25–250 depending on tool0

Frequently asked questions

How do we segment events without custom properties?

By using distinct event names. Instead of track('purchase', { product: 'gold_pack' }), fire track('purchase_gold_pack'). The aggregation buckets event names automatically; no manual configuration. Keep your taxonomy short (under ~50 distinct names per matrix axis) to stay navigable.

We need per-event price for revenue reporting — how does that work?

It doesn't — and that's the point. Authoritative revenue lives in your billing system (Stripe, RevenueCat, App Store Connect) with refund-aware totals and currency-conversion handling. Mirroring revenue into product analytics produces two truths that drift over time.

What if we genuinely need a sixth field for legitimate reasons?

Three options: (a) encode the variant into the event name (e.g., paywall_purchase_pro vs paywall_purchase_basic); (b) keep per-user state in your account system and don't mirror it; (c) use a different tool for the specific use case. Most product teams find (a) or (b) sufficient.

How does the API actually enforce this?

JSON validation at the API gateway. A POST /api/v1/events/ with any field outside the 5 allowed keys returns HTTP 400 Bad Request with a body listing the rejected field names. Your integration test catches the regression on the first commit that adds an extra field.

Related migration guides

Track what matters. Collect nothing you don't.

Five-field event schema, RAM-only event queue, no IDFA, no AAID, no persistent user IDs. Helps developers avoid collecting personal data in the first place.