Yandex Maps SDK integration in mobile app

Yandex Maps SDK Integration in Mobile App

Yandex Maps — default choice for Russian apps with maps: better coverage in CIS, Russian toponyms without transliteration artifacts, working transit router for Russian cities. MapKit SDK for Android and iOS changed substantially starting version 4.x — lightweight version renamed, annotation API redesigned.

SDK Versions: Full vs Lite

Yandex provides two versions:

For most apps Lite is sufficient — if offline and transit routes not needed.

Initialization

API key obtained at developer.tech.yandex.ru. Unlike Google Maps, key is not tied to Bundle ID / applicationId on creation — restrictions configured separately in dashboard.

Android:

// build.gradle
implementation("com.yandex.android:maps.mobile:4.6.1-full")

// Application.onCreate()
MapKitFactory.setApiKey("YOUR_API_KEY")
MapKitFactory.initialize(this)

iOS (Swift Package Manager):

// Package.swift dependency:
// .package(url: "https://github.com/yandex/mapkit-ios-demo", from: "4.6.1")

// AppDelegate / App init:
import YandexMapsMobile

MapKit.setApiKey("YOUR_API_KEY")

Initialization must happen before creating first MapView. Forgotten MapKitFactory.initialize on Android gives IllegalStateException with unclear message about API key not set, even though setApiKey called.

Android Map Work

class MapActivity : AppCompatActivity(), MapObjectTapListener {
    private lateinit var mapView: MapView
    private lateinit var mapObjects: MapObjectCollection

    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_map)

        mapView = findViewById(R.id.mapView)
        MapKitFactory.getInstance().onStart()
        mapView.onStart()

        val map = mapView.mapWindow.map
        map.move(
            CameraPosition(Point(55.7558, 37.6173), 12f, 0f, 0f)
        )

        mapObjects = map.mapObjects.addCollection()
        addMarker(Point(55.7558, 37.6173), "Center")
    }

    private fun addMarker(point: Point, text: String) {
        val placemark = mapObjects.addPlacemark().apply {
            geometry = point
            setIcon(ImageProvider.fromBitmap(createBitmapIcon()))
            addTapListener(this@MapActivity)
        }
        val textStyle = TextStyle().apply {
            this.size = 12f
            placement = TextStyle.Placement.BOTTOM
        }
        placemark.setText(text, textStyle)
    }

    override fun onMapObjectTap(mapObject: MapObject, point: Point): Boolean {
        Toast.makeText(this, (mapObject as? PlacemarkMapObject)?.getText() ?: "", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()
        return true
    }

    override fun onStop() {
        mapView.onStop()
        MapKitFactory.getInstance().onStop()
        super.onStop()
    }
}

Lifecycle methods mapView.onStart() / mapView.onStop() — mandatory. Skipping onStop leads to memory leak and continued rendering in background.

Search and Geocoding via Search API

val searchManager = SearchFactory.getInstance()
    .createSearchManager(SearchManagerType.COMBINED)

val searchSession = searchManager.submit(
    "cafes nearby",
    VisibleRegionUtils.toPolygon(mapView.mapWindow.map.visibleRegion),
    SearchOptions().apply {
        searchTypes = SearchType.BIZ.value
        resultPageSize = 20
    },
    object : Session.SearchListener {
        override fun onSearchResponse(response: Response) {
            for (item in response.collection.children) {
                val point = item.obj?.geometry?.firstOrNull()?.point ?: continue
                addMarker(point, item.obj?.name ?: "")
            }
        }
        override fun onSearchError(error: Error) {}
    }
)

Routes: DrivingRouter

val drivingRouter = DirectionsFactory.getInstance().createDrivingRouter(DrivingRouterType.COMBINED)

val points = listOf(
    RequestPoint(Point(55.7558, 37.6173), RequestPointType.WAYPOINT, null, null),
    RequestPoint(Point(59.9343, 30.3351), RequestPointType.WAYPOINT, null, null)
)

drivingRouter.requestRoutes(
    points,
    DrivingOptions().apply { routesCount = 1 },
    VehicleOptions(),
    object : DrivingSession.DrivingRouteListener {
        override fun onDrivingRoutes(routes: MutableList<DrivingRoute>) {
            if (routes.isNotEmpty()) {
                mapView.mapWindow.map.mapObjects.addPolyline(routes[0].geometry)
            }
        }
        override fun onDrivingRoutesError(error: Error) {}
    }
)

Timeline

1–3 days. Basic map with markers — 1 day. Search + routes + custom icons — 2–3 days. Cost calculated individually.