This tutorial describes the usage of the Gradle build system for building Android applications. It includes the information how to configure build flavors. Gradle for building Android applications. Using Gradle for Android apps. By default, Android projects are handled by the Gradle build system. If you create a new project in Android. File size: 2.32 MB. File format: PDF. Category: Programming, Android. Book Description: Gradle is an open source build automation system that introduces a Groovy-based domain-specific language (DSL) to configure projects. Using Gradle makes it easy for Android developers to manage dependencies and set up the entire build process.
What is android-gradle
android-gradle is a gradle plugin officially maintained by Google Tools developer team and is the official build tool since the announcement in May 16, 2013 at the Google I/O.
Learn the basic by reading Configure your build with Gradle.
Main features
The main features of the Android Gradle Plugin are:
- Modular Projects with libraries
- Variants through Flavors and Build Types
- IDE independent builds
Overview
- Download and install Android Studio
- open it and create a new project with all default settings
In theory you can install gradle directly, build the configuration files and directory structure by yourself. In practice no-one does that.
Project Structure
A project folder structure typically look like this:
android-gradle Plugin
A gradle project is usually divided in sub-project or modules each containing a dedicated build script.
The plugin dependency is usually declared in the main / top level build.gradle file:
Gradle For Android Pdf Converter
In this example the android-gradle plugin version is 2.1.2 as you can see from this line:
Modules
The Project is divided into modules each containing a dedicated build.gradle script. The settings.gradle file list these modules:
The colon : is used somewhat as a folder delimiter.
To use the plugin it has to be applied at the top of the build.gradle file of each module (app in the example).
For an Android Application:
For an Android Library:
And then configured in it's android tag:
Android Pdf Viewer
Basic Android application Configuration
The build.gradle generated by Android Studio for an application looks like this:
Configure your build with Gradle teach you more advanced Android Gradle Plugin settings and options and go deeper in the meaning of this setting.
The defaultConfig is called like that because it can be overridden with Product Flavors.
The buildTypes tag allow you to setup how to build your app enabling optimization (like proguard), you can learn more reading Build Types. It can also be used to setup signing of your app.
You should also learn more on how to Declare Dependencies. As you see the dependencies tag is outside the android one: this means it's not defined by the Android plugin but it's standard gradle.
The Gradle Wrapper
Android Studio will also, by default, install a gradle wrapper. This is a tool you can execute directly from the command line and it will download a local specific version of gradle the first time you execute it.
Gradle For Android Pdf Converter
To launch compile the app you can then launch the gradle wrapper
Linux / Mac:
Windows:
The script launch the wrapper, contained in a gradle folder in the root directory of your project:
gradle-wrapper.jar: the code of the wrapper to download gradle and execute itgradle-wrapper.propertiesdefine which gradle version the wrapper should download
Gradle For Android Pdf Reader
External Links:
Automate the build process for your Android projects with Gradle
Gradle is an open source build automation system that introduces a Groovy-based domain-specific language (DSL) to configure projects. Using Gradle makes it easy for Android developers to manage dependencies and set up the entire build process.
Android Pdf Download
This book begins by taking you through the basics of Gradle and how it works with Android Studio. Furthermore, you will learn how to add local and remote dependencies to your project. You will work with build variants, such as debug and release, paid and free, and even combinations of these things. The book will also help you set up unit and integration testing with different libraries and will show how Gradle and Android Studio can make running tests easier. Finally, you will be shown a number of tips and tricks on the advanced customization of your application’s build process. By the end of this book, you will be able to customize the entire build process, and create your own tasks and plugins for your Gradle builds.