Gradle for Android

Automate the build process for your Android projects with Gradle

About This Book

• Create custom Gradle tasks and plugins for your Android projects
• Configure different build variants, each with their own dependencies and properties
• Manage multi-module projects, and integrate modules interdependently

Who This Book Is For

If you are an experienced Android developer wanting to enhance your skills with the Gradle Android build system, then this book is for you. As a prerequisite, you will need some knowledge of the concepts of Android application development.

What You Will Learn

• Build new Android apps and libraries using Android Studio and Gradle
• Migrate projects from Eclipse to Android Studio and Gradle
• Manage the local and remote dependencies of your projects
• Create multiple build variants
• Include multiple modules in a single project
• Integrate tests into the build process
• Create custom tasks and plugins for Android projects

In Detail

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.

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.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Getting Started with Gradle and Android Studio
Chapter 2: Basic Build Customization
Chapter 3: Managing Dependencies
Chapter 4: Creating Build Variants
Chapter 5: Managing Multimodule Builds
Chapter 6: Running Tests
Chapter 7: Creating Tasks and Plugins
Chapter 8: Setting Up Continuous Integration
Chapter 9: Advanced Build Customization