android-deploy

Purpose

This skill automates Android app deployment, covering Gradle-based builds, APK/AAB signing, uploads to Google Play Console, distribution via Firebase, and tools like Fastlane and bundletool for streamlined CI/CD.

When to Use

Use this skill for deploying Android apps in production, testing variants, or automating releases; ideal for CI pipelines, app updates to Google Play, or internal distribution via Firebase; avoid for non-Android projects or basic builds without deployment needs.

Key Capabilities

• Build and select Gradle variants (e.g., debug, release) using build.gradle configurations.

• Sign APKs or AABs with keystores, supporting v1 and v2 signing schemes.

• Upload apps to Google Play Console via API, including managing edits and tracks.

• Distribute builds via Firebase App Distribution for beta testing.

• Automate workflows with Fastlane, including lane definitions for build and deploy.

• Generate and test APKs from AABs using bundletool for device-specific optimization.

Usage Patterns

To deploy an Android app, first configure build.gradle with variants (e.g., set buildTypes { release { ... } } ), then use Fastlane to chain tasks like building, signing, and uploading. For CI integration, invoke Gradle tasks via scripts, pass environment variables for keys, and handle outputs for subsequent steps. Always verify keystore paths and API credentials before running; for example, run a Fastlane lane that calls ./gradlew assembleRelease followed by bundletool extraction.

Common Commands/API

• Gradle build for a variant: ./gradlew assembleRelease --stacktrace (use --stacktrace for debugging).

• Sign an APK: apksigner sign --ks my.keystore --ks-key-alias myalias myapp.apk (requires keystore file and alias).

• Upload to Google Play: Use Google Play API endpoint POST https://www.googleapis.com/androidpublisher/v3/applications/{packageName}/edits with OAuth token from $GOOGLE_PLAY_API_KEY ; example curl: curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $GOOGLE_PLAY_API_KEY" -d '{"title": "Edit"}' https://... .

• Firebase App Distribution: firebase appdistribution:distribute myapp.apk --app <APP_ID> --groups my-testers (set $FIREBASE_TOKEN for auth).

• Fastlane lane: Define in Fastfile: lane :deploy do |options| sh("./gradlew assembleRelease") end ; run with fastlane android deploy .

• Bundletool for AAB: bundletool build-apks --bundle=myapp.aab --output=myapp.apks --ks=my.keystore (include --ks-pass for password via env var like $KEYSTORE_PASS ).

• Code snippet for Gradle build in build.gradle: android { buildTypes { release { signingConfig signingConfigs.release } } } (2 lines).

• API call in script: response = requests.post('https://www.googleapis.com/androidpublisher/v3/...', headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {os.environ["GOOGLE_PLAY_API_KEY"]}'} ) (2 lines).

Integration Notes

Integrate by setting environment variables for sensitive data, e.g., export GOOGLE_PLAY_API_KEY=$SERVICE_API_KEY for OAuth; configure Fastlane with a Fastfile in your project root, including lanes that reference Gradle tasks. For Firebase, add the Firebase CLI and set $FIREBASE_TOKEN via service account JSON. Use bundletool as a JAR in your build pipeline, ensuring it's version-compatible (e.g., 1.14.0+). Link with CI tools like GitHub Actions by adding steps: run: fastlane android deploy in your workflow YAML.

Error Handling

Handle signing errors by checking keystore paths and passwords (e.g., if apksigner fails with "Keystore not found", verify file existence); for API uploads, catch 401 errors by ensuring $GOOGLE_PLAY_API_KEY is valid and not expired. Gradle build failures often stem from variant mismatches—use ./gradlew tasks to list available tasks. For Fastlane, debug with fastlane --verbose ; if bundletool reports "Invalid bundle", validate AAB with bundletool validate --bundle=myapp.aab . Always wrap commands in try-catch blocks in scripts, e.g., try { sh("./gradlew assembleRelease") } catch { echo "Build failed: $error" } .

Concrete Usage Examples

Example 1: Build and Sign an APK for Release

First, ensure build.gradle has: signingConfigs { release { storeFile file("my.keystore") keyAlias "myalias" } } . Then, run: ./gradlew assembleRelease . Finally, sign: apksigner sign --ks my.keystore --ks-key-alias myalias app/build/outputs/apk/release/app-release-unsigned.apk . This produces a signed APK ready for distribution.

Example 2: Upload to Google Play via Fastlane

Create a Fastfile with: lane :upload do upload_to_play_store track: 'internal' apk_path: 'app/build/outputs/apk/release/app-release.apk' end . Set env var: export SUPPLY_JSON_KEY_FILE=$GOOGLE_PLAY_SERVICE_ACCOUNT . Run: fastlane upload . This automates building, signing, and uploading to the internal track on Google Play Console.

Graph Relationships

• Related to: mobile cluster (e.g., shares dependencies with iOS deployment skills).

• Integrates with: ci-cd pipelines (e.g., connects to build tools like Gradle).

• Depends on: authentication services (e.g., Google Play API keys).

• Conflicts with: non-mobile skills (e.g., web deployment).