clerk-android

name	clerk-android
description	Implement Clerk authentication for native Android apps using Kotlin and Jetpack Compose with clerk-android source-guided patterns. Use for prebuilt AuthView/UserButton or custom API-driven auth flows. Do not use for Expo or React Native projects.
license	MIT
allowed-tools	WebFetch
metadata	{"author":"clerk","version":"1.2.0"}
compatibility	Requires Android Studio and clerk-android Gradle dependency

Clerk Android (Native)

This skill implements Clerk in native Android projects by following current clerk-android SDK and docs patterns.

Activation Rules

Activate this skill when either condition is true:

• The user explicitly asks for Android, Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, or native mobile Clerk implementation on Android.
• The project appears to be native Android (for example build.gradle(.kts) with Android plugins, AndroidManifest.xml, app/src/main/java, Compose UI files).

Do not activate this skill when either condition is true:

• The project is Expo.
• The project is React Native.

If Expo/React Native signals are present, route to the general setup skill instead.

What Do You Need?

Task	Reference
Prebuilt AuthView / UserButton (fastest)	references/prebuilt.md
Custom API-driven auth flows (full control)	references/custom.md

Quick Start

Step	Action
1	Confirm project type is native Android and not Expo/React Native
2	Determine flow type (prebuilt or custom) and load the matching reference file
3	Ensure a real Clerk publishable key exists (or ask developer)
4	Ensure correct Clerk artifacts are installed for the selected flow
5	Read official Android quickstart and verify required setup (Native API, min SDK/Java, manifest, initialization)
6	Inspect clerk-android source/sample patterns relevant to selected flow
7	Implement flow by following only the selected reference checklist

Decision Tree

User asks for Clerk in Android/Kotlin
    |
    +-- Expo/React Native project detected?
    |     |
    |     +-- YES -> Do not use this skill
    |     |
    |     +-- NO -> Continue
    |
    +-- Existing auth UI detected?
    |     |
    |     +-- Prebuilt views detected -> Load references/prebuilt.md
    |     |
    |     +-- Custom flow detected -> Load references/custom.md
    |     |
    |     +-- New implementation -> Ask developer prebuilt/custom, then load matching reference
    |
    +-- Ensure publishable key and SDK initialization path
    |
    +-- Ensure correct Android artifacts are installed
    |
    +-- Verify quickstart prerequisites in project
    |
    +-- Implement using selected flow reference

Flow References

After flow type is known, load exactly one:

• Prebuilt flow: references/prebuilt.md
• Custom flow: references/custom.md

Do not blend the two references in a single implementation unless the developer explicitly asks for a hybrid approach.

Interaction Contract

Before any implementation edits, the agent must have both:

• flow choice: prebuilt or custom
• a real Clerk publishable key

If either value is missing from the user request/context:

• ask the user for the missing value(s)
• pause and wait for the answer
• do not edit files or install dependencies yet

Only skip asking when the user has already explicitly provided the value in this conversation.

Source-Driven Templates

Do not hardcode implementation examples in this skill. Inspect current clerk-android source/docs for the installed SDK version before implementing.

Use Case	Source of Truth
SDK artifacts and dependency split (clerk-android-api vs clerk-android-ui)	clerk-android README and Android install docs
SDK initialization and publishable key wiring	Android quickstart and source/api/.../Clerk.kt
Prebuilt auth and profile behavior	source/ui/.../AuthView.kt, source/ui/.../UserButton.kt, and prebuilt sample
Custom auth sequencing and factor handling	source/ui/auth/*, source/api/auth/*, and custom-flows sample
Capability/feature gating from instance settings	Clerk public fields (for example enabledFirstFactorAttributes, socialProviders, isGoogleOneTapEnabled, mfaIsEnabled) and environment model source
Required Android setup checklist	Official Android quickstart (/docs/android/getting-started/quickstart)

Execution Gates (Do Not Skip)

1. No implementation edits before prerequisites

• Do not edit project files until flow type is confirmed and a valid publishable key is available.

2. Missing flow or key must trigger a question

• If flow choice is missing, explicitly ask: prebuilt views or custom flow.
• If publishable key is missing/placeholder/invalid, explicitly ask for a real key.
• Do not continue until both answers are provided.

3. Publishable key wiring mode is mandatory

• By default, wire the developer-provided key directly in Clerk.initialize(...).
• Do not introduce secret-management indirection unless explicitly requested.

4. Artifact install policy is mandatory

• Prebuilt flow: use clerk-android-ui (includes API).
• Custom flow: use clerk-android-api unless prebuilt components are explicitly requested.
• If Clerk artifacts are missing, add the latest stable release available.

5. Android quickstart compliance is mandatory

• Verify Native API is enabled for the Clerk app.
• Verify Android requirements from quickstart are implemented in project (minimum SDK and Java target, manifest internet permission, app-level Clerk initialization).
• Verify app waits for SDK initialization (Clerk.isInitialized) before assuming auth-ready state.

6. Capability-driven behavior is mandatory

• Use Clerk runtime capability/settings state (for example enabled factors/social providers/MFA flags) to gate flow behavior.
• Do not hardcode factor assumptions that may conflict with dashboard configuration.

7. Reference-file discipline is mandatory

• Once flow is selected, follow only that flow reference file for implementation and verification.

8. Custom-flow structure parity is mandatory

• For custom flow, preserve multi-step auth progression and factor-specific handling (no single all-fields form by default).
• Keep UI, state orchestration, and Clerk API integration in separate modules.

9. Prebuilt preference is mandatory when selected

• For prebuilt flow, do not rebuild auth forms with custom API calls unless explicitly requested.
• Use AuthView/UserButton as default building blocks.

Workflow

1. Detect native Android vs Expo/React Native.
2. If flow type is not explicitly provided, ask user for prebuilt or custom.
3. If publishable key is not explicitly provided, ask user for it.
4. Wait for both answers before changing files.
5. Load matching flow reference file.
6. Ensure Clerk.initialize(...) path and publishable key wiring are valid.
7. Ensure dependencies/artifacts match selected flow.
8. Review Android quickstart requirements and apply missing setup in project.
9. Implement using selected reference checklist.
10. Verify using selected reference checklist plus shared gates.

Common Pitfalls

Level	Issue	Prevention
CRITICAL	Not asking for missing flow choice before implementation	Ask for prebuilt vs custom and wait before edits
CRITICAL	Not asking for missing publishable key before implementation	Ask for key and wait before edits
CRITICAL	Starting implementation before flow type is confirmed	Confirm flow first and load matching reference
CRITICAL	Skipping Android quickstart prerequisites	Verify and apply required setup from official Android quickstart
CRITICAL	Missing app-level Clerk.initialize(...) call	Initialize Clerk from Application startup path
HIGH	Wrong artifact for chosen flow	Prebuilt: clerk-android-ui; custom: clerk-android-api
HIGH	Rendering auth UI before SDK initialization completes	Gate UI with Clerk.isInitialized state
HIGH	Hardcoding auth factors/social providers	Drive behavior from Clerk runtime capability fields
HIGH	Using this skill for Expo/React Native	Detect and route away before implementation

See Also

• clerk skill for top-level Clerk routing
• clerk-setup skill for cross-framework quickstart setup
• https://github.com/clerk/clerk-android
• https://clerk.com/docs/android/getting-started/quickstart