// Orchestrates Android development tasks including project creation, deployment, SDK management, and environment diagnostics using the `android` command-line tool.
Learn how to install and migrate to Jetpack Navigation 3, and how to implement features and patterns such as deep links, multiple backstacks, scenes (dialogs, bottom sheets, list-detail, two-pane, supporting pane), conditional navigation (such as logged-in navigation vs anonymous), returning results from flows, integration with Hilt, ViewModel, Kotlin, and view interoperability.
Analyzes Android build files and R8 keep rules to identify redundancies, broad package-wide rules, and rules that subsume library consumer keep rules. Use when developers want to optimize their app's size, remove redundant or overly broad keep rules, or troubleshoot Proguard configurations.
| name | android-cli |
| description | Orchestrates Android development tasks including project creation, deployment, SDK management, and environment diagnostics using the `android` command-line tool. |
| license | Complete terms in LICENSE.txt |
| metadata | {"author":"Google LLC","keywords":["sdk","emulator","skills","docs","knowledge base","project creation","screenshots"]} |
This skill provides instructions for using the android CLI tool. The tool includes various commands for creating projects, running applications, interacting with devices, and managing the CLI environment.
To manage the installation of Android SDKs and tools, use the sdk command. For example:
android sdk install <package>[@<version>]...: Install specific packages. Multiple packages can be specified, separated by spaces. <version> defaults to latest. For example: android sdk install platforms/android-30@2 platforms/android-34android sdk update [<pkg-name>]: Update a specific package or all packages to the latest version.android sdk remove <pkg-name>: Remove a package from the local SDK.android sdk list --all: List installed and available SDK packages.Create projects from templates using the create command.
For example: android create empty-activity --name="My App" --output=./my-app
For more information on interacting with running devices, see here
For more information on running journeys, see here
The docs command searches authoritative, high-quality Android developer documentation in the Android Knowledge Base.
By providing a few keywords, this tool will return high quality articles that contain examples or guidance on how to use Android APIs or libraries.
Use this tool to obtain additional information on how to achieve Android-specific tasks or to know more about Android APIs, surfaces, libraries, or devices.
Always use this tool to get the most up-to-date information about Android concepts. Typical good use cases are:
Use the run command to run Android apps.
Manage Android Virtual Devices (AVDs) using the android emulator command
Capture an image of the current screen of a connected Android device and output it to a file using the android screenshot command.
Manage antigravity agent skills for Android using the android skills command.
Use the android layout command to inspect the UI layout of an Android application. It returns the layout tree of an Android application in JSON format. When debugging UI errors, this is often a much faster approach than taking a screenshot.
Update the Android CLI using the android update command.
android help outputUsage: android [-hV] [--sdk=PARAM] [COMMAND] -h, --help Show this help message and exit. --sdk=PARAM Path to the Android SDK -V, --version Print version information and exit. Commands: create Create a new Android project describe Analyzes an Android project to generate descriptive metadata. docs Android documentation commands emulator Emulator commands help Shows the help of all commands info Print environment information (SDK Location, etc.) init Initializes the environment (eg. skills) for Android CLI. layout Returns the layout tree of an application run Deploy an Android Application screen Commands to view the device sdk Download and list SDK packages skills Manage skills update Update the Android CLI
create Usage: android create [-h] [--verbose] [--list] [--minSdk=api] --name=applicationName [-o=dest-path] [template-name] Create a new Android project [template-name] The template name -h, --help Show this help message and exit. --minSdk=api The 'minSdk' supported by the application (default is defined in the template) --name=applicationName The name of the application (e.g. 'My Application') -o, --output=dest-path The destination project directory path (default is '.') --verbose Enables verbose output --list List all available templates
describe Usage: android describe [-hV] [--project_dir=PARAM] Analyzes an Android project to generate descriptive metadata. This command identifies and outputs the paths to JSON files that detail the project's structure, including build targets and their corresponding output artifact locations (e.g., APKs). This information enables other tools and commands to locate build artifacts efficiently. -h, --help Show this help message and exit. --project_dir=PARAM The project directory to describe -V, --version Print version information and exit.
docs Usage: android docs [-h] [COMMAND] Android documentation commands -h, --help Show this help message and exit. Commands: search Search Android documentation fetch Fetch Android documentation
emulator Usage: android emulator [-h] [COMMAND] Emulator commands -h, --help Show this help message and exit. Commands: create Creates a virtual device start Launches the specified virtual device. This command will return when the emulator is fully started and ready to use. stop Stops the specified virtual device list Lists available virtual devices remove Delete a virtual device
help Usage: android help [COMMAND] Shows the help of all commands [COMMAND] The command to show help for
info Usage: android info Print environment information (SDK Location, etc.) The specific field to print the value of. If omitted print all.
init Usage: android init Initializes the environment (eg. skills) for Android CLI.
layout Usage: android layout [-dhp] [--device=PARAM] [-o=PARAM] Returns the layout tree of an application -d, --diff Returns a flat list of the layout elements that have changed since the last invocation of ui-dump --device=PARAM The device serial number -h, --help Show this help message and exit. -o, --output=PARAM Writes the layout tree to the specified file or directory. If omitted, prints the tree to standard output -p, --pretty Pretty-prints the returned JSON
run Usage: android run [-h] [--debug] [--activity=PARAM] [--device=PARAM] [--type=PARAM] [--apks=PARAM[,PARAM...]]... Deploy an Android Application --activity=PARAM The activity name --apks=PARAM[,PARAM...] The paths to the APKs --debug Run in debug mode --device=PARAM The device serial number -h, --help Show this help message and exit. --type=PARAM The component type (ACTIVITY, SERVICE, etc.)
screen Usage: android screen [-h] [COMMAND] Commands to view the device -h, --help Show this help message and exit. Commands: capture Outputs the device screen to a PNG resolve Target UI elements visually
sdk Usage: android sdk [COMMAND] Download and list SDK packages Commands: install Install SDK packages update Update one or all packages to the latest version remove Remove a package from the SDK list List installed and available SDK packages
skills Usage: android skills [COMMAND] Manage skills Commands: add Install a skill remove Remove a skill list List available skills find Find skills by keyword
update Usage: android update [--url=PARAM] Update the Android CLI --url=PARAM The URL to download the update from