| name | android-maps-ktx |
| description | Provides idiomatic Kotlin extension (KTX) patterns, reactive Flow event streams, and multi-subscriber shareIn rules for Google Maps SDK for Android and its Utility Library. Use when writing or refactoring Android map features with coroutines/flows, streaming GPS location updates, handling marker cluster clicks, managing styled overlay collections, or simulating adb coordinates. Don't use for vanilla Java Google Maps development or web/iOS maps APIs. |
Android Maps KTX Agent Skill
This skill provides verified patterns, gotchas, and reference implementations for developing with the Android Maps KTX and Android Maps Utility KTX libraries (maps-ktx and maps-utils-ktx).
It guides you in writing concise, idiomatic Kotlin using coroutines and Flows to manage map lifecycles, viewport transitions, satellite location streams, marker cluster events, and custom styled overlay click collections.
📋 Triggers & Scenarios
Use when:
- Implementing or refactoring Android map interfaces using Kotlin coroutines or Kotlin Flows.
- Consuming reactive satellite location updates (
LocationManager) with automatic subscriber lifecycles.
- Listening to marker group click events or individual pin clicks using
ClusterManager event streams.
- Managing click callbacks across distinct, styled sub-collections using
MarkerManager or CircleManager.
- Creating pixel-perfect visual previews or automated
.gif animations of map interactions using adb shell inputs.
Don't use for:
- Standard Java-based Google Maps SDK for Android development.
- Web Map developments (Maps JavaScript API) or iOS Maps integrations.
- General Android location services unrelated to Google Maps rendering or KTX.
🎯 Idiomatic KTX Core Capabilities
The Android Maps KTX libraries replace legacy callback-heavy interfaces with clean Kotlin-first abstractions. Refer to the following deep guides for implementations:
1. Critical Gotchas & Stability Workarounds
- The Single-Subscriber Invariant: Learn why multiple direct subscribers to a KTX cold flow will hijack the listener slot or break on cancellation, and how to safely multicast using
.shareIn().
- SystemUI Tuner Stability: Learn how to set clean status bars in Android 15+ (SDK 37) without triggering fatal tuner repository crashes.
- Mock Location Lifecycle: Understand why mock providers must be created before activity subscription.
- 📂 Gotchas & Stability Reference
2. Reactive Location Streaming
- Cold flows for fine GPS location tracking and coarse cell/wifi tower tracking.
- Auto-cleanup of test location providers and lifecycle-safe subscriptions.
- adb coordinates injection for London (Fine GPS) and Paris (Coarse network) trajectories.
- 📂 Location Streams Reference
3. Marker Clustering Click Streams
- Subscribing to group cluster click viewport glides via
clusterClickEvents().
- Multicasting individual marker clicks safely across dual observers via
clusterItemClickEvents() and SharedFlow.
- adb touch badges simulations.
- 📂 Clustering click flows Reference
4. Shape & Overlay Click Collections
- Propagating click events in clean, isolated sub-collections via KTX collection click extensions.
- Visual click confirmation rules (Persistent InfoWindows, interactive circle color-swapping on-device).
- 📂 Collection Click Flows Reference
