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  • Android Studio Meerkat Feature Drop is stable



    Posted by Adarsh Fernando, Group Product Manager

    Today, we’re excited to announce the stable release of Android Studio Meerkat Feature Drop (2024.3.2)!

    This release brings a host of new features and improvements designed to boost your productivity and enhance your development workflow. With numerous enhancements, this latest release helps you build high-quality Android apps faster and more efficiently: streamlined Jetpack Compose previews, new Gemini capabilities, better Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) integration, improved device management, and more.

    Read on to learn about the key updates in Android Studio Meerkat Feature Drop, and download the latest stable version today to explore them yourself!

    Developer Productivity Enhancements

    Analyze Crash Reports with Gemini in Android Studio

    Debugging production crashes can require you to spend significant time switching contexts between your crash reporting tool, such as Firebase Crashlytics and Android Vitals, and investigating root causes in the IDE. Now, when viewing reports in App Quality Insights (AQI), click the Insights tab. Gemini provides a summary of the crash, generates insights, and links to useful documentation. If you also provide Gemini with access to local code context, it can provide more accurate results, relevant next steps, and code suggestions. This helps you reduce the time spent diagnosing and resolving issues.

    moving image of Gemini in the App Quality Insights tool window in Android Studio

    Gemini helps you investigate, understand, and resolve crashes in your app much more quickly in the App Quality Insights tool window.

    Generate Unit Test Scenarios with Gemini

    Writing effective unit tests is crucial but can be time-consuming. Gemini now helps kickstart this process by generating relevant test scenarios. Right-click on a class in your editor and select Gemini > Generate Unit Test Scenarios. Gemini analyzes the code and suggests test cases with descriptive names, outlining what to test. While you still implement the specific test logic, this significantly speeds up the initial setup and ensures better test coverage by suggesting scenarios you might have missed.

    moving image of generating unit test scenarios in Android Studio

    Gemini helps you generate unit test scenarios for your app.

    Gemini Prompt Library

    No more retyping your most frequently used prompts for Gemini! The new Prompt Library lets you save prompts directly within Android Studio (Settings > Gemini > Prompt Library). Whether it’s a specific code generation pattern, a refactoring instruction, or a debugging query you use often, save it once from the chat (right-click > Save prompt) and re-apply it instantly from the editor (right-click > Gemini > Prompt Library). Prompts that you save can also be shared and standardized across your team.

    moving image of prompt library in Android Studio

    The prompt library saves your frequently used Gemini prompts to make them easier to use.

    You have the option to store prompts on IDE level or Project level:

      • IDE level prompts are private and can be used across multiple projects.
      • Project level prompts can be shared across teams working on the same project (if .idea folder is added to VCS).

    Compose and UI Development

    Themed Icon Support Preview

    Ensure your app’s branding looks great with Android’s themed icons. Android Studio now lets you preview how your existing launcher icon adapts to the monochromatic theming algorithm directly within the IDE. This quick visual check helps you identify potential contrast issues or undesirable shapes early in the workflow, even before you provide a dedicated monochromatic drawable. This allows for faster iteration on your app’s visual identity.

    moving image of themed icon support in preview in Android Studio

    Themed icon support in Preview helps you visually check how your existing launcher icon adapts to monochromatic theming.

    Compose Preview Enhancements

    Iterating on your Compose UI is now faster and better organized:

      • Enhanced Zoom: Navigate complex layouts more easily with smoother, more responsive zooming in your Compose previews.
      • Collapsible Groups: Tidy up your preview surface by collapsing groups of related composables under their @Preview annotation names, letting you focus on specific parts of the UI without clutter.
      • Grid Mode by Default: Grid mode is now the default for a clear overview. Gallery mode (for flipping through individual previews) is available via right-click, while List view has been removed to streamline the experience.

    moving image of Compose previews in Android Studio

    Compose previews render more smoothly and make it easier to hide previews you’re not focused on.

    Build and Deploy

    KMP Shared Module Integration

    Android Studio now streamlines adding shared logic to your Android app with the new Kotlin Multiplatform Shared Module template. This provides a dedicated starting point within your Android project, making it easier to structure and build shared business logic for both Android and iOS directly from Android Studio.

    Kotlin Multiplatform template in Android Studio

    The new Kotlin Multiplatform module template makes it easier to add shared business logic to your existing app.

    Updated UX for Adding Devices

    Spend less time configuring test devices. The new Device Manager UX for adding virtual and remote devices makes it much easier to configure the devices you want from the Device Manager. To get started, click the ‘+’ action at the top of the window and select one of these options:

      • Create Virtual Device: New filters, recommendations, and creation flow guide you towards creating AVDs that are best suited for your intended purpose and your machine’s performance.
      • Add Remote Devices: With Android Device Streaming, powered by Firebase, you can connect and debug your app with a variety of real physical devices. With a new catalog view and filters, it’s now easier to locate and start using the device you need in just a few clicks.

    moving image of configuring virtual devices in Android Studio

    It’s now easier to configure virtual devices that are optimized for your workstation.

    Google Play Deprecated SDK Warnings

    Stay more informed about SDKs you publish with your app. Android Studio now displays warnings from the Google Play SDK Index when an SDK used in your app has been deprecated by its author. These warnings include information about suggested alternative SDKs, helping you proactively manage dependencies and avoid potential issues related to outdated or insecure libraries.

    Google Play Deprecated SDK warnings in Android Studio

    Play deprecated SDK warnings help you avoid potential issues related to outdated or insecure libraries.

    Updated Build Menu and Actions

    We’ve refined the Build menu for a more intuitive experience:

      • New ‘Build run-configuration-name’ Action: Builds the currently selected run configuration (e.g., :app or a specific test). This is now the default action for the toolbar button and Control/Command+F9.
      • Reordered Actions: The new build action is prioritized at the top, followed by Compile and Assemble actions.
      • Clearer Naming: “Rebuild Project” is now “Clean and Assemble Project with Tests”. “Make Project” is renamed to “Assemble Project”, and a new “Assemble Project with Tests” action is available.

    Build menu in Android Studio

    The Build menu includes behavior and naming changes to simplify and streamline the experience.

    Standardized Config Directories

    Switching between Stable, Beta, and Canary versions of Android Studio is now smoother. Configuration directories are standardized, removing the “Preview” suffix for non-stable builds. We’ve also added the micro version (e.g., AndroidStudio2024.3.2) to the path, allowing different feature drops to run side-by-side without conflicts. This simplifies managing your IDE settings, especially if you work with multiple Android Studio installations.

    IntelliJ platform update

    Android Studio Meerkat Feature Drop (2024.3.2) includes the IntelliJ 2024.3 platform release, which has many new features such as a feature complete K2 mode, more reliable Java** and Kotlin code inspections, grammar checks during indexing, debugger improvements, speed and quality of life improvements to Terminal, and more.

    For more information, read the full IntelliJ 2024.3 release notes.

    Summary

    Android Studio Meerkat Feature Drop (2024.3.2) delivers these key features and enhancements:

      • Developer Productivity:
          • Analyze Crash Reports with Gemini
          • Generate Unit Test Scenarios with Gemini
          • Gemini Prompt Library
      • Compose and UI:
          • Themed Icon Preview
          • Compose Preview Enhancements (Zoom, Collapsible Groups, View Modes)
      • Build and Deploy:
          • KMP Shared Module Template
          • Updated UX for Adding Devices
          • Google Play SDK Insights: Deprecated SDK Warnings
          • Updated Build Menu & Actions
          • Standardized Config Directories
      • IntelliJ Platform Update
          • Feature complete K2 mode
          • Improved Kotlin and Java** inspection reliability
          • Debugger improvements
          • Speed and quality of life improvements in Terminal

    Getting Started

    Ready to elevate your Android development? Download Android Studio Meerkat Feature Drop and start using these powerful new features today!

    As always, your feedback is crucial. Check known issues, report bugs, suggest improvements, and connect with the community on LinkedIn, Medium, YouTube, or X. Let’s continue building amazing Android apps together!

    **Java is a trademark or registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.





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  • Multimodal image attachment is now available for Gemini in Android Studio



    Posted by Paris Hsu – Product Manager, Android Studio

    At every stage of the development lifecycle, Gemini in Android Studio has become your AI-powered companion, making it easier to build high quality apps. We are excited to announce a significant expansion: Gemini in Android Studio now supports multimodal inputs, which lets you attach images directly to your prompts! This unlocks a wealth of new possibilities that improve team collaboration and UI development workflows.

    You can try out this new feature by downloading the latest Android Studio canary. We’ve outlined a few use cases to try, but we’d love to hear what you think as we work through bringing this feature into future stable releases. Check it out:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_6mtRWJzuc

    Image attachment – a new dimension of interaction

    We first previewed Gemini’s multimodal capabilities at Google I/O 2024. This technology allows Gemini in Android Studio to understand simple wireframes, and transform them into working Jetpack Compose code.

    You’ll now find an image attachment icon in the Gemini chat window. Simply attach JPEG or PNG files to your prompts and watch Gemini understand and respond to visual information. We’ve observed that images with strong color contrasts yield the best results.

    New “Attach Image File” icon in chat window

    1.1 New “Attach Image File” icon in chat window

    Example of multimodal response in chat

    1.2 Example multimodal response in chat

    We encourage you to experiment with various prompts and images. Here are a few compelling use cases to get you started:

      • Rapid UI prototyping and iteration: Convert a simple wireframe or high-fidelity mock of your app’s UI into working code.
      • Diagram explanation and documentation: Gain deeper insights into complex architecture or data flow diagrams by having Gemini explain their components and relationships.
      • UI troubleshooting: Capture screenshots of UI bugs and ask Gemini for solutions.

    Rapid UI prototyping and iteration

    Gemini’s multimodal support lets you convert visual designs into functional UI code. Simply upload your image and use a clear prompt. It works whether you’re working from your own sketches or from a designer mockup.

    Here’s an example prompt: “For this image provided, write Android Jetpack Compose code to make a screen that’s as close to this image as possible. Make sure to include imports, use Material3, and document the code.” And then you can append any specific or additional instructions related to the image.

    Example prompt: 'For this image provided, write Android Jetpack Compose code to make a screen that's as close to this image as possible. Make sure to include imports, use Material3, and document the code.'

    Example of generating Compose code from high-fidelity mock using Gemini in Android Studio

    2. Example of generating Compose code from high-fidelity mock using Gemini in Android Studio (code output)

    For more complex UIs, refine your prompts to capture specific functionality. For instance, when converting a calculator mockup, adding “make the interactions and calculations work as you’d expect” results in a fully functional calculator:

    Example prompt to convert a calculator mock up

    Example of generating Compose code from high-fidelity mock using Gemini in Android Studio

    3. Example of generating Compose code from wireframe via Gemini in Android Studio (code output)

    Note: this feature provides an initial design scaffold. It’s a good “first draft” and your edits and adjustments will be needed. Common refinements include ensuring correct drawable imports and importing icons. Consider the generated code a highly efficient starting point, accelerating your UI development workflow.

    Diagram explanation and documentation

    With Gemini’s multimodal capabilities, you can also try uploading an image of your diagram and ask for explanations or documentation.

    Example prompt: Upload the Now in Android architecture diagram and say “Explain the components and data flow in this diagram” or “Write documentation about this diagram”.

    Example of generating Compose code from high-fidelity mock using Gemini in Android Studio

    4. Example of asking Gemini to help document the NowInAndroid architecture diagram

    UI troubleshooting

    Leverage Gemini’s visual analysis to identify and resolve bugs quickly. Upload a screenshot of the problematic UI, and Gemini will analyze the image and suggest potential solutions. You can also include relevant code snippets for more precise assistance.

    In the example below, we used Compose UI check and found that the button is stretched too wide in tablet screens, so we took a screenshot and asked Gemini for solutions – it was able to leverage the window size classes to provide the right fix.

    Example of generating Compose code from high-fidelity mock using Gemini in Android Studio

    5. Example of fixing UI bugs using Image Attachment (code output)

    Download Android Studio today

    Download the latest Android Studio canary today to try the new multimodal features!

    As always, Google is committed to the responsible use of AI. Android Studio won’t send any of your source code to servers without your consent. You can read more on Gemini in Android Studio’s commitment to privacy.

    We appreciate any feedback on things you like or features you would like to see. If you find a bug, please report the issue and also check out known issues. Remember to also follow us on X, Medium, or YouTube for more Android development updates!





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  • Multimodal for Gemini in Android Studio, news for gaming devs, the latest devices at MWC, XR and more!



    Posted by Anirudh Dewani – Director, Android Developer Relations

    We just dropped our Winter episode of #TheAndroidShow, on YouTube and on developer.android.com, and this time we were in Barcelona to give you the latest from Mobile World Congress and across the Android Developer world. We unveiled a big update to Gemini in Android Studio (multi-modal support, so you can translate image to code) and we shared some news for games developers ahead of GDC later this month. Plus we unpacked the latest Android hardware devices from our partners coming out of Mobile World Congress and recapped all of the latest in Android XR. Let’s dive in!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Drt3YeIMuc

    Multimodality image-to-code, now available for Gemini in Android Studio

    At every stage of the development lifecycle, Gemini in Android Studio has become your AI-powered companion. Today, we took the wraps off a new feature: Gemini in Android Studio now supports multimodal image to code, which lets you attach images directly to your prompts! This unlocks a wealth of new possibilities that improve collaboration and design workflows. You can try out this new feature by downloading the latest canary – Android Studio Narwal, and read more about multimodal image attachment – now available for Gemini in Android Studio.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_6mtRWJzuc

    Building excellent games with better graphics and performance

    Ahead of next week’s Games Developer Conference (GDC), we announced new developer tools that will help improve gameplay across the Android ecosystem. We’re making Vulkan the official graphics API on Android, enabling you to build immersive visuals, and we’re enhancing the Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF) to help you deliver longer, more stable gameplay sessions. Learn more about how we’re building excellent games with better graphics and performance.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkkkwCEkO6I

    A deep dive into Android XR

    Since we unveiled Android XR in December, it’s been exciting to see developers preparing their apps for the next generation of Android XR devices. In the latest episode of #TheAndroidShow we dove into this new form factor and spoke with a developer who has already been building. Developing for this new platform leverages your existing Android development skills and familiar tools like Android Studio, Kotlin, and Jetpack libraries. The Android XR SDK Developer Preview is available now, complete with an emulator, so you can start experimenting and building XR experiences immediately! Visit developer.android.com/xr for more.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkKjMtBYwDA

    New Android foldables and tablets, at Mobile World Congress

    Mobile World Congress is a big moment for Android, with partners from around the world showing off their latest devices. And if you’re already building adaptive apps, we wanted to share some of the cool new foldable and tablets that our partners released in Barcelona:

      • OPPO: OPPO launched their Find N5, their slim 8.93mm foldable with a 8.12” large screen – making it as compact or expansive as needed.
      • Xiaomi: Xiaomi debuted the Xiaomi Pad 7 series. Xiaomi Pad 7 provides a crystal-clear display and, with the productivity accessories, users get a desktop-like experience with the convenience of a tablet.
      • Lenovo: Lenovo showcased their Yoga Tab Plus, the latest powerful tablet from their lineup designed to empower creativity and productivity.

    These new devices are a great reason to build adaptive apps that scale across screen sizes and device types. Plus, Android 16 removes the ability for apps to restrict orientation and resizability at the platform level, so you’ll want to prepare. To help you get started, the Compose Material 3 adaptive library enables you to quickly and easily create layouts across all screen sizes while reducing the overall development cost.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqkUQpsQ2QA

    Watch the Winter episode of #TheAndroidShow

    That’s a wrap on this quarter’s episode of #TheAndroidShow. A special thanks to our co-hosts for the Fall episode, Simona Milanović and Alejandra Stamato! You can watch the full show on YouTube and on developer.android.com/events/show.

    Have an idea for our next episode of #TheAndroidShow? It’s your conversation with the broader community, and we’d love to hear your ideas for our next quarterly episode – you can let us know on X or LinkedIn.





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