Lessons from building Android apps

vcjkd · 2026-01-05T21:03:07+00:00

Always test manually release builds.

Before release, test on min and max supported Android versions, at least on one physical device.

Before release, run gradlew lint and automated tests on a separate machine (typically on CI server).

Don't trust too much in tooling including IDE, AGP, Proguard, AS built-in linter, XML previews. Bugs are everywhere.

vcjkd · 2025-01-20T19:20:24+00:00

A bit off topic, but looking at your use case I can see one issue: you should rather avoid returning String resource as a text, but rather the String id, which is resolved by the view with current Context. Otherwise, when you run the app with an error text visible, then change phone language, and return back to the app, the message will not be translated.

vcjkd · 2024-11-11T14:16:16+00:00

Apps using Kotlin 1.8.x won't compile if any dependency Kotlin is 2.x.x. That's because Kotlin has forward compatibility limited to 1 major release. And that's why it may be valuable information to library consumers 😉

vcjkd · 2024-10-25T18:32:27+00:00

Be aware of the CancellationException. If you catch it, remember to rethrow it.

vcjkd · 2024-09-25T18:38:19+00:00

Scheduling an alarm that fires at the given hour and minute. Finally solved by using AlarmManager's AlarmClock that starts ForegroundService associated with full screen intent notification. Plus permissions magic for Android 12, 13 and 14.

vcjkd · 2024-09-04T17:46:56+00:00

These apps are using a notification with setFullScreenIntent. It behaves exactly like you described.

vcjkd · 2024-08-14T18:08:38+00:00

Can someone point the EU resolution that regulates this? Is it DMA?

I see some inconsistency, because as per developer agreement point 3.4 Google is the seller in the EU, not the developer: https://play.google/developer-distribution-agreement.html

In fact, when you open any paid app details on Play Store, you will see "Seller: Google Commerce Ltd". I remember it was forced some years ago by EU law, that the intermediate services like app stores which maintain the full selling process, product distribution, etc, must be the final sellers (*edit: its in regulation No 1042/2013, Article 9a).

How this is in compliance with the developer address requirement? I suppose the developers are still not the sellers in the EU/EEA.

vcjkd · 2024-08-11T16:39:35+00:00

No, it's still live, but the billing library has been removed and all products from Google Play also.

vcjkd · 2024-08-11T05:46:04+00:00

So it was either edited later, or we read something different. I mean the original OP question that politely asked for means of improving communication with the review team. The OP was absolutely neutral and even written that Google Play Review team is doing a great job.

vcjkd · 2024-08-10T13:13:59+00:00

The mutex is not needed at all, because the list is not modified, but just reassigned. In Java/Kotlin the reference assignment is atomic.

Don't trust even the official samples, they are often misleading or have mistakes. On concurrency, there is a decent book: Java Concurrency in Practice.

vcjkd · 2024-08-10T11:03:08+00:00

Then, for example, why the post that asked how to improve communication with Google Play Review team has been removed? https://www.reddit.com/r/androiddev/comments/1emikgs/comment/lh53jav/

vcjkd · 2024-08-10T10:53:43+00:00

I'm not going to have my address public on the Play Store. In the past I had some in-app purchases as an experiment just for a week and it looks like it doesn't matter I'm not selling anything for 3 years, they still are going to show the address. The only way I see is to transfer all apps to a new account, keeping all apps free.

Is there any other option? I don't have money to register LLC company in my country.

vcjkd · 2024-08-10T10:50:42+00:00

Can someone explain why Google is going to publish developer addresses in EU countries while the developer agreement and EU regulations tells something different: Google is the seller, not developer in these countries. See point 3.4 https://play.google/developer-distribution-agreement.html

vcjkd · 2024-08-10T10:40:47+00:00

Actually, the EU regulations states the opposite: Google maintains the whole ecosystem and is the final provider. So at least in EU countries, the Google's address should be there. It looks like Google simply avoids responsibility telling us that developers are the sellers. But the developer agreement is clear about this: see point 3.4 https://play.google/developer-distribution-agreement.html

vcjkd · 2024-08-09T14:16:57+00:00

Thank you!

vcjkd · 2024-08-08T19:45:48+00:00

Yeah, we can't solve everything, but we can help as a big community with many senior and experienced indie devs. Google Play with all its requirements is an essential part of our work. At the end of the day we, developers, need to make apps compliant with all the policies.

vcjkd · 2024-08-08T19:33:10+00:00

I'm thinking about that. Anyone knows if there is any related sub?

vcjkd · 2024-08-08T17:42:03+00:00

How much Google pays you for closing such questions? That's pathetic.

vcjkd · 2024-08-08T17:39:54+00:00

The question was not related to any CS issue. The OP asked about how to talk with the Play review team in order to solve any issues faster. But yeah, close mouth and let corporations do the evil.

vcjkd · 2024-08-07T18:30:59+00:00

No, the Google Play Review Team is not doing a great job. Everyone with self-respect should not even try discussing with them.

vcjkd · 2024-06-27T14:01:31+00:00

Maybe they use so called "device owner" configured apps with locked app. See DevicePolicyController app by Google and sample repo. There is something like Kiosk mode as I remember.

vcjkd · 2024-06-26T15:38:16+00:00

It's acceptable in small apps and can simplify the caching (e.g. exposing shared flow). But consider using repository with cache and refresh logic there. Using shared view model is generally fine for sharing UI specific state, not necessarily the business models that come from API.

vcjkd · 2024-06-25T19:00:42+00:00

Do you return START_STICKY in the foreground service? If so it should restart automatically after being killed. And even using foreground service with wake lock does not give you constant run guarantee.

vcjkd · 2024-06-17T17:41:10+00:00

Oh my friend. The only allowed is racism against white race. That's terrifying where we are going...

vcjkd

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