Android CLI Specialist
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.
Installation
If the android tool is not in the path, install it. To install run the following command:
Linux: curl -fsSL https://dl.google.com/android/cli/latest/linux_x86_64/install.sh | bash
Mac Arm: curl -fsSL https://dl.google.com/android/cli/latest/darwin_arm64/install.sh | bash
Mac Intel: curl -fsSL https://dl.google.com/android/cli/latest/darwin_x86_64/install.sh | bash
Windows: curl -fsSL https://dl.google.com/android/cli/latest/windows_x86_64/install.cmd -o "%TEMP%\i.cmd" && "%TEMP%\i.cmd"
SDK management
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.
Project creation
Create projects from templates using the create command.
For example: android create empty-activity --name="My App" --output=./my-app
Interacting with devices
For more information on interacting with running devices, see here
Running journey tests
For more information on running journeys, see here
Doc searching
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:
- Finding migration guides for APIs.
- Finding examples for APIs.
- Finding up-to-date information about Android APIs.
- Finding best practices for Android concepts.
Running APKs
Use the run command to run Android apps.
Managing emulators
Manage Android Virtual Devices (AVDs) using the android emulator command
Capturing screenshots
Capture an image of the current screen of a connected Android device and output it to a file using the android screenshot command.
Managing skills
Manage antigravity agent skills for Android using the android skills command.
Inspecting UI Layouts
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.
Updating the CLI
Update the Android CLI using the android update command.
android help output
Usage: 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
studio Android Studio commands
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 <field>
Print environment information (SDK Location, etc.)
<field> 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
studio
Usage: android studio [-h] [COMMAND]
Android Studio commands
-h, --help Show this help message and exit.
Commands:
find-declaration Find declaration of a symbol
find-usages Find usages of a symbol
open-file Open a file in Android Studio
check Check the status of running Studio instances
analyze-file Analyze a file in Android Studio
render-compose-preview Render a Compose preview in Android Studio
version-lookup Looks up the latest available versions on the
internet of maven artifacts, Android versions, and
more.
update
Usage: android update [--url=PARAM]
Update the Android CLI
--url=PARAM The URL to download the update from