--- name: android-cli description: Orchestrates Android development tasks including project creation, deployment, SDK management, and environment diagnostics using the `android` command-line tool. --- # 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. ## Prerequisites This skill assumes the `android` CLI is already installed and on `PATH`. If `android --version` fails, install the CLI first (consult its official documentation for the install method appropriate to your platform), then re-run the failing command. ## SDK management To manage the installation of Android SDKs and tools, use the `sdk` command. For example: - `android sdk install [@]...`: Install specific packages. Multiple packages can be specified, separated by spaces. `` defaults to latest. For example: `android sdk install platforms/android-30@2 platforms/android-34` - `android sdk update []`: Update a specific package or all packages to the latest version. - `android sdk remove `: 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 inspecting on-screen UI and driving taps, swipes, and text input from element coordinates, use the **`verify-android-layout`** skill — it covers the JSON shape returned by `android layout`, `--diff` for iteration loops, and the full `adb shell input` workflow. Use **`verify-android-screen`** when a screenshot is required (WebView, animation, visual fidelity). ## Running journey tests For more information on running journeys, see [here](references/journeys.md) ## 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 ## Verifying UI state Two skills cover Android UI verification — pick based on what you need to check: - **`verify-android-layout`** — default for almost everything. Uses `android layout` to get a structured JSON tree of the on-screen UI (text, resource ids, bounds, state, interactions). Cheaper and more precise than a screenshot. Use `--diff` in iteration loops to get only what changed. - **`verify-android-screen`** — fallback for WebView content, animations, visual fidelity (colors, fonts, image content), or finding elements by appearance via `android screen capture --annotate`. Reach for `verify-android-layout` first; only escalate to `verify-android-screen` when JSON can't answer the question. ## Managing skills Manage antigravity agent skills for Android using the `android skills` command. ## 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 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