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.

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 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

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