Ways to Develop Your Android Applications in a Modular Manner

Introduction

Developing, maintaining, and updating large and complex Android applications can be quite challenging. Android modularization is a strategy used to alleviate these challenges and provide a more effective development process. This article will guide you in understanding the concept of Android modularization and how to apply it to your application.

What is Modularization and Why is it Important?

Android modularization is a development approach that aims to divide an application into independent and manageable parts. These parts usually provide specific functionality and are independent of each other. The main advantages of modularization are:

• Cleaner and Organized Code: Each module focuses on its responsibility, making your code more understandable and organized.

• Independent Development: Modules can be developed and tested independently. This allows your team to work in parallel.

• Reusability: Modules can be easily reused in other projects or applications.

Creating a Module with Android Studio

1. Adding a New Module

Creating a Module in Android Studio:

• In Android Studio, select ‘File’ -> ‘New’ -> ‘New Module’.

• Choose a suitable option such as ‘Phone & Tablet Module’ or ‘Wear OS Module’.

• Complete the necessary steps to create the module.

Module Configuration:

• Each module will have its own build.gradle file. Add the necessary dependencies and settings to this file.

• In the main project, include the modules by editing the main build.gradle file.

2. Inter-Module Dependencies

Adding Dependencies:

• Add dependencies to enable data and functionality sharing between modules.

• For example, if the :app module needs the :network module, add the following dependency in the build.gradle file of the :app module:

Synchronizing the Project:

• After adding the dependency, synchronize the project.

Packaging and Distributing Modular Apps

Independent Development and Testing:

• Develop and test each module independently. This allows team members to work in parallel and speeds up the development process.

Packaging Modules:

• You can package and distribute your modules independently. For example, you can develop and combine modules with different features such as a content provider module, a user interface module, and a database module in a single project.

Naming and Organizing Modules

Descriptive Naming:

• Name your modules descriptively and meaningfully. Each module should have a name that reflects the core functionality of your project.

Logical Folder Structure:

• Create a logical folder structure and organize the modules accordingly. For example:

Using Dynamic Delivery

Dynamic Delivery allows users to download only the parts of your application they need, reducing the application size and improving the user experience. By using Google Play Dynamic Delivery, you can distribute your application in modules.

Requirements for Dynamic Delivery

1. Preparing the Modular Structure:

Divide your application into smaller, independent modules. For example:

• Feature Modules: Modules that perform a specific function.

• Base Module: The module containing the core components of the application.

2. Gradle Configuration:

• Configure the build.gradle file of each module.

• Add the following dependencies in the build.gradle file of your application module:

3. Editing AndroidManifest.xml:

• Edit the AndroidManifest.xml file of each module. Add the <dist:module> element in the manifest file of your feature modules:

4. Play Console Settings:

• Upload your application to the Google Play Console.

• In the Dynamic Delivery Settings section in the Play Console, define and configure your modules.

Advantages of Dynamic Delivery

• Smaller Application Size: Users download only the modules they need, reducing the overall size of your application.

• Faster Download and Installation: A smaller application size results in faster download and installation.

• Flexible Updates: You can update and distribute modules independently.

Conclusion

Android modularization and Dynamic Delivery are powerful tools for organizing and managing the development process in large-scale projects. A modular approach increases collaboration within the team, makes your code more sustainable, and helps optimize your application’s performance. With Dynamic Delivery, you can improve user experience by reducing the application size and allowing for faster and more flexible updates. This guide aims to help you understand and implement modular development and Dynamic Delivery concepts in your project.

By following these steps, you can make your Android application more manageable, sustainable, and user-friendly. If you need further assistance on a specific topic, don’t hesitate to ask!