IssueTracker

Currently, creating an independent Android Library project for sharing code among independent apps is far too complex and error prone. The process involves manually editing multiple files (build.gradle.kts, settings.gradle.kts, libs.versions.toml) and requires a deep understanding of Gradle and version catalogs. After going back and forth with the Gemini AI for a couple of hours I gave up. I don't want to earn a PhD in Android Studio, Gradle, library versioning, etc. just to create a project with common code that can be referenced by other projects. I want to spend my time on my developing my apps instead.

This manual process is:

*   Time-consuming: It takes a significant amount of time to set up a library project correctly.
*   Error-prone: It's easy to make mistakes when manually editing these files, leading to build errors and frustration.
*   Not Intuitive: The current "New Module" approach is not clear enough for this common use case.
*   Poorly Documented: The need for a settings.gradle.kts file in an independent library project is not well-documented.

I propose adding a "New Android Library Project" or "Shared Project" option to Android Studio. This option would:

*   Create a properly configured library project from the start.
*   Set up the necessary files (build.gradle.kts, settings.gradle.kts, libs.versions.toml).
*   Enable version catalogs by default.
*   Provide a clear and intuitive way to create a library project.

I also propose adding an option to reference a shared project from a current one. This also involved manual editing which is time-consuming and error prone.

Benefits of this feature:

*   Reduced errors and frustration for developers.
*   Faster project setup.
*   Improved developer productivity.
*   Easier code sharing among independent projects.

Use Cases:

*   Creating a common UI library for multiple apps.
*   Creating a common networking library for multiple apps.
*   Creating a common utility library for multiple apps.

I recently tried to create an Android Library project and encountered significant difficulties due to the manual setup process. I believe this feature would greatly improve the Android development experience.

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Build: AI-242.23726.103.2422.12816248, 202412171833
AS: Ladybug Feature Drop | 2024.2.2
AI-242.23726.103.2422.12816248, JRE 21.0.4+-12508038-b607.1x64 JetBrains s.r.o., OS Windows 11(amd64) v10.0 , screens 3440x1440 (100%)
Android Gradle Plugin: 8.8.0
Gradle: 8.10.2
Gradle JDK: JetBrains Runtime 21.0.4
NDK: from local.properties: (not specified), latest from SDK: (not found)
CMake: from local.properties: (not specified), latest from SDK: (not found), from PATH: (not found)