IssueTracker

Library version used: 1.7.0-rc01 Devices/Android versions reproduced on: Any standard AAOS emulator without Google Automotive Services Sample app used: https://github.com/android/car-samples (Navigation) Android Auto version reproduced on: N/A

Considering that the AOSP Template Host has been unbundled (https://source.android.com/docs/automotive/hmi/aosp_host), the current implementation of ErrorMessageView (https://cs.android.com/androidx/platform/frameworks/support/+/androidx-main:car/app/app-automotive/src/main/java/androidx/car/app/activity/ui/ErrorMessageView.java), which is tightly coupled with the GAS ecosystem, makes the user experience inconsistent across AOSP environments.

Play Store's package name

private static final String VENDING_PACKAGE = "com.android.vending";

Specific redirect to the Play Store

private static final String VENDING_DETAIL_URL =
        "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=";

Google's Template Host

    // TODO(b/194324567): Remove the hard coded Google templates host package name
    private static final String HOST_PACKAGE = "com.google.android.apps.automotive.templates.host";

Running the Navigation sample app from https://github.com/android/car-samples will produce an inconsistent behavior comparing an Android Automotive Open Source ecosystem and GAS.

On an Android Automotive Open Source ecosystem, disabling the AOSP Template Host, we will get the following error message.

See image attached - AOSP_PLEASE_CONTACT_CAR_SERVICES.png

String from: https://cs.android.com/androidx/platform/frameworks/support/+/androidx-main:car/app/app-automotive/src/main/res/values/strings.xml;l=43

<string name="error_message_no_vending">Please contact car services</string>

On a GAS environment, without the Play Store, the user is prompted to check for updates.

See image attached - GAS_CHECK_FOR_UPDATESA.png

Attempting to "Check for updates" will result in a crash because the Play Store is not installed on the system.

2025-02-11 14:27:05.563  6217-6217  AndroidRuntime          androidx.car.app.sample.navigation   E  FATAL EXCEPTION: main
      Process: androidx.car.app.sample.navigation, PID: 6217
      android.content.ActivityNotFoundException: No Activity found to handle Intent { act=android.intent.action.VIEW dat=https://play.google.com/... pkg=com.android.vending }
      	at android.app.Instrumentation.checkStartActivityResult(Instrumentation.java:2200)
      	at android.app.Instrumentation.execStartActivity(Instrumentation.java:1839)
      	at android.app.Activity.startActivityForResult(Activity.java:5507)
      	at androidx.activity.ComponentActivity.startActivityForResult(ComponentActivity.java:584)
      	at android.app.Activity.startActivityForResult(Activity.java:5465)
      	at androidx.activity.ComponentActivity.startActivityForResult(ComponentActivity.java:570)
      	at android.app.Activity.startActivity(Activity.java:5963)
      	at android.app.Activity.startActivity(Activity.java:5930)
      	at androidx.car.app.activity.ui.ErrorMessageView.onClick(ErrorMessageView.java:122)
      	at androidx.car.app.activity.ui.ErrorMessageView.lambda$onFinishInflate$0$androidx-car-app-activity-ui-ErrorMessageView(ErrorMessageView.java:92)
      	at androidx.car.app.activity.ui.ErrorMessageView$$ExternalSyntheticLambda0.onClick(D8$$SyntheticClass:0)
      	at android.view.View.performClick(View.java:7542)

This raises a few concerns:

• Is there a specific reason why this functionality is part of the Android for Cars library rather than the AOSP Template Host? This creates a hard dependency on the Play Store.

  • With this approach, validation wouldn't be feasible in environments where the Host isn't available. However, the need to update the Host and the absence of the Host could be decoupled from the action defined by UPDATE_HOST (currently, "Redirect the user to the 'vending application' (e.g., Google Play Store)").

• If there is a specific reason this must be handled on the library side, the market intents and the acquisition of the Host's package name should be standardized to better support AOSP use cases.

  • In scenarios where the Host is available and connected, shouldn't the Host's package name be acquired through https://developer.android.com/reference/androidx/car/app/HostInfo#getPackageName()?
  • Instead of redirecting the user to the Play Store, consider standardizing App Market intents; for example, via https://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Intent?hl=en#CATEGORY_APP_MARKET.

• Are there any plans to remove this hard dependency and allow the Host to control the redirect? This seems to have been a concern, at least partially, since version 1.3.0.

Comment from: https://cs.android.com/androidx/platform/frameworks/support/+/androidx-main:car/app/app-automotive/src/main/java/androidx/car/app/activity/ui/ErrorMessageView.java;l=62

// TODO(b/194324567): Remove the hard coded Google templates host package name