Learn how to develop, free and pro versions of your applications. How to perform debug only configurations and how to use Build Variants in your day to day Android Development.

1. UNDERSTANDING
ANDROID
BUILD
VARIANTS

2. Donn Felker
@donnfelker
4 Time Android Book Author
Co-Host of Fragmented
Podcast
donnfelker.com | caster.io

3. BUILD VARIANTS
ALL UP IN YOUR GRILL

4. Create Flexible
Runtime
Environments
LIKE WHOA

5. No, for real, what are they?
Build variants allow you to quickly create
different versions of your app from the same
source code. Kinda.

6. Build variants
facilitate
composability within
the Android build
system.

7. Yo, wheres the
CODE?!?!
here: github.com/casterio

8. simple example
Creating a debug package
branch: debug-suffix

9. Crazy, I know.
Ok, it's not really that impressive.

10. app-debug.apkmore like lame-debug.apk
lets fix that
branch: change-app-name

11. WickedCool-debug.apk
Much better.
Moving on ...

12. Mmm Product Flavors
Free and Pro Versions

13. Why do I need free
and pro versions?

14. Some people like to watch their money

15. Nah, I'm kidding.
Its about exposure
and conversions

17. We all love free stuff.
If you like it, first
ones on the house.
AKA: Trials (aka: drug dealer model)

18. Free and Paid
Versions
branch: product-flavors

19. I know, right?
Ok, maybe just a little

20. Android Manifest
Values
Update the manifest at build
time with the manifest merger
branch: manifest-placeholders

22. Release / Debug
Composability

23. Say what?
Debug only logging/etc
Release only Crashlytics Logging

25. Custom Resources!
Different layouts,
icons, etc at runtime
branch: custom-resources

27. There is a lot more,
but that should get
you going in the right
direction.

28. @donnfelker
thanks