Android Developers Backstage

Join hosts Tor and Romain as they sit down with Søren Gjesse, Chris Craik, and Shai Barack. This week, the team dives into R8, the whole-program optimizer that handles the "last mile" of your code before it runs on a device. Learn why implementing R8 is effectively like giving your users a "free hardware upgrade" by making their current devices perform like models that are years newer. Enable app optimization → https://goo.gle/R8-Optimizer Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 0:23 - What is R8? 1:16 - R8 vs D8 1:40 - Tree Shaking & Dead Code 4:14 - Handling Reflection 10:10 - Performance Co-Optimization 13:03 - Kotlin-Specific Gains 16:22 - Real-World Impact 41:50 - Jetpack Compose & R8 50:51 - Keep annotations 1:03:49 - The "Free Hardware Upgrade"

Join hosts Tor, Chet, and Romain as they sit down with Diego Perez (Android Studio) and Patrick Fuentes (Developer Relations) to explore the new frontiers of Android XR. This episode of Android Developers Backstage breaks down the latest announcements and Developer Preview 3, offering a technical look at how developers can start building for spatial environments today. Resources: Hello Android XR sample → https://goo.gle/3Nbnrre Build for AI Glasses with the Android XR SDK Developer Preview 3 → https://goo.gle/49lUjGr Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 4:42 - Latest announcements 5:46 - AI Glasses 8:28 -Developer preview 3 16:13 - Spatialization 18:29 - Tools team perspective 24:07 - Using the XR Emulator 29:00 - What is an Orbiter? 37:33 - What hardware is currently available 38:39 - Final thoughts

In this episode Tor and Chet chat with Raluca Saucic and Eugene Yakavets about the new "Bring Your Own Model" feature in Android Studio which allows using other models than Gemini for agent mode, including models from Anthropic, OpenAI, and more. We also discuss using local models via Ollama and LM Studio. Resources: Use a remote model → https://goo.gle/43N2Z5E Use a local model → https://goo.gle/3Xij27V Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 0:49 - Bring your own model 4:13 - Bring your own key 7:24 - Anthropic model 13:17- How often do you need to remind the model of the context? 17:40 - Thinking vs planning 20:25 - What happens when the API needs to give multiple answers to a complex question? 24:14 - Supported models 31:18 - Are there any barriers when using a different model? 34:07 - Support for code completion 38:16 - GitHub's relationship with agents 44:35 - Using agents for development 56:36 - Studiobot 57:56 - Wrap up

Adarsh Fernando, a Product Manager leading the Journeys initiative, and Ray Buse, a Software Engineer on Core Developer, unveil an AI-driven approach to simplify UI testing in Android Studio. They discuss how Journeys converts natural language into test scripts, significantly easing the testing process. Real-world applications like Google Maps showcase its potential, while the integration with Gemini powers intelligent interactions. The duo emphasizes the platform's future, inviting developers to explore and provide feedback on this innovative testing solution.

Raz Dev and Nahid Vora join to delve into Android's new developer verification program, aimed at bolstering user safety against malware and scams. They explore the importance of tying apps to verified identities, reducing impersonation risks, and how the Play Store's successful model is expanding across the entire Android ecosystem. With insights into limited-distribution accounts and the trade-offs between anonymity and safety, they emphasize that accountability is key when publishing apps. Developers are urged to engage early in the verification process.

Explore the world of Autofill in UI development and the magic of Compose! Delve into how semantics enhance user interaction and the integration of autofill capabilities with traditional views. Discover the intricate mechanics behind seamless autofill features and how they handle user inputs like dropdowns. Hear about the frustrations of password management with legacy software and how Jetpack Compose is simplifying Android development. Get ready for a future of improved usability and performance in autofill solutions!

Join Alon Albert from the Android Studio team, Graham Hinchley from Product Management, and Piyush Meirotra, who specializes in Android backup, as they dive into the challenges of backing up and restoring Android devices. They discuss common user frustrations and the evolution of testing environments, from scripts to automated systems. The trio also explores data management practices, cloud limitations, and the importance of tailored backup strategies that enhance user experience while transitioning between devices.

Siva Velusamy from the Android Studio team and Sandhya Mohan, a Product Manager, dive deep into the evolution of Studio Bot, Gemini. They share exciting updates from Google I/O 2025, including AI's transformative role in every development phase. The duo discusses new features like automated unit test generation and the Prompt Library's enhancements, emphasizing user privacy. They also explore Gemini Insights for improving app quality and the balance between AI functionality and human oversight in the development process.

Dustin Lam, a software engineer specializing in Kotlin Multiplatform, and Yigit Boyar from the Android Toolkit team share their insights on this innovative technology. They discuss the evolution of Kotlin Multiplatform and how it compares to frameworks like React Native. Challenges in file handling are addressed, including the nuances of migrating apps and ensuring compatibility. The duo also highlights how Google products are incorporating KMP, emphasizing performance and cross-platform functionality. Engaging with the developer community is key for driving improvements.

Join Theresa Khuu, a product marketer for trust and safety in the Android ecosystem, and Naheed Vora, a product manager focused on growth, as they explore the crucial topic of app safety. They discuss Google's protective measures against malicious code and the rigorous evaluation processes apps undergo to safeguard user data. Delving into compliance, data practices, and the challenge of balancing user privacy with app functionality, the conversation highlights the significant strides towards building a more secure and trustworthy app environment.