Automatically Building Native Code into Android Studio Project and Exporting to GitHub

When developing an Android app that requires native code integration, it's essential to understand how to efficiently manage the process of building and exporting these components. In this article, we'll explore the steps to automatically build native code into your Android Studio project and export it to GitHub.

To begin with, you need to ensure that your project is set up correctly for native code development. After building the module, navigate to `build/outputs/aar/*.aar` to verify that the `jni/ /*.so` files are present. This indicates that the build process was successful.

For ease of management, create a folder named `jniLibs` under `src/main`. This will enable you to add so files into an AAR file more efficiently.

To create a basic AAR file, follow these steps:

1. Click on 'File' > 'New' > 'New Module' and select 'Android Library'.

2. Compare the ADL files and notice that the plugin name for an AAR file is '' (a space), whereas the plugin name for an application is ''. This difference is crucial when distributing your library.

I prefer providing AAR files for distribution since they are simple ZIP files that include so files, jar files, and other resources. When developing third-party libraries or SDKs for Android development, you can build so files, jar files, or AAR files to ensure seamless integration with your project.

In conclusion, automating the process of building native code into your Android Studio project and exporting it to GitHub is a straightforward process. By following these steps and tips, you'll be able to efficiently manage your native code components and distribute them easily for others to use.

Export android studio project to github