Android CLI: Build Android apps 3x faster using any agent

(android-developers.googleblog.com)

79 points | by ingve 4 hours ago

9 comments

  • user2722 2 hours ago
    Agents will allow human programmers to get what they've been begging for decades now: proper requirements and flexible, logical, tooling.
    • rtpg 42 minutes ago
      this has been my sort of big tent alignment with AI people. If I'm getting good CLI tooling that _actually works_ (or fixes to existing ones that have been busted forever) then I'm pretty happy.

      Things that make systems more understandable to the LLMs ... usually make things more understandable for humans as well. Usually.

      The biggest issue I've found is that vibed up tooling tends to be pretty bad at having the right kind of "sense" for what makes good CLI UX. So you still have awkward argument structures or naming. Better than nothing though

    • bayarearefugee 2 hours ago
      > Agents will allow human programmers to get what they've been begging for decades now: proper requirements and flexible, logical, tooling.

      ...and once this goal is finally reached the programmer will breathe a sigh of relief and then promptly be fired since now the machine can do the job as well as they could.

    • risyachka 48 minutes ago
      The tooling in 2026 is so easy you can do almost anything without AI very very quickly.
  • sunaookami 2 hours ago
    >Google collects usage data for the Android CLI, such as commands, sub-commands, and flags used. This data does not include custom parameters or identifiable information. This information helps improve the tool and is collected in accordance with Google's Privacy Policy.

    >https://policies.google.com/privacy

    >Disable Android CLI metrics collection by using the --no-metrics flag.

    No thanks, is there no env variable for this? Doesn't Google have enough data already?

    • gowld 1 hour ago
      Android CLI can write a tool that wraps android-cli and automatically passes the flag based on an env variable.

      How would Google have enough data about a brand new product without collecting that data?

      • tredre3 27 minutes ago
        > How would Google have enough data about a brand new product without collecting that data?

        They wouldn't. But on the other hand, they probably have a large amount of in-house Android app developers on whom they can conduct such metrics collection. I wouldn't expect outsiders to have vastly different workflows, because when you get out of the happy path with Android all you get is pain.

  • antirez 1 hour ago
    Let's see if even mid/big companies with tons of resources, with AI and the right tooling will continue to write webview-apps or, even worse, use some kind of multi target wrapper.
  • agentifysh 36 minutes ago
    Flutter CLI is what we really need but this is a welcome addition.
  • whstl 53 minutes ago
    I wish the same thing existed for Apple.

    Everything I do for macOS/iOS is already without Xcode but it's a pain in the ass to keep up with changes, and there are things I haven't figured out yet (like AUv3).

  • iririririr 1 hour ago
    > Your agents perform best when they have a lightweight, programmatic interface to interact with the Android SDK and development environment.

    F you google. Me too. Why didn't we get a sane way to build android apps before you had to please chatbots?

    • bitpush 44 minutes ago
      Damned if you do. Damned if you dont.
  • OutOfHere 2 hours ago
    But can I publish an app without having to share my ID? I want an ecosystem that doesn't require it.
    • nout 12 minutes ago
      Zapstore or Obtanium...
    • Flavius 1 hour ago
      Absolutely not. That would be crazy.
  • Evidlo 2 hours ago
    Now please let us install the apps just as easily
    • stronglikedan 1 hour ago
      downloading an APK and opening it is already about as easy as it gets. the only thing easier would be for someone else to do it for you
      • throwaway81523 49 minutes ago
        You're forgetting the installation ("sideloading", what everyone else calls installation) restrictions they are about to deploy. It will be a significant hassle to install anything without Google's approval. Many F-droid apps are showing warning notices about this upcoming change.
  • kdhaskjdhadjk 2 hours ago
    [flagged]
    • rafram 2 hours ago
      What does this have to do with the Android CLI?
      • kdhaskjdhadjk 2 hours ago
        [flagged]
        • AnimalMuppet 1 hour ago
          Since rafram is not the only one confused, yes, you really do.
          • rvz 56 minutes ago
            It isn't that hard to understand:

            > Just wait until there are entire classes of vulnerabilities related to LLM usage

            This is a valid concern.

            There are going to be a new class of vulnerabilities which an LLM is involved which are going to be discovered and it will make it possible to cause catastrophic damage to a company; very easily.

            This won't be surprising since we have companies building casual remote code execution tools for "agents" waiting to be hijacked.

            • AnimalMuppet 39 minutes ago
              I understand that. What about that relates specifically to the Android CLI? That was rafram's question, and mine, and as far as I can tell still hasn't been answered.

              I mean, I guess if you're going to say "don't use LLMs", then you also don't want to let agents use the Android CLI, but it seems like raising an awfully general concern in a discussion about a very specific article.

    • vlapec 2 hours ago
      That probably depends on how good 2026-era LLMs already are. But I hope you’re right, and that pre-AI devs will still make a real difference.