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android-java skill

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This skill helps you bootstrap Android Java MVVM projects with ViewBinding, DI, and testing scaffolds for rapid feature development.

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---
name: android-java
description: Android Java development with MVVM, ViewBinding, and Espresso testing
---

# Android Java Skill

*Load with: base.md*

---

## Project Structure

```
project/
├── app/
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── main/
│   │   │   ├── java/com/example/app/
│   │   │   │   ├── data/           # Data layer
│   │   │   │   │   ├── local/      # Room database, SharedPreferences
│   │   │   │   │   ├── remote/     # Retrofit services, API clients
│   │   │   │   │   └── repository/ # Repository implementations
│   │   │   │   ├── di/             # Dependency injection (Hilt/Dagger)
│   │   │   │   ├── domain/         # Business logic
│   │   │   │   │   ├── model/      # Domain models
│   │   │   │   │   ├── repository/ # Repository interfaces
│   │   │   │   │   └── usecase/    # Use cases
│   │   │   │   ├── ui/             # Presentation layer
│   │   │   │   │   ├── feature/    # Feature screens
│   │   │   │   │   │   ├── FeatureActivity.java
│   │   │   │   │   │   ├── FeatureFragment.java
│   │   │   │   │   │   └── FeatureViewModel.java
│   │   │   │   │   └── common/     # Shared UI components
│   │   │   │   └── App.java        # Application class
│   │   │   ├── res/
│   │   │   │   ├── layout/
│   │   │   │   ├── values/
│   │   │   │   └── drawable/
│   │   │   └── AndroidManifest.xml
│   │   ├── test/                   # Unit tests
│   │   └── androidTest/            # Instrumentation tests
│   └── build.gradle
├── build.gradle                    # Project-level build file
├── gradle.properties
├── settings.gradle
└── CLAUDE.md
```

---

## Gradle Configuration

### App-level build.gradle
```groovy
plugins {
    id 'com.android.application'
}

android {
    namespace 'com.example.app'
    compileSdk 34

    defaultConfig {
        applicationId "com.example.app"
        minSdk 24
        targetSdk 34
        versionCode 1
        versionName "1.0"

        testInstrumentationRunner "androidx.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
    }

    buildTypes {
        release {
            minifyEnabled true
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android-optimize.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
        }
    }

    compileOptions {
        sourceCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_17
        targetCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_17
    }

    buildFeatures {
        viewBinding true
    }
}

dependencies {
    // AndroidX
    implementation 'androidx.core:core:1.12.0'
    implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.6.1'
    implementation 'com.google.android.material:material:1.11.0'
    implementation 'androidx.constraintlayout:constraintlayout:2.1.4'

    // Lifecycle
    implementation 'androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-viewmodel:2.7.0'
    implementation 'androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-livedata:2.7.0'

    // Testing
    testImplementation 'junit:junit:4.13.2'
    testImplementation 'org.mockito:mockito-core:5.8.0'
    androidTestImplementation 'androidx.test.ext:junit:1.1.5'
    androidTestImplementation 'androidx.test.espresso:espresso-core:3.5.1'
}
```

---

## Architecture Patterns

### MVVM with ViewModel
```java
// ViewModel - holds UI state, survives configuration changes
public class UserViewModel extends ViewModel {
    private final UserRepository repository;
    private final MutableLiveData<User> user = new MutableLiveData<>();
    private final MutableLiveData<Boolean> loading = new MutableLiveData<>(false);
    private final MutableLiveData<String> error = new MutableLiveData<>();

    public UserViewModel(UserRepository repository) {
        this.repository = repository;
    }

    public LiveData<User> getUser() {
        return user;
    }

    public LiveData<Boolean> isLoading() {
        return loading;
    }

    public LiveData<String> getError() {
        return error;
    }

    public void loadUser(String userId) {
        loading.setValue(true);
        repository.getUser(userId, new Callback<User>() {
            @Override
            public void onSuccess(User result) {
                user.setValue(result);
                loading.setValue(false);
            }

            @Override
            public void onError(String message) {
                error.setValue(message);
                loading.setValue(false);
            }
        });
    }
}
```

### Repository Pattern
```java
// Repository interface (domain layer)
public interface UserRepository {
    void getUser(String userId, Callback<User> callback);
    void saveUser(User user, Callback<Void> callback);
}

// Repository implementation (data layer)
public class UserRepositoryImpl implements UserRepository {
    private final UserApi api;
    private final UserDao dao;

    public UserRepositoryImpl(UserApi api, UserDao dao) {
        this.api = api;
        this.dao = dao;
    }

    @Override
    public void getUser(String userId, Callback<User> callback) {
        // Try cache first, then network
        User cached = dao.getUserById(userId);
        if (cached != null) {
            callback.onSuccess(cached);
            return;
        }
        api.getUser(userId).enqueue(new retrofit2.Callback<User>() {
            @Override
            public void onResponse(Call<User> call, Response<User> response) {
                if (response.isSuccessful() && response.body() != null) {
                    dao.insert(response.body());
                    callback.onSuccess(response.body());
                } else {
                    callback.onError("Failed to load user");
                }
            }

            @Override
            public void onFailure(Call<User> call, Throwable t) {
                callback.onError(t.getMessage());
            }
        });
    }
}
```

---

## Activity & Fragment Patterns

### Activity with ViewBinding
```java
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
    private ActivityMainBinding binding;
    private MainViewModel viewModel;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        binding = ActivityMainBinding.inflate(getLayoutInflater());
        setContentView(binding.getRoot());

        viewModel = new ViewModelProvider(this).get(MainViewModel.class);
        setupObservers();
        setupListeners();
    }

    private void setupObservers() {
        viewModel.getUser().observe(this, user -> {
            binding.userName.setText(user.getName());
        });

        viewModel.isLoading().observe(this, isLoading -> {
            binding.progressBar.setVisibility(isLoading ? View.VISIBLE : View.GONE);
        });
    }

    private void setupListeners() {
        binding.refreshButton.setOnClickListener(v -> {
            viewModel.loadUser(getCurrentUserId());
        });
    }

    @Override
    protected void onDestroy() {
        super.onDestroy();
        binding = null;
    }
}
```

### Fragment with ViewBinding
```java
public class UserFragment extends Fragment {
    private FragmentUserBinding binding;
    private UserViewModel viewModel;

    @Override
    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,
                             Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        binding = FragmentUserBinding.inflate(inflater, container, false);
        return binding.getRoot();
    }

    @Override
    public void onViewCreated(View view, Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onViewCreated(view, savedInstanceState);
        viewModel = new ViewModelProvider(requireActivity()).get(UserViewModel.class);
        setupObservers();
    }

    private void setupObservers() {
        viewModel.getUser().observe(getViewLifecycleOwner(), user -> {
            binding.userName.setText(user.getName());
        });
    }

    @Override
    public void onDestroyView() {
        super.onDestroyView();
        binding = null;  // Prevent memory leaks
    }
}
```

---

## Testing

### Unit Tests with JUnit & Mockito
```java
@RunWith(MockitoJUnitRunner.class)
public class UserViewModelTest {
    @Mock
    private UserRepository repository;

    @Rule
    public InstantTaskExecutorRule instantTaskExecutorRule = new InstantTaskExecutorRule();

    private UserViewModel viewModel;

    @Before
    public void setup() {
        viewModel = new UserViewModel(repository);
    }

    @Test
    public void loadUser_success_updatesUserLiveData() {
        // Arrange
        User expectedUser = new User("1", "John Doe");
        doAnswer(invocation -> {
            Callback<User> callback = invocation.getArgument(1);
            callback.onSuccess(expectedUser);
            return null;
        }).when(repository).getUser(eq("1"), any());

        // Act
        viewModel.loadUser("1");

        // Assert
        assertEquals(expectedUser, viewModel.getUser().getValue());
        assertFalse(viewModel.isLoading().getValue());
    }

    @Test
    public void loadUser_error_updatesErrorLiveData() {
        // Arrange
        doAnswer(invocation -> {
            Callback<User> callback = invocation.getArgument(1);
            callback.onError("Network error");
            return null;
        }).when(repository).getUser(eq("1"), any());

        // Act
        viewModel.loadUser("1");

        // Assert
        assertEquals("Network error", viewModel.getError().getValue());
        assertFalse(viewModel.isLoading().getValue());
    }
}
```

### Instrumentation Tests with Espresso
```java
@RunWith(AndroidJUnit4.class)
public class MainActivityTest {
    @Rule
    public ActivityScenarioRule<MainActivity> activityRule =
            new ActivityScenarioRule<>(MainActivity.class);

    @Test
    public void userName_isDisplayed() {
        onView(withId(R.id.userName))
                .check(matches(isDisplayed()));
    }

    @Test
    public void refreshButton_click_triggersRefresh() {
        onView(withId(R.id.refreshButton))
                .perform(click());

        onView(withId(R.id.progressBar))
                .check(matches(isDisplayed()));
    }

    @Test
    public void userList_scrollToItem_displaysCorrectly() {
        onView(withId(R.id.userList))
                .perform(RecyclerViewActions.scrollToPosition(10));

        onView(withText("User 10"))
                .check(matches(isDisplayed()));
    }
}
```

---

## GitHub Actions

```yaml
name: Android CI

on:
  push:
    branches: [main]
  pull_request:
    branches: [main]

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Set up JDK 17
        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
        with:
          java-version: '17'
          distribution: 'temurin'

      - name: Setup Gradle
        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@v3

      - name: Grant execute permission for gradlew
        run: chmod +x gradlew

      - name: Run Lint
        run: ./gradlew lint

      - name: Run Unit Tests
        run: ./gradlew testDebugUnitTest

      - name: Build Debug APK
        run: ./gradlew assembleDebug

      - name: Upload APK
        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
        with:
          name: debug-apk
          path: app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk

  instrumentation-tests:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Set up JDK 17
        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
        with:
          java-version: '17'
          distribution: 'temurin'

      - name: Enable KVM
        run: |
          echo 'KERNEL=="kvm", GROUP="kvm", MODE="0666", OPTIONS+="static_node=kvm"' | sudo tee /etc/udev/rules.d/99-kvm4all.rules
          sudo udevadm control --reload-rules
          sudo udevadm trigger --name-match=kvm

      - name: Run Instrumentation Tests
        uses: reactivecircus/android-emulator-runner@v2
        with:
          api-level: 29
          script: ./gradlew connectedDebugAndroidTest
```

---

## Lint Configuration

### lint.xml
```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<lint>
    <!-- Treat these as errors -->
    <issue id="HardcodedText" severity="error" />
    <issue id="MissingTranslation" severity="error" />
    <issue id="UnusedResources" severity="warning" />

    <!-- Memory leak detection -->
    <issue id="StaticFieldLeak" severity="error" />

    <!-- Security -->
    <issue id="HardcodedDebugMode" severity="error" />
    <issue id="AllowBackup" severity="warning" />

    <!-- Performance -->
    <issue id="ViewHolder" severity="error" />
    <issue id="Overdraw" severity="warning" />

    <!-- Ignore for tests -->
    <issue id="InvalidPackage">
        <ignore path="**/test/**" />
        <ignore path="**/androidTest/**" />
    </issue>
</lint>
```

### build.gradle lint options
```groovy
android {
    lint {
        abortOnError true
        warningsAsErrors false
        checkReleaseBuilds true
        xmlReport true
        htmlReport true
    }
}
```

---

## Common Patterns

### Null-Safe Callbacks
```java
// Define callback interface
public interface Callback<T> {
    void onSuccess(T result);
    void onError(String message);
}

// Use with null checks
public void fetchData(Callback<Data> callback) {
    if (callback == null) return;

    try {
        Data result = performFetch();
        callback.onSuccess(result);
    } catch (Exception e) {
        callback.onError(e.getMessage());
    }
}
```

### Safe Context Usage
```java
// Use application context for long-lived objects
public class DataManager {
    private final Context appContext;

    public DataManager(Context context) {
        // Always use application context to prevent Activity leaks
        this.appContext = context.getApplicationContext();
    }
}

// Check for null context in callbacks
private void updateUI() {
    Context context = getContext();
    if (context == null || !isAdded()) return;
    // Safe to use context
}
```

### Thread-Safe Singleton
```java
public class ApiClient {
    private static volatile ApiClient instance;
    private final Retrofit retrofit;

    private ApiClient() {
        retrofit = new Retrofit.Builder()
                .baseUrl(BASE_URL)
                .addConverterFactory(GsonConverterFactory.create())
                .build();
    }

    public static ApiClient getInstance() {
        if (instance == null) {
            synchronized (ApiClient.class) {
                if (instance == null) {
                    instance = new ApiClient();
                }
            }
        }
        return instance;
    }
}
```

---

## Android Anti-Patterns

- ❌ **Context leaks** - Never hold Activity/Fragment references in static fields or singletons
- ❌ **Memory leaks in callbacks** - Always use WeakReference or clear callbacks in onDestroy
- ❌ **UI updates on background thread** - Always post to main thread for UI changes
- ❌ **Hardcoded strings** - Use string resources for all user-visible text
- ❌ **God Activities** - Keep Activities under 200 lines, extract logic to ViewModels
- ❌ **NetworkOnMainThreadException** - Never perform network calls on main thread
- ❌ **Ignoring lifecycle** - Always respect Activity/Fragment lifecycle states
- ❌ **Blocking the main thread** - Keep main thread operations under 16ms
- ❌ **Not handling configuration changes** - Use ViewModel to survive rotation
- ❌ **Hardcoded dimensions** - Use dp/sp units and dimension resources
- ❌ **Deep view hierarchies** - Keep layout depth under 10 levels, use ConstraintLayout
- ❌ **Not closing resources** - Always close Cursor, InputStream, database connections

Overview

This skill provides an opinionated Android Java project starter focused on MVVM, ViewBinding, and Espresso testing. It emphasizes a security-first, spec-driven layout with clear separation between data, domain, and UI layers. Included are Gradle configuration, lint rules, CI workflows, and common safety patterns to ship reliable apps quickly.

How this skill works

I scaffold a project structure that separates app, data, domain, and UI concerns and configures Gradle for Java 17, ViewBinding, and AndroidX lifecycle components. The pattern uses ViewModel + Repository for state and data flow, Room/Retrofit for local/remote sources, and Espresso + JUnit/Mockito for instrumentation and unit tests. CI runs lint, unit tests, builds APKs, and can execute instrumentation tests on an emulator.

When to use it

  • Starting a new Android Java app with MVVM architecture
  • Bootstrapping apps that require test automation (unit + Espresso)
  • Projects requiring strict lint and security checks early
  • Teams that want a reproducible CI pipeline for builds and tests
  • When you need clear patterns for repositories, DI, and ViewBinding

Best practices

  • Keep UI state in ViewModel and observe LiveData from Activities/Fragments
  • Use repository pattern: prefer cache-first, then network, and persist successful responses
  • Enable ViewBinding and null-out binding in onDestroyView/onDestroy to prevent leaks
  • Use application context for long-lived singletons to avoid Activity leaks
  • Treat critical lint issues as errors and enforce in CI for security and performance

Example use cases

  • Mobile product teams initializing a secure, testable Java Android app scaffold
  • Developers writing features using ViewModel and repository abstractions for testability
  • QA teams automating UI checks with Espresso in CI
  • Maintaining apps that need strict linting and deterministic build outputs
  • Prototyping network + cache flows with Retrofit and Room

FAQ

Does this require Kotlin or can I use Java only?

This skill targets Java-first projects. It configures Java 17 compatibility and AndroidX libraries; you can add Kotlin later if needed.

How are tests wired into CI?

CI runs lint, unit tests, and builds the debug APK. Instrumentation tests run on an emulator job using an Android emulator runner and upload artifacts for inspection.