Better Android Development with Kotlin and Gradle

In this talk, Ty will walk you through setting up and using Kotlin with Gradle to streamline your workflow for Android development, both within the build tool phase and within the application itself. After a brief overview of Kotlin, we’ll dive into how it can be used with Gradle to accelerate Android Development with a consistent language.

Transcript

1. Better Android Development with Kotlin and Gradle Ty Smith @tsmith
2. But I like Java! • We're stuck in a Java purgatory • Error prone Code (no non-capturing anonymous inner classes) • General Java language restrictions @tsmith
3. How about Groovy? • Groovy is dynamic • Harder for IDEs to parse and infer • Won't ever be consistent with Android @tsmith
4. What is Kotlin? • Built by Jetbrains and Open Source • Official Gradle support • Java 6 bytecode compatible • Small standard library (625kb) • Statically typed with no runtime overhead • Modern Language @tsmith
5. How can Kotlin help today? • Reduce common errors • Reduce boilerplate • Improve Android API • Can achieve consistency in the app and build @tsmith
6. Kotlin Features Higher-order functions, properties, mixins and delegation, extension functions, static nullability checking, automatic casts, reified generics, declaration- site variance, modules and build infrastructure, inline- functions (zero-overhead closures), operator overloading, String interpolation, pattern matching, first class IDE support with Java converter, default parameters, infix methods, and more... @tsmith
7. Nullability "I call it my billion-dollar mistake... [which] has led to innumerable errors, vulnerabilities, and system crashes, which have probably caused a billion dollars of pain and damage in the last forty years." — Sir Charles Antony Richard Hoare @tsmith
8. Nullability var a: String = "foo" //Reversed Type and name a = null //Compilation error @tsmith
9. Nullability var b: String? = "bar" b = null //ok val l = b.length //Compilation error @tsmith
10. Nullability val l = b?.length //Value null //With a default value val l = if (b != null) b.length else -1 //Value -1 //or with the Elvis operator val l = b?.length ?: -1 //Value -1 @tsmith
11. Properties class User(var name: String) { ... } fun setName(name: String): User { val user = User() // there's no 'new' keyword in Kotlin user.name = "Ty" //This is using a method, not a field return user } @tsmith
12. Properties class User { var name: String = ... get() = name // Can declare methods inline set(value) { name = value().toLowerCase() } } @tsmith
13. Data class data class User(name: String) { } • equals() and hashCode() • toString() of the form "User(name=John)", • copy() @tsmith
14. Function Literal (Lambda) Undeclared function bodies used as an expression (ie, as data). val sum: (Int, Int) -> Int = {x, y -> x+y } val anAnswer = sum(6,7) //Variable type is inferred //Or use "it" to get the inferred parameter val double: (Int) -> Int = {it*2} val theAnswer = double(21) @tsmith
15. Higher Order Functions A higher-order function is a function that takes functions as parameters, or returns a function fun apply(one: Int, two: Int, func: (Int, Int) -> Int) = func(one, two) //Kotlin has great generic support to simplify this too! val multiply = apply(6, 7) {x, y -> x * y} val difference = apply(44, 2) {x, y -> x -y} @tsmith
16. Extension Functions Functions added to a type without modifying the original. fun Int.differenceFromTheAnswer(): Int { return 42 - this } //Or the Single Expression Function version fun Int.differenceFromTheAnswer(): = 42 - this //Usage val difference = 2.differenceFromTheAnswer() //40 @tsmith
17. Extension Functions Java Interoperability //Example 1: @file:JvmName("IntUtil") fun Int.differenceFromTheAnswer(): = 42 - this //Example 2: @file:JvmName("Util") @file:JvmMultifileClass fun Int.differenceFromTheAnswer(): = 42 - this @tsmith
18. Extension Functions in Android SharedPreferences.Editor editor; editor = getSharedPreferences(MODE_PRIVATE).edit(); editor.putString("login_token", token); editor.apply(); @tsmith
19. Extension Functions in Android Also Higher Order functions and Function Literals! fun SharedPreferences.edit(func: SharedPreferences.Editor.() -> Unit) { val editor = SharedPreferences.Editor() editor.func() editor.apply() } getSharedPreferences(MODE_PRIVATE).edit { putString("login_token", token) } @tsmith
20. Inline Functions //All the memory allocation fun SharedPreferences.edit(func: SharedPreferences.Editor.() -> Unit) //inlines into java byte code, matching the java signature inline fun SharedPreferences.edit(func: SharedPreferences.Editor.() -> Unit) @tsmith
21. Builders Anko verticalLayout { padding = dip(16) textView("Username:") { textSize = 18f }.layoutParams { verticalMargin = dip(4) } val login = editText() button("Sign up") { textSize = 20f onClick { login(login.text) } }.layoutParams { topMargin = dip(8) } } @tsmith
22. Kotlin -> Gradle @tsmith
23. Installing Kotlin buildscript { ext.kotlin_version = '1.0.1' repositories { mavenCentral() } dependencies { classpath "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-gradle-plugin:$kotlin_version" } } apply plugin: 'kotlin' repositories { mavenCentral() } dependencies { compile "org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib:$kotlin_version" } @tsmith
24. Gradle Build script in Kotlin buildscript { repositories { jcenter() } dependencies { classpath("com.android.tools.build:gradle:2.2.0-alpha4") } } apply<AppPlugin>() configure<AppExtension> { buildToolsVersion("23.0.3") compileSdkVersion(23) defaultConf { minSdkVersion = DefaultApiVersion.create(15) applicationId = "com.example.kotlingradle" versionCode = 1 versionName = "1.0" } } inline fun AppExtension.defaultConf(func: DefaultProductFlavor.() -> Unit) = defaultConfig.apply(func) @tsmith
25. The case of API Keys public class SampleApplication extends Application { private static final String CONSUMER_KEY = "PRODUCTION_KEY"; private static final String CONSUMER_SECRET = "PRODUCTION_SECRET"; @Override public void onCreate() { super.onCreate(); SessionConfig authConfig = new SessionConfig(CONSUMER_KEY, CONSUMER_SECRET); Sdk.init(authConfig); } } @tsmith
26. The case of API Keys private static final String CONSUMER_KEY = "PRODUCTION_KEY"; private static final String CONSUMER_SECRET = "PRODUCTION_KEY"; ... final SessionConfig authConfig = new SessionConfig(CONSUMER_KEY, CONSUMER_SECRET); @tsmith
27. Enter Gradle android { buildTypes { release { buildConfigField 'String', 'CONSUMER_KEY', "\"PRODUCTION_KEY\"" buildConfigField 'String', 'CONSUMER_SECRET', "\"PRODUCTION_SECRET\"" } debug { buildConfigField 'String', 'CONSUMER_KEY', '\"DEBUG_KEY\"' buildConfigField 'String', 'CONSUMER_SECRET', '\"DEBUG_SECRET\"' } } ... @tsmith
28. BuildConfig class public final class BuildConfig { public static final String CONSUMER_KEY = "PRODUCTION_KEY"; ... public class AwesomeApplication extends Application { private static final String CONSUMER_KEY = BuildConfig.CONSUMER_KEY; @tsmith
29. Gradle properties • Gradle (Project) Properties • System Variables • Custom properties file @tsmith
30. Provided values def getProp(String key) { if (System.properties.get(key) != null) { return System.properties.get(key) } else if (project.hasProperty(key)) { return project.property(key) } throw new GradleException("${key} is not available") } @tsmith
31. Using the provided value //Using provided value via getProp function release { buildConfigField "String", "CONSUMER_KEY", "${getProp("INJECTED_KEY")}" ... @tsmith
32. custom.properties INJECTED_KEY=PRODUCTION_KEY INJECTED_SECRET=PRODUCTION_SECRET ... @tsmith
33. Custom Task task createCustomPropertiesFile << { def props = new Properties() props.put('INJECTED_KEY', getProp('INJECTED_KEY')) props.put('INJECTED_SECRET', getProp('INJECTED_SECRET')) file('custom.properties').withOutputStream { props.store(it, "") } } @tsmith
34. Custom Properties file tasks << 'createCustomPropertiesFile' { ... } $ ./gradlew createCustomPropertiesFile -PINJECTED_KEY=DEV_KEY @tsmith
35. Gradle plugin Basic ingredients: • Task • Extension • Plugin @tsmith
36. Task class CreatePropertiesFileTask extends DefaultTask { @TaskAction void createFile() { Properties properties = new Properties() keys?.each { properties.put(it, getProp(it)) } outputFile?.withOutputStream { properties.store(it, "") } } } @tsmith
37. Task in Java try { Properties properties = new Properties(); if (keys != null) { for (String key : keys) { properties.put(key, getProp(key)); } } if (keyFile != null) { FileOutputStream fileOutputStream = new FileOutputStream(keyFile); properties.store(fileOutputStream, ""); } } catch (FileNotFoundException fe) { throw new GradleScriptException("Error", fe); } catch (IOException ie) { throw new GradleScriptException("Error", ie); } @tsmith
38. Task // Properties properties = new Properties(); // for (String key : keys) { properties.put(key, getProp(key)); } // // FileOutputStream fileOutputStream = new FileOutputStream(keyFile); properties.store(fileOutputStream, ""); // // // // // @tsmith
39. Task class CreatePropertiesFileTask extends DefaultTask { @Input List<String> keys @OutputFile File outputFile ... } @tsmith
40. Extension class PropertyHolderExtension { List<String> keys = [] File customPropertiesFile Project project PropertyHolderExtension(Project project) { this.project = project } @tsmith
41. Extension class KeyHolderExtension { ... void keyFile(String filename) { keyFile = new File(filename) } def getProp(String key) { if (System.properties.get(key) != null) { return System.properties.get(key) } else if (project.hasProperty(key)) { ... @tsmith
42. Plugin class PropertyHolderPlugin implements Plugin<Project> { @Override void apply(Project project) { def propertyHolder = project.extensions.create( "propertyHolder", PropertyHolderExtension, project) @tsmith
43. Plugin //Example 1. Without configure def propertyHolder = project.extensions.create(...) //Example 2. With configure project.configure(project) { def propertyHolder = extensions.create(...) @tsmith
44. Plugin project.configure(project) { ... afterEvaluate { if (!propertyHolder.keys.isEmpty()) { project.tasks.create("createCustomPropertiesFile", CreatePropertiesFileTask) { it.keyFile = propertyHolder.customPropertiesFile it.keys = propertyHolder.keys } } } ... @tsmith
45. Consuming the plugin apply 'custom-properties' propertyHolder{ keys = 'CONSUMER_KEY',... keyFile 'custom.properties' } @tsmith
46. Kotlin Version - Task open class CreatePropertiesFileTask() : DefaultTask() { @Input var keys: List<String> = ArrayList() @OutputFile var keyFile: File? = null @tsmith
47. Kotlin Version - Task @TaskAction fun createFile() { val properties = Properties() for (key in keys) { properties.put(key, getProp(key)) } val fileOutputStream = FileOutputStream(keyFile) properties.store(fileOutputStream, "") } @tsmith
48. Kotlin Version - Task @TaskAction fun createFile() { val properties = Properties() keys.forEach { key -> properties.put(key, getProp(key)) } properties.store(keyFile!!.outputStream(), "") @tsmith
49. Extension - Kotlin version data class PropertyHolderExtension(val project: Project, var keys: List<String> = ArrayList(), var customFile: File? = null) @tsmith
50. Plugin - Kotlin Version class PropertyHolderPlugin : Plugin<Project> { override fun apply(project: Project) { project.extensions .add("kotlinHolder",PropertyHolderExtension(project)) @tsmith
51. Plugin - Kotlin Version class PropertyHolderPlugin : Plugin<Project> { override fun apply(project: Project) { project.extensions .add("kotlinHolder", PropertyHolderExtension(project)) project.afterEvaluate { project -> val extension = project.extensions .getByName("kotlinHolder") as PropertyHolderExtension } @tsmith
52. Sprinkle it with Extension Functions fun Project.configure(exec: Project.() -> Unit) = exec() fun Project.extensions(exec: ExtensionContainer.() -> Unit) = extensions.exec() fun Project.propertyHolder() = extensions.getByName("kotlinHolder") as PropertyHolderExtension @tsmith
53. Kotlin Version - Plugin //before project.extensions .add("kotlinHolder", PropertyHolderExtension(project)) //after project.configure { extensions { add("kotlinHolder", PropertyHolderExtension(project)) } @tsmith
54. Kotlin Version - Plugin project.configure { extensions { add("kotlinHolder", PropertyHolderExtension(project)) } afterEvaluate { project -> if (!propertyHolder().keys.isEmpty()) { tasks.create("createPropertiesFile", CreatePropertiesFileTask::class.java) { task -> task.keys = propertyHolder().keys task.keyFile = propertyHolder().customFile!! } } } } @tsmith
55. Resources • Kotlin docs • Kotlin Koans • Anko • Gradle Script Kotlin • Advancing Android Development with the Kotlin Language • This project @tsmith
56. Thanks! Ty Smith @tsmith