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Build for release

warning

Ensure the keystore is securely stored and not included in version control. It also applies for the credentials.

Building for release​

To build the app for publishing, you need to sign it. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Create or use an existing keystore​

Before building the app, you must have a keystore. You can either create a new one or use an existing keystore.

Creating a keystore​

You can create a keystore directly from Android Studio:

  1. Go to Menu > Build > Generate Signed APK.
  2. Select the option to create a new keystore.
  3. Remember the passwords and the key alias for future use.

Using an existing keystore​

If you already have a keystore, ensure it is named release_keystore.keystore and placed in the following folders:

  • app
  • wear

Alternatively, you can specify a custom location by setting the KEYSTORE_PATH environment variable.

Step 2: Build the app​

You can build the app using either Android Studio or the command line (CLI).

From Android Studio​

  1. Open Android Studio.
  2. Go to Menu > Build > Generate Signed APK.
  3. Select the keystore you created or an existing one.
  4. Follow the steps to build the app.

From the CLI​

  1. Set environment variables
    Define the following environment variables used in app/build.gradle.kts:

    • KEYSTORE_PASSWORD
    • KEYSTORE_ALIAS
    • KEYSTORE_ALIAS_PASSWORD
    • KEYSTORE_PATH (if your keystore is located in a custom location)

  2. Build the app
    To build the APK, run:

    ./gradlew assembleRelease # To build all the apps
    # OR
    ./gradlew :<GRADLE_MODULE>:assembleRelease # To build a specific module, such as :app, :automotive, or :wear

    To build the AAB, run:

    ./gradlew bundleRelease # To build all the apps
    # OR
    ./gradlew :<GRADLE_MODULE>:bundleRelease # To build a specific module, such as :app, :automotive, or :wear