Code sample: https://github.com/nhachicha/sample_gradle_plugin Video: http://youtu.be/xoSkz0ICWG4 Gradle is becoming more & more adopted by developers as their main build system especially after the release of Android Studio. Thanks to the plugins architecture, Gradle allows users to reuse patterns and practices, avoiding boilerplate build code. In this session, we will focus on creating a Plugin that cooperate with the existing "android plugin", in order to demonstrate some key concepts like: Tasks, Lifecycle, defining a custom DSL, incremental build and testing ... we conclude by giving an overview of some useful Plugins that will boost your CI process.

1. Droidcon - 2014
Create your Gradle plugin
Nabil Hachicha

2. About Me
Open Source contributor
snappydb.com
Works at The App Business London
@nabil_hachicha @nhachicha

3. Motivation
What is a Gradle Plugin?

4. Motivation
• A reusable fragment of build logic
• Define the How (Tasks) & the What (DSL)

5. Motivation
What are the benefits?

6. Motivation
• Keeping the build simple & concise
• Reduce boilerplate build code (no copy/paste)
• Separation of concern How (Tasks) vs the What (configuration)

7. Use case study
A plugin that generates a properties file

8. Gradle Tasks
Demo

9. Writing a lifecycle hook

10. Writing a lifecycle hook
dependsOn
displayRevision

11. Writing a lifecycle hook
Demo

13. Extra properties
• User-defined
variables
• Ex: use it to disable
or enable the plugin
for a specific
flavour

14. Custom Task
• Structure your code into classes & methods
• Maintainability (any method is fully testable)
• Reusability

15. DSL
• Task add new
functionality (ability
To Do Things - they
are unit of works)
• Extension add new
build language
elements To Talk
about Things

16. Incremental Build
• Input haven't changed & Output is still there
= Skip redundant work.
but…
• You need to tell gradle what's the Input &
Output

18. Thanks!
Q/A

19. The App Business is hiring!
theappbusiness.com/careers/ Source Code & Slides
@nabil_hachicha @nhachicha