3 enjoyable experiments to strive to your subsequent Android app, utilizing Google AI Studio

Posted by Paris Hsu – Product Supervisor, Android Studio

We shared an thrilling stay demo from the Developer Keynote at Google I/O 2024 the place Gemini reworked a wireframe sketch of an app’s UI into Jetpack Compose code, straight inside Android Studio. Whereas we’re nonetheless refining this characteristic to be sure you get an excellent expertise inside Android Studio, it is constructed on high of foundational Gemini capabilities which you’ll experiment with right this moment in Google AI Studio.

Particularly, we’ll delve into:

• Turning designs into UI code: Convert a easy picture of your app’s UI into working code.

• Sensible UI fixes with Gemini: Obtain solutions on learn how to enhance or repair your UI.

• Integrating Gemini prompts in your app: Simplify complicated duties and streamline person experiences with tailor-made prompts.

Be aware: Google AI Studio affords numerous general-purpose Gemini fashions, whereas Android Studio makes use of a customized model of Gemini which has been particularly optimized for developer duties. Whereas which means that these general-purpose fashions might not provide the identical depth of Android information as Gemini in Android Studio, they supply a enjoyable and fascinating playground to experiment and achieve perception into the potential of AI in Android growth.

Experiment 1: Turning designs into UI code

First, to show designs into Compose UI code: Open the chat immediate part of Google AI Studio, add a picture of your app’s UI display (see instance under) and enter the next immediate:

“Act as an Android app developer. For the picture supplied, use Jetpack Compose to construct the display in order that the Compose Preview is as near this picture as potential. Additionally be certain to incorporate imports and use Material3.”

Then, click on “run” to execute your question and see the generated code. You may copy the generated output straight into a brand new file in Android Studio.

Picture uploaded: Designer mockup of an software’s element display

Google AI Studio customized chat immediate: Picture → Compose

Operating the generated code (with minor fixes) in Android Studio

With this experiment, Gemini was in a position to infer particulars from the picture and generate corresponding code components. For instance, the unique picture of the plant element display featured a “Care Directions” part with an expandable icon — Gemini’s generated code included an expandable card particularly for plant care directions, showcasing its contextual understanding and code technology capabilities.

Experiment 2: Sensible UI fixes with Gemini in AI Studio

Impressed by “Circle to Search“, one other enjoyable experiment you’ll be able to strive is to “circle” drawback areas on a screenshot, together with related Compose code context, and ask Gemini to recommend acceptable code fixes.

You may discover with this idea in Google AI Studio:

1. Add Compose code and screenshot: Add the Compose code file for a UI display and a screenshot of its Compose Preview, with a pink define highlighting the difficulty—on this case, objects within the Backside Navigation Bar that must be evenly spaced.

Instance: Preview with drawback space highlighted

Google AI Studio: Sensible UI Fixes with Gemini

Instance: Generated code mounted by Gemini

Instance: Preview with fixes utilized

Experiment 3: Integrating Gemini prompts in your app

Gemini can streamline experimentation and growth of customized app options. Think about you wish to construct a characteristic that offers customers recipe concepts based mostly on a picture of the substances they’ve readily available. Previously, this could have concerned complicated duties like internet hosting a picture recognition library, coaching your individual ingredient-to-recipe mannequin, and managing the infrastructure to help all of it.

Now, with Gemini, you’ll be able to obtain this with a easy, tailor-made immediate. Let’s stroll by way of learn how to add this “Prepare dinner Helper” characteristic into your Android app for instance:

1. Discover the Gemini immediate gallery: Uncover instance prompts or craft your individual. We’ll use the “Prepare dinner Helper” immediate.

Google AI for Builders: Immediate Gallery

2. Open and experiment in Google AI Studio: Check the immediate with completely different pictures, settings, and fashions to make sure the mannequin responds as anticipated and the immediate aligns together with your objectives.

Google AI Studio: Prepare dinner Helper immediate

3. Generate the mixing code: When you’re glad with the immediate’s efficiency, click on “Get code” and choose “Android (Kotlin)”. Copy the generated code snippet.

Google AI Studio: get code – Android (Kotlin)

4. Combine the Gemini API into Android Studio: Open your Android Studio challenge. You may both use the new Gemini API app template supplied inside Android Studio or observe this tutorial. Paste the copied generated immediate code into your challenge.

That is it – your app now has a functioning Prepare dinner Helper characteristic powered by Gemini. We encourage you to experiment with completely different instance prompts and even create your individual customized prompts to boost your Android app with highly effective Gemini options.

Our method on bringing AI to Android Studio

Whereas these experiments are promising, it is vital to keep in mind that giant language mannequin (LLM) expertise continues to be evolving, and we’re studying alongside the way in which. LLMs will be non-deterministic, that means they will generally produce surprising outcomes. That is why we’re taking a cautious and considerate method to integrating AI options into Android Studio.

Our philosophy in the direction of AI in Android Studio is to reinforce the developer and guarantee they continue to be “within the loop.” Specifically, when the AI is making solutions or writing code, we would like builders to have the ability to fastidiously audit the code earlier than checking it into manufacturing. That is why, for instance, the brand new Code Ideas characteristic in Canary mechanically brings up a diff view for builders to preview how Gemini is proposing to switch your code, somewhat than blindly making use of the modifications straight.

We wish to be certain these options, like Gemini in Android Studio itself, are totally examined, dependable, and actually helpful to builders earlier than we deliver them into the IDE.

What’s subsequent?

We invite you to strive these experiments and share your favourite prompts and examples with us utilizing the #AndroidGeminiEra tag on X and LinkedIn as we proceed to discover this thrilling frontier collectively. Additionally, be certain to observe Android Developer on LinkedIn, Medium, YouTube, or X for extra updates! AI has the potential to revolutionize the way in which we construct Android apps, and we won’t wait to see what we are able to create collectively.