Extra frequent, centered updates for Android Studio

Posted by Adarsh Fernando, Senior Product Supervisor, Android Studio

Three years in the past, we modified how we named and versioned Android Studio to make it simpler to comply with updates – we modified how we numbered the variations of the IDE to extra carefully map to versioning of the IntelliJ IDEA platform, on which Android Studio is constructed. We additionally launched animal codenames to indicate every main launch, beginning with Arctic Fox. Our most up-to-date launch, Koala (2024.1.1), will quickly be out there within the Beta channel and is constructed on prime of IntelliJ IDEA 2024.1. All Studio releases use a model quantity that maps to the next schema:

<Yr of IntelliJ Model>.<IntelliJ main model>.<Studio main model>

Quickly, we’re launching the Koala Function Drop to the Canary channel as model 2024.1.2 — our second launch primarily based on IntelliJ IDEA 2024.1. This alerts the beginning of an improved launch cycle, the place every animal codename consists of two main Studio releases: a platform replace adopted by a characteristic drop.

The preliminary animal releases could have the ‘.1’ Android Studio main model and introduce the up to date IntelliJ platform model, whereas subsequent Function Drops will improve the Android main model to ‘.2’ and deal with introducing Android-specific options that assist you be extra productive for Android app growth.

Versioning system	Yr of IntelliJ Model	IntelliJ main model	Studio main model
Jellyfish	2023	.3	.1
Koala	2024	.1	.1
Koala Function Drop	2024	.1	.2

Main with IDE platform updates

Going ahead, every new “animal” of Android Studio will prioritize updates to the underlying IntelliJ platform. This deal with foundational parts lets builders profit from usability, efficiency, and stability enhancements to the underlying IntelliJ IDEA platform.

The bottom model of Android Studio Koala, numbered 2024.1.1 and launched to Canary in March, focuses on adopting updates from IntelliJ IDEA 2024.1. Some advantages of this platform replace embody:

• Sticky strains within the editor to simplify working with giant recordsdata and exploring new codebases
• Overhauled terminal that includes each visible and useful enhancements
• Primary IDE functionalities out there for Java and Kotlin throughout indexing
• Language injections in string templates
• (Alpha) K2 Kotlin mode for enhanced Kotlin code evaluation
• Inline breakpoints for a number of statements
• New inspections and quick-fixes
• And far far more…

See What’s New in IntelliJ IDEA 2024.1 for extra particulars on all of the platform updates included on this launch.

By focusing a complete launch cycle on updating to the most recent IntelliJ IDEA platform model, we’re in a position to get these adjustments into the Secure channel sooner than with the earlier launch course of — making certain builders have entry to the most recent upstream options and enhancements.

Android-specific performance with Function Drops

Function Drops are constructed on prime of the IntelliJ platform updates, and comply with quickly after every new animal launch.

Android Studio is a tailor-made surroundings for Android builders. You’ll proceed to obtain new and up to date options particularly designed for Android growth. These will arrive by means of Function Drops that share the identical animal codename as the bottom launch, and can comply with quickly after the bottom animal launch hits the Secure channel. Our first such launch is Android Studio Koala Function Drop, and numbered 2024.1.2.

When the Android Studio Koala Function Drop is offered, you’ll be able to profit from these new options:

• A brand new sign-in circulation that makes onboarding with a number of Google companies, similar to Firebase and Gemini in Android Studio, a lot simpler
• System UI Setting Shortcuts within the Operating System Window to rapidly check your app towards completely different machine UI settings
• A brand new Gemini API template to assist construct Generative AI into your app
• And extra

Function Drops will leverage the stabilized IDE platform from the earlier Android Studio replace and deal with new options geared in direction of Android growth. By doing so, we hope to carry these options to the steady channel sooner and with larger high quality. To study much more new options coming to Koala Function Drop, ensure to tune in to Google I/O 2024.

To sum it up: 2X extra frequent updates

Anticipated launch schedule within the Android Studio Secure channel.

Our main aim with these adjustments is to make sure that vital updates to the IntelliJ IDEA platform attain the Android Studio Secure channel extra often, and new Android-specific options ship with larger high quality and polish. Count on the primary animal launch to introduce quite a few updates from the most recent IntelliJ IDEA platform, with a Function Drop replace to comply with quickly after with extra Android-specific options and instruments.

By separating IDE platform updates from Function Drops, we will ship each kinds of enhancements in a extra streamlined method, leading to far more frequent updates to the steady channel which can be every centered on enhancing your productiveness.

Equally, variations of the Android Gradle plugin can even see updates to the steady channel extra often. Every new animal model and Function Drop of Android Studio might be accompanied by a brand new model of the Android Gradle plugin. For instance, Android Studio Koala was launched alongside AGP 8.5 and Android Studio Koala Function Drop might be launched alongside AGP 8.6.

As all the time, if you wish to be on the innovative, we encourage you to hitch the Canary channel by downloading and putting in Android Studio Koala Function Drop for early entry to the most recent and biggest. Additionally you will be a part of our vibrant Android developer neighborhood on LinkedIn, Medium, YouTube, or X.