android-scaffold

Android Scaffold

Create a new Android app project that is Play-safe and build-fast from the first commit — so it doesn't hit the submission/build issues android-play-release and the pre-flight checker exist to catch. Belongs to the sdlc-team-android plugin; pairs with jetpack-compose-architect (UI), android-app-architect (structure), gradle-build-specialist (build), and language-kotlin-expert.

Arguments

• app-name — the app / applicationId (defaults to asking).

Steps

1. Project shape

• Kotlin + Jetpack Compose app module + a unit-test source set + optional instrumented tests.
• A multi-module layout if non-trivial (app + feature:* + core:* + data:*; features depend on core/data, never other features) — see android-app-architect.
• .gitignore covering /build, .gradle, local.properties, *.jks/*.keystore, keystore.properties, .idea (except shared), *.iml.

2. Build setup (the point of the skill)

• Kotlin DSL (build.gradle.kts), a version catalog (gradle/libs.versions.toml) as the single source of truth, and convention plugins in a build-logic included build for shared android {} config (à la Now in Android). See gradle-build-specialist.
• namespace + applicationId set; compileSdk = latest stable; targetSdk = the current Play minimum (the pre-flight checker's --play-min-target) so the app isn't hidden on new devices; a sensible minSdk.
• Version numbers: versionName fixed pre-1.0; versionCode stamped from git rev-list --count HEAD (unique & monotonic — every upload needs this) in a Gradle snippet.
• Enable the configuration cache + build cache + KSP (not kapt) in gradle.properties.

3. Release-safe defaults

• Release build type: isMinifyEnabled = true + isShrinkResources = true (R8) with a proguard-rules.pro; a release signingConfig reading secrets from a git-ignored keystore.properties / CI (never the debug keystore, never committed secrets) — see android-signing-setup.
• Gate debug menus, verbose logging, and staging endpoints behind a build type / BuildConfig flag that is off in release.

4. Manifest hygiene

• Request only permissions you use; keep exported components guarded (permission or intent-filter, or android:exported=false); avoid usesCleartextTraffic (use a network-security-config allowlist if genuinely needed).

5. CI + lint

• Offer to run android-ci to generate the GitHub Actions workflow (gates on the pre-flight checker + ./gradlew lint).

6. Verify

• ./gradlew assembleDebug once; run the unit-test source set; and run the pre-flight checker (python -m android_preflight.cli <project>) — it should be clean (or only INFO) on a fresh scaffold.

7. Report

Summarise what was generated, the module layout, the versionCode policy, and confirm the pre-flight checker is clean. Note anything the user must fill in (real keystore, Data Safety, privacy policy).

Notes

• The goal is a project that passes android-play-release pre-flight on day one — don't leave targetSdk, R8, or signing "for later".
• For UI structure hand off to jetpack-compose-architect; for app architecture to android-app-architect; for idiomatic Kotlin to language-kotlin-expert.