Gradle Build for Google Play

Use this skill when you need to build an Android app before uploading to Play Store.

Build Types

App Bundle (AAB) - Recommended

App Bundles are required for new apps on Google Play:

bash

./gradlew bundleRelease

Output: app/build/outputs/bundle/release/app-release.aab

APK - Legacy

For apps not using bundles:

bash

./gradlew assembleRelease

Output: app/build/outputs/apk/release/app-release.apk

Signing Configuration

build.gradle (app level)

groovy

android {
    signingConfigs {
        release {
            storeFile file(System.getenv("KEYSTORE_FILE") ?: "release.keystore")
            storePassword System.getenv("KEYSTORE_PASSWORD")
            keyAlias System.getenv("KEY_ALIAS")
            keyPassword System.getenv("KEY_PASSWORD")
        }
    }

    buildTypes {
        release {
            signingConfig signingConfigs.release
            minifyEnabled true
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android-optimize.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
        }
    }
}

Environment Variables

bash

export KEYSTORE_FILE=/path/to/release.keystore
export KEYSTORE_PASSWORD=your_keystore_password
export KEY_ALIAS=your_key_alias
export KEY_PASSWORD=your_key_password

./gradlew bundleRelease

Version Management

gradle.properties

properties

VERSION_NAME=1.2.3
VERSION_CODE=123

build.gradle

groovy

android {
    defaultConfig {
        versionCode project.property('VERSION_CODE').toInteger()
        versionName project.property('VERSION_NAME')
    }
}

Increment version

bash

# Read current version
CURRENT_VERSION=$(grep VERSION_CODE gradle.properties | cut -d'=' -f2)
NEW_VERSION=$((CURRENT_VERSION + 1))

# Update gradle.properties
sed -i "" "s/VERSION_CODE=$CURRENT_VERSION/VERSION_CODE=$NEW_VERSION/" gradle.properties

# Build
./gradlew bundleRelease

ProGuard/R8 Configuration

Enable R8 (default in AGP 3.4+)

groovy

buildTypes {
    release {
        minifyEnabled true
        shrinkResources true
        proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android-optimize.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
    }
}

Generate mapping file

Mapping file location: app/build/outputs/mapping/release/mapping.txt

Upload to Play Console for crash symbolication:

bash

gplay deobfuscation upload \
  --package com.example.app \
  --edit $EDIT_ID \
  --apk-version 123 \
  --type proguard \
  --file app/build/outputs/mapping/release/mapping.txt

Build Variants

Product Flavors

groovy

android {
    flavorDimensions "version"
    productFlavors {
        free {
            dimension "version"
            applicationIdSuffix ".free"
        }
        paid {
            dimension "version"
        }
    }
}

Build specific flavor

bash

./gradlew bundleFreeRelease
./gradlew bundlePaidRelease

CI/CD Build

GitHub Actions Example

yaml

- name: Build Release AAB
  run: |
    echo "${{ secrets.KEYSTORE_BASE64 }}" | base64 -d > release.keystore
    export KEYSTORE_FILE=release.keystore
    export KEYSTORE_PASSWORD="${{ secrets.KEYSTORE_PASSWORD }}"
    export KEY_ALIAS="${{ secrets.KEY_ALIAS }}"
    export KEY_PASSWORD="${{ secrets.KEY_PASSWORD }}"
    ./gradlew bundleRelease

- name: Upload to Play Store
  env:
    GPLAY_SERVICE_ACCOUNT: ${{ secrets.PLAY_SERVICE_ACCOUNT }}
  run: |
    gplay release \
      --package com.example.app \
      --track internal \
      --bundle app/build/outputs/bundle/release/app-release.aab

Common Build Tasks

Clean build

bash

./gradlew clean bundleRelease

Build with specific SDK versions

bash

./gradlew bundleRelease -PminSdkVersion=21 -PtargetSdkVersion=34

Build without tests

bash

./gradlew bundleRelease -x test -x lint

Build multiple variants

bash

./gradlew bundle  # Builds all variants

Troubleshooting

Build fails with signing errors

bash

# Verify keystore
keytool -list -v -keystore release.keystore

Check AAB contents

bash

bundletool build-apks \
  --bundle=app-release.aab \
  --output=output.apks \
  --mode=universal

unzip output.apks

Verify version codes

bash

./gradlew tasks --all | grep Version

Best Practices

•Never commit keystores - Store in secure location
•Use environment variables for credentials
•Enable ProGuard/R8 for release builds
•Upload mapping files after each release
•Increment version code for every build
•Test release builds before uploading
•Use App Bundles (AAB) instead of APKs when possible