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:

./gradlew bundleRelease

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

APK - Legacy

For apps not using bundles:

./gradlew assembleRelease

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

Signing Configuration

build.gradle (app level)

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

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

VERSION_NAME=1.2.3
VERSION_CODE=123

build.gradle

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

Increment version

# 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+)

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:

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

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

Build specific flavor

./gradlew bundleFreeRelease
./gradlew bundlePaidRelease

CI/CD Build

GitHub Actions Example

- 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

./gradlew clean bundleRelease

Build with specific SDK versions

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

Build without tests

./gradlew bundleRelease -x test -x lint

Build multiple variants

./gradlew bundle  # Builds all variants

Troubleshooting

Build fails with signing errors

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

Check AAB contents

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

unzip output.apks

Verify version codes

./gradlew tasks --all | grep Version

Best Practices

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