If I include Java 8 in my Android app does that affect which devices it will work on?

Question

I have just started trying to use the new Java Date Time API but when I went to import the classes like below,I get cannot resolve symbol.

import java.time.LocalDate;

After a little bit of checking it I found that I need to enable java 8 (See below link).

https://developer.android.com/guide/platform/j8-jack.html

I assume this link is still relevant, info gets out of date very quickly. I am using a AS 2.1.3 and JDK 1.8 both installed yesterday (Not sure if that tells you anything).

I just want to make sure that if I go through the process of doing this, will it affect older model devices (In this case I will use Joda Time) or i1s the Java version totally irrelevant to the device.

Thanks

@chrylis Awesome thanks for that. I will stick with Joda time then. Appreciate the help — Nicholas Muir, Sep 14 '16 at 01:22
@chrylis Are you sure? That link in the question lists some of the features work on sdk 23 and lower. I think the Jack toolchain allows Java 8 to be used in any version — OneCricketeer, Sep 14 '16 at 03:27
@cricket_007 He asked about the DateTime API specifically, which is a library issue, not a bytecode issue. — chrylis -cautiouslyoptimistic-, Sep 14 '16 at 03:36

score 3 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:29

3

Back-ports

Much of the java.time functionality built into Java is back-ported to Java 6 & 7 in the ThreeTen-Backport project.

ThreeTenABP

Further adapted to Android in the ThreeTenABP project. See: How to use ThreeTenABP in Android project.

The Joda-Time project is in maintenance mode. The team advises migration to the java.time classes.

edited May 23 '17 at 10:29

Community

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answered Sep 14 '16 at 08:04

Basil Bourque

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If I include Java 8 in my Android app does that affect which devices it will work on?

1 Answers1

Back-ports

ThreeTenABP

Linked