Use a specific minSdkVersion only in a Debug mode

Question

How can I use a specific minSdkVersion only in a debug mode? I want to use the minSdkVersion 21 for debug mode, but minSdkVersion 15 for the release. I don't wanna use flavors for this because will give troubles.

I think the could be like this (but don't work):

defaultConfig {
        applicationId "blacktoad.com.flapprototipo"
        minSdkVersion 15

        debug{
            minSdkVersion 21
        }

        targetSdkVersion 23
        versionCode 42
        versionName "1.72"

        multiDexEnabled true
    }

Possible duplicate of [Include Stetho only in the debug build variant](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30172308/include-stetho-only-in-the-debug-build-variant) — Danieboy, Sep 20 '16 at 12:38
I think that setting flavours is the only option, check: https://developer.android.com/studio/build/multidex.html#dev-build — Ariel Carbonaro, Sep 20 '16 at 12:45
I think that no is a duplicate. I can't find a solution with Stetho (if you know, I beg that you say to me). I only don't wanna use Dex while I'm debuging. — Siloé Bezerra Bispo, Sep 20 '16 at 12:51

score 11 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 24 '19 at 10:00

11

There exist a better way to do it without Product Flavors or hooking into the build flow. Example:

  buildTypes {
     debug {
       defaultConfig.minSdkVersion 19
       defaultConfig.vectorDrawables.useSupportLibrary = true
       defaultConfig.multiDexEnabled = true
     ...

answered Jul 24 '19 at 10:00

Roman Nazarevych

7,513
4
62
67

1

This looks like it would change the default for all build types. It might be working for you, but it's effectively a race condition during the gradle configure stage. If you reorder the build.gradle file, it could stop working at any time. Unless I'm missing something? – Hamy May 08 '20 at 14:39
2

Doesn't work. Like @Hamy said - it applied the new minSdkVersion to all build types. – sagis Oct 16 '20 at 08:53
This is wrong. It references the defaultConfig function of the android block. The ApplicationBuildType scope itself does not provide defaultConfig. – FalloutBoy May 24 '22 at 22:13

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 09 '17 at 11:25

I don't wanna use flavors for this because will give troubles.

I don't think you can do it without productFlavors. I am leaving this answer here for others who have no issue using productFlavors. https://developer.android.com/studio/build/multidex.html#dev-build

Basically all you need to do is declare productFlavors with different minSdkVersion:

productFlavors {
    dev {
        // Enable pre-dexing to produce an APK that can be tested on
        // Android 5.0+ without the time-consuming DEX build processes.
        minSdkVersion 21
    }
    prod {
        // The actual minSdkVersion for the production version.
        minSdkVersion 14
    }
}

Pier Betos · Answer 3 · 2018-05-17T08:09:47.777

It took me almost a day to create this script. Please take note of this for keepsake, but only use this as a last resort.

android.applicationVariants.all { variant ->

    //Making specific variant disablements for faster build
    if (variant.buildType.name.contains("debug")) {
        println "Making min version to 21 and disabling multidex"
        variant.mergedFlavor.setMultiDexEnabled false

        def versionMin = new com.android.builder.core.DefaultApiVersion(21)
        variant.mergedFlavor.setMinSdkVersion versionMin
    }
}

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 15 '20 at 16:18

I know this is an old question, but there is a very simple solution, even without setting up separate flavors.
Just replace the line;

minSdkVersion 21

with

minSdkVersion gradle.startParameter.taskNames.toString().contains("Release")?16:21

and viola, it will work.

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 15 '22 at 02:15

0

Try this

androidComponents {
    beforeVariants(selector().withName("debug")) { variantBuilder ->
        variantBuilder.minSdk = 21
}}

For more information about beforeVariants, can check this link

answered Mar 15 '22 at 02:15

Quang Nhat

135
1
8

Use a specific minSdkVersion only in a Debug mode

5 Answers5

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