android-kotlin-compose

---
name: android-kotlin-compose
description: Create production-quality Android applications following Google's official Android architecture guidance with Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, MVVM architecture, Hilt dependency injection, Room database, and multi-module architecture. Triggers on requests to create Android projects, modules, screens, ViewModels, repositories, or when asked about Android architecture patterns and best practices.
license: Apache-2.0
---

# Android Kotlin Compose Development

Create production-quality Android applications following Google's official architecture guidance and best practices.
Use when building Android apps with Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, MVVM architecture, Hilt dependency injection, Room database, or Android multi-module projects.
Triggers on requests to create Android projects, screens, ViewModels, repositories, feature modules, or when asked about Android architecture patterns.


## Quick Reference

| Task                                                 | Reference File                                                  |
|------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| Project structure & modules                          | [modularization.md](references/modularization.md)               |
| Architecture layers (Presentation, Domain, Data, UI) | [architecture.md](references/architecture.md)                   |
| Compose patterns, animation, effects, modifiers      | [compose-patterns.md](references/compose-patterns.md)           |
| Accessibility & TalkBack support                     | [android-accessibility.md](references/android-accessibility.md) |
| Notifications & foreground services                  | [android-notifications.md](references/android-notifications.md) |
| Data sync & offline-first patterns                   | [android-data-sync.md](references/android-data-sync.md)         |
| Material 3 theming & dynamic colors                  | [android-theming.md](references/android-theming.md)             |
| Navigation3 & adaptive navigation                    | [android-navigation.md](references/android-navigation.md)       |
| Kotlin best practices                                | [kotlin-patterns.md](references/kotlin-patterns.md)             |
| Coroutines best practices                            | [coroutines-patterns.md](references/coroutines-patterns.md)     |
| Gradle & build configuration                         | [gradle-setup.md](references/gradle-setup.md)                   |
| Testing approach                                     | [testing.md](references/testing.md)                             |
| Internationalization & localization                  | [android-i18n.md](references/android-i18n.md)                   |
| Icons, graphics, and custom drawing                  | [android-graphics.md](references/android-graphics.md)           |
| Runtime permissions                                  | [android-permissions.md](references/android-permissions.md)     |
| Kotlin delegation patterns                           | [kotlin-delegation.md](references/kotlin-delegation.md)         |
| Crash reporting                                      | [crashlytics.md](references/crashlytics.md)                     |
| StrictMode guardrails                                | [android-strictmode.md](references/android-strictmode.md)       |
| Multi-module dependencies                            | [dependencies.md](references/dependencies.md)                   |
| Code quality (Detekt)                                | [code-quality.md](references/code-quality.md)                   |
| Code coverage (JaCoCo)                               | [android-code-coverage.md](references/android-code-coverage.md) |
| Security (encryption, biometrics, pinning)           | [android-security.md](references/android-security.md)           |
| Design patterns                                      | [design-patterns.md](references/design-patterns.md)             |
| Android performance, recomposition & app startup     | [android-performance.md](references/android-performance.md)     |
| Debugging (Logcat, ANR, R8, memory leaks)            | [android-debugging.md](references/android-debugging.md)         |
| Migration guides (XML, RxJava, Navigation, Compose)  | [migration.md](references/migration.md)                         |

## Workflow Decision Tree

**Creating a new project?**
→ Start with `assets/settings.gradle.kts.template` for settings and module includes  
→ Start with `assets/libs.versions.toml.template` for the version catalog  
→ Copy all files from `assets/convention/` to `build-logic/convention/src/main/kotlin/`  
→ Create `build-logic/settings.gradle.kts` (see `assets/convention/QUICK_REFERENCE.md`)  
→ Add `includeBuild("build-logic")` to root `settings.gradle.kts`  
→ Add plugin entries to `gradle/libs.versions.toml` (see `assets/convention/QUICK_REFERENCE.md`)
→ Copy `assets/proguard-rules.pro.template` to `app/proguard-rules.pro`
→ Read [modularization.md](references/modularization.md) for structure and module types  
→ Use [gradle-setup.md](references/gradle-setup.md) for build files and build logic  

**Configuring Gradle/build files?**
→ Use [gradle-setup.md](references/gradle-setup.md) for module `build.gradle.kts` patterns  
→ Use [gradle-setup.md](references/gradle-setup.md) → "Build Performance" for optimization workflow, diagnostics, and bottleneck troubleshooting  
→ Copy convention plugins from `assets/convention/` to `build-logic/` in your project  
→ See `assets/convention/QUICK_REFERENCE.md` for setup instructions and examples  
→ Copy `assets/proguard-rules.pro.template` to `app/proguard-rules.pro` for R8 rules  

**Setting up code quality / Detekt?**
→ Use [code-quality.md](references/code-quality.md) for Detekt convention plugin setup  
→ Start from `assets/detekt.yml.template` for rules and enable Compose rules  

**Adding or updating dependencies?**
→ Follow [dependencies.md](references/dependencies.md)  
→ Update `assets/libs.versions.toml.template` if the dependency is missing  

**Adding a new feature/module?**
→ Follow module naming in [modularization.md](references/modularization.md)  
→ Implement Presentation in the feature module  
→ Follow dependency flow: Feature → Core/Domain → Core/Data

**Building UI screens/components?**
→ Read [compose-patterns.md](references/compose-patterns.md) for screen architecture, state, components, modifiers  
→ Use [android-theming.md](references/android-theming.md) for Material 3 colors, typography, and shapes  
→ **Always** align Kotlin code with [kotlin-patterns.md](references/kotlin-patterns.md)  
→ Create Screen + ViewModel + UiState in the feature module  
→ Use shared components from `core/ui` when possible

**Setting up app theme (colors, typography, shapes)?**
→ Follow [android-theming.md](references/android-theming.md) for Material 3 theming and dynamic colors  
→ Use semantic color roles from `MaterialTheme.colorScheme` (never hardcoded colors)  
→ Support light/dark themes with user preference toggle  
→ Enable dynamic color (Material You) for API 31+  

**Writing any Kotlin code?**
→ **Always** follow [kotlin-patterns.md](references/kotlin-patterns.md)  
→ Ensure practices align with [architecture.md](references/architecture.md), [modularization.md](references/modularization.md), and [compose-patterns.md](references/compose-patterns.md)

**Setting up data/domain layers?**
→ Read [architecture.md](references/architecture.md)  
→ Create Repository interfaces in `core/domain`
→ Implement Repository in `core/data`
→ Create DataSource + DAO in `core/data`

**Implementing offline-first or data synchronization?**
→ Follow [android-data-sync.md](references/android-data-sync.md) for sync strategies, conflict resolution, and cache invalidation  
→ Use Room as single source of truth with sync metadata (syncStatus, lastModified)  
→ Schedule background sync with WorkManager  
→ Monitor network state before syncing  

**Setting up navigation?**
→ Follow [android-navigation.md](references/android-navigation.md) for Navigation3 architecture, state management, and adaptive navigation  
→ See [modularization.md](references/modularization.md) for feature module navigation components (Destination, Navigator, Graph)  
→ Configure navigation graph in the app module  
→ Use feature navigation destinations and navigator interfaces  

**Adding tests?**
→ Use [testing.md](references/testing.md) for patterns and examples  
→ Use [testing.md](references/testing.md) → "Screenshot Testing" for Compose Preview Screenshot Testing setup  
→ Keep test doubles in `core/testing`  

**Handling runtime permissions?**
→ Follow [android-permissions.md](references/android-permissions.md) for manifest declarations and Compose permission patterns  
→ Request permissions contextually and handle "Don't ask again" flows  

**Showing notifications or foreground services?**
→ Use [android-notifications.md](references/android-notifications.md) for notification channels, styles, actions, and foreground services  
→ Check POST_NOTIFICATIONS permission on API 33+ before showing notifications  
→ Create notification channels at app startup (required for API 26+)  

**Sharing logic across ViewModels or avoiding base classes?**
→ Use delegation via interfaces as described in [kotlin-delegation.md](references/kotlin-delegation.md)  
→ Prefer small, injected delegates for validation, analytics, or feature flags  

**Adding crash reporting / monitoring?**
→ Follow [crashlytics.md](references/crashlytics.md) for provider-agnostic interfaces and module placement  
→ Use DI bindings to swap between Firebase Crashlytics or Sentry  

**Enabling StrictMode guardrails?**
→ Follow [android-strictmode.md](references/android-strictmode.md) for app-level setup and Compose compiler diagnostics  
→ Use Sentry/Firebase init from [crashlytics.md](references/crashlytics.md) to ship StrictMode logs  

**Choosing design patterns for a new feature, business logic, or system?**
→ Use [design-patterns.md](references/design-patterns.md) for Android-focused pattern guidance  
→ Align with [architecture.md](references/architecture.md) and [modularization.md](references/modularization.md)  

**Measuring performance regressions or startup/jank?**
→ Use [android-performance.md](references/android-performance.md) for Macrobenchmark, Baseline Profiles, and ProfileInstaller setup  
→ Keep benchmark module aligned with `benchmark` build type in [gradle-setup.md](references/gradle-setup.md)  
→ If the user explicitly requests to investigate jank or add custom trace points, use [android-performance.md](references/android-performance.md) for System Tracing (`androidx.tracing`) setup

**Setting up app initialization or splash screen?**
→ Follow [android-performance.md](references/android-performance.md) → "App Startup & Initialization" for App Startup library, lazy init, and splash screen  
→ Avoid ContentProvider-based auto-initialization - use `Initializer` interface instead  
→ Use `installSplashScreen()` with `setKeepOnScreenCondition` for loading state  

**Adding icons, images, or custom graphics?**
→ Use [android-graphics.md](references/android-graphics.md) for Material Symbols icons and custom drawing  
→ Download icons via Iconify API or Google Fonts (avoid deprecated `Icons.Default.*` library)  
→ Use `Modifier.drawWithContent`, `drawBehind`, or `drawWithCache` for custom graphics  

**Creating custom UI effects (glow, shadows, gradients)?**
→ Check [android-graphics.md](references/android-graphics.md) for Canvas drawing, BlendMode, and Palette API patterns  
→ Use `rememberInfiniteTransition` for animated effects  

**Ensuring accessibility compliance (TalkBack, touch targets, color contrast)?**
→ Follow [android-accessibility.md](references/android-accessibility.md) for semantic properties and WCAG guidelines  
→ Provide `contentDescription` for all icons and images  
→ Ensure 48dp × 48dp minimum touch targets  
→ Test with TalkBack and Accessibility Scanner  

**Working with images and color extraction?**
→ Use [android-graphics.md](references/android-graphics.md) → "Image Loading with Coil3" for AsyncImage, SubcomposeAsyncImage, rememberAsyncImagePainter, and Hilt ImageLoader setup  
→ Use [android-graphics.md](references/android-graphics.md) for Palette API and color extraction  

**Implementing complex coroutine flows or background work?**
→ Follow [coroutines-patterns.md](references/coroutines-patterns.md) for structured concurrency patterns  
→ Use appropriate dispatchers (IO, Default, Main) and proper cancellation handling  
→ Prefer `StateFlow`/`SharedFlow` over channels for state management  
→ Use `callbackFlow` to wrap Android callback APIs (connectivity, sensors, location) into Flow  
→ Use `suspendCancellableCoroutine` for one-shot callbacks (Play Services tasks, biometrics)  
→ Use `combine()` to merge multiple Flows in ViewModels, `shareIn` to share expensive upstream  
→ Handle backpressure with `buffer`, `conflate`, `debounce`, or `sample`  

**Need to share behavior across multiple classes?**
→ Use [kotlin-delegation.md](references/kotlin-delegation.md) for interface delegation patterns  
→ Avoid base classes; prefer composition with delegated interfaces  
→ Examples: Analytics, FormValidator, CrashReporter  

**Refactoring existing code or improving architecture?**
→ Review [architecture.md](references/architecture.md) for layer responsibilities  
→ Check [design-patterns.md](references/design-patterns.md) for applicable patterns  
→ Follow [kotlin-patterns.md](references/kotlin-patterns.md) for Kotlin-specific improvements  
→ Ensure compliance with [modularization.md](references/modularization.md) dependency rules  

**Debugging crashes, ANRs, or obfuscated stack traces?**
→ Follow [android-debugging.md](references/android-debugging.md) for Logcat, ANR traces, and Compose recomposition debugging  
→ Use [android-debugging.md](references/android-debugging.md) for R8 mapping files and manual de-obfuscation  
→ See [gradle-setup.md](references/gradle-setup.md) for R8 build configuration and keep rules

**Debugging performance issues or memory leaks?**
→ Enable [android-strictmode.md](references/android-strictmode.md) for development builds  
→ Use [android-performance.md](references/android-performance.md) for profiling and benchmarking  
→ Use [android-debugging.md](references/android-debugging.md) for LeakCanary and heap dump analysis  
→ Check [coroutines-patterns.md](references/coroutines-patterns.md) for coroutine cancellation patterns  

**Setting up CI/CD or code quality checks?**
→ Use [code-quality.md](references/code-quality.md) for Detekt baseline and CI integration  
→ Use [gradle-setup.md](references/gradle-setup.md) for build cache and convention plugins  
→ Use [testing.md](references/testing.md) for test organization and coverage  

**Handling sensitive data or privacy concerns?**
→ Follow [crashlytics.md](references/crashlytics.md) for data scrubbing patterns  
→ Use [android-permissions.md](references/android-permissions.md) for proper permission justification  
→ Check [android-strictmode.md](references/android-strictmode.md) for detecting cleartext network traffic  

**Migrating legacy code (LiveData, Fragments, Accompanist, RxJava)?**
→ Use [migration.md](references/migration.md) for all migration paths  
→ Follow [architecture.md](references/architecture.md) for modern MVVM patterns  

**Adding Compose animations?**
→ Use [compose-patterns.md](references/compose-patterns.md) → "Animation" for `AnimatedVisibility`, `AnimatedContent`, `animate*AsState`, `Animatable`, shared elements  
→ Use `graphicsLayer` for GPU-accelerated transforms (no recomposition)  
→ Always provide `label` parameter for Layout Inspector debugging  

**Using side effects (LaunchedEffect, DisposableEffect)?**
→ Use [compose-patterns.md](references/compose-patterns.md) → "Side Effects" for effect selection guide  
→ `LaunchedEffect(key)` for state-driven coroutines, `rememberCoroutineScope` for event-driven  
→ `DisposableEffect` for listener/resource cleanup, always include `onDispose`  
→ `LifecycleResumeEffect` for onResume/onPause work (camera, media), `LifecycleStartEffect` for onStart/onStop (location, sensors)  

**Working with Modifier ordering or custom modifiers?**
→ Use [compose-patterns.md](references/compose-patterns.md) → "Modifiers" for chain ordering rules and patterns  
→ Use `Modifier.Node` for custom modifiers (not deprecated `Modifier.composed`)  
→ Order: size → padding → drawing → interaction  

**Migrating from Accompanist or deprecated Compose APIs?**
→ Use [migration.md](references/migration.md) for Accompanist, Compose API, Material, and Edge-to-Edge migrations  
→ See [compose-patterns.md](references/compose-patterns.md) → "Deprecated Patterns & Migrations" for a summary list  

**Optimizing Compose recomposition or stability?**
→ Use [compose-patterns.md](references/compose-patterns.md) for `@Immutable`/`@Stable` annotations  
→ Use [android-performance.md](references/android-performance.md) → "Compose Recomposition Performance" for three phases, deferred state reads, Strong Skipping Mode  
→ Check [gradle-setup.md](references/gradle-setup.md) for Compose Compiler metrics and stability reports  
→ Use [kotlin-patterns.md](references/kotlin-patterns.md) for immutable data structures  

**Working with databases (Room)?**
→ Define DAOs and entities in `core/database` per [modularization.md](references/modularization.md)  
→ Use [testing.md](references/testing.md) for in-memory database testing and migration tests  
→ Follow [architecture.md](references/architecture.md) for repository patterns with Room  

**Need internationalization/localization (i18n/l10n)?**
→ Use [android-i18n.md](references/android-i18n.md) for string resources, plurals, and RTL support  
→ Follow [compose-patterns.md](references/compose-patterns.md) for RTL-aware Compose layouts  
→ Use [testing.md](references/testing.md) for locale-specific testing  

**Implementing network calls (Retrofit)?**
→ Use [architecture.md](references/architecture.md) → "Network Layer Setup" for Retrofit service interfaces, Hilt NetworkModule, and AuthInterceptor  
→ Define API interfaces in `core/network` per [modularization.md](references/modularization.md)  
→ Follow [dependencies.md](references/dependencies.md) for Retrofit, OkHttp, and serialization setup  
→ Handle errors with generic `Result<T>` from [kotlin-patterns.md](references/kotlin-patterns.md)  

**Creating custom lint rules or code checks?**
→ Use [code-quality.md](references/code-quality.md) for Detekt custom rules  
→ Follow [gradle-setup.md](references/gradle-setup.md) for convention plugin setup  
→ Check [android-strictmode.md](references/android-strictmode.md) for runtime checks

**Need code coverage reporting?**
→ Use [android-code-coverage.md](references/android-code-coverage.md) for JaCoCo setup  
→ Follow [testing.md](references/testing.md) for test strategies  
→ Check [gradle-setup.md](references/gradle-setup.md) for convention plugin integration

**Implementing security features (encryption, biometrics, pinning)?**
→ Use [android-security.md](references/android-security.md) for comprehensive security guide  
→ Follow [android-permissions.md](references/android-permissions.md) for runtime permissions  
→ Check [crashlytics.md](references/crashlytics.md) for PII scrubbing and data privacy