Android Support Library 23.2 – Build Apps For Wider Range of Devices

Android new support library, version 23.2 is here and along with the usual bug fixes, it comes with a host of exciting features.

The big fixes have been made in AppCompat, CardView, RecyclerView, MediaRouter, Leanback, Design, and Vector Drawable Compat. Google has enabled support for vector drawable’s for AppCompat while allowing developers to continue using app:srcCompat attribute if they want to use their own resources.

The BIG Additions

While Android Support Library 23.2 comes with the new day/night mode feature, the two big additions are –

• Support vector drawable’s for API higher than 7 devices
• Animated vector ddrawable’sfor API higher than 11 devices

Vector drawable’s allow users to replace multiple png assets with a single vector drawable. AppCompat has received a series of new features that enable developers to use vector drawable’s even in places where the drawable id is not accepted (such as XML files). You can use ImageView with AppCompat, you can add app:srcCompat attribute to reference vector drawable’s.

<ImageView
android_layout_width="wrap_content"
android_layout_height="wrap_content"
app_srcCompat="@drawable/ic_add" />

Direct referencing of vector drawable’s outside app:srcCompat does not work on Android versions older than Lollipop.

Day/Night Theme

There is a new AppCompat Day/Night theme in version 23.2 – Theme.AppCompat.DayNight. This theme allows apps to support light and dark theme on API 14 and higher devices. The default mode will be ‘night’, but it can be overridden with methods in AppCompatDelegate.

If your app has location permission, then depending on the time and last known the location, AppCompatDelegate.MODE_NIGHT_AUTO can be used to automatically switch between day and night. If you want to customize any resource to appear as night mode specifically, then AppCompat reuses night resource qualifier folder to customize every resource that will be needed.

Design Support Library

Design Support Library implements many patterns of Material Design that helps developers add bottom sheets to their app. By attaching BottomSheetBehavior to a child view of CoordinatorLayout, you can automatically get appropriate touch detection to transition between five states –

-STATE_COLLAPSED
-STATE_DRAGGING
-STATE_SETTLING
-STATE_EXPANDED
-STATE_HIDDEN

Support v4: MediaBrowserServiceCompat

Support v4 library is the foundation for most of the support libraries and includes backports of many framework features introduced with new versions. The MediaBrowserServiceCompat and MediaBrowserCompat provide a compatible solution for latest APIs to all API 4 and higher devices. This supports audio playback on Android Audio and media browsing on Android Wear.

RecyclerView : RecyclerView widget provides and advanced and flexible base for creating lists and grids while supporting animation. This version has LayoutManager API: auto-measurement and allows RecyclerView to adjust to content size.

Custom Tabs : Custom Tabs allow a seamless transition to web content without disturbing the UX of the app.

Leanback for Android TV : With Leanback, the app can be transitioned to the Android TV without compromising on UX.

The version 23.2 is available with the SDK Manager and Android Studio, making Android app development exciting with IoT technologies.