android-cli

The saved excerpt is a snapshot from review. The external source remains the complete and most current version.

---
name: android-cli
description: Orchestrates Android development tasks including project creation, deployment, SDK management, and environment diagnostics using the `android` command-line tool.
category: tools
risk: critical
source: self
source_type: self
date_added: "2026-06-15"
author: Owais
tags: [android, cli, adb, mobile, build, emulator]
tools: [claude, cursor, gemini, antigravity]
plugin:
  targets:
    codex: blocked
    claude: blocked
  setup:
    type: manual
    summary: "Installer guidance executes remote Android CLI setup scripts; keep out of plugin-safe bundles."
    docs: SKILL.md
---

# Android CLI Specialist

This skill provides instructions for using the `android` CLI tool. The tool includes various commands for creating projects, running applications, interacting with devices, and managing the CLI environment.

## When to Use

- Use when you need to create, configure, or analyze Android projects from the command line.
- Use when interacting with, deploying to, or taking screenshots of running Android devices.
- Use when managing Android SDK components, versions, or virtual devices (emulators).
- Use when inspecting UI layouts or running XML-specified journey tests.

## Installation

If the `android` tool is not in the path, download the platform installer to a private temporary directory, inspect it, then run it only after the user confirms the source and contents:

```bash
tmpdir="$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/android-cli.XXXXXX")" || exit 1
curl -fsSL https://dl.google.com/android/cli/latest/linux_x86_64/install.sh -o "$tmpdir/install.sh"
sed -n '1,160p' "$tmpdir/install.sh"
# After review and explicit user confirmation:
bash "$tmpdir/install.sh"
```

Use the matching `darwin_arm64/install.sh` or `windows_x86_64/install.cmd` URL for macOS or Windows. Do not pipe mutable network installer scripts directly into a shell.

## SDK Management

To manage the installation of Android SDKs and tools, use the `sdk` command. For example:

- `android sdk install <package>[@<version>]...`: Install specific packages. Multiple packages can be specified, separated by spaces. `<version>` defaults to latest. For example: `android sdk install platforms/android-30@2 platforms/android-34`
- `android sdk update [<pkg-name>]`: Update a specific package or all packages to the latest version.
- `android sdk remove <pkg-name>`: Remove a package from the local SDK.
- `android sdk list --all`: List installed and available SDK packages.

## Project Creation

Create projects from templates using the `create` command.

For example:
```bash
android create empty-activity --name="My App" --output=./my-app
```

## Interacting with Devices

For more information on interacting with running devices, see [here](references/interact.md).

## Running Journey Tests

For more information on running journeys, see [here](references/journeys.md).

## Doc Searching

The `docs` command searches authoritative, high-quality Android developer documentation in the Android Knowledge Base.
By providing a few keywords, this tool will return high quality articles that contain examples or guidance on how to use Android APIs or libraries.
Use this tool to obtain additional information on how to achieve Android-specific tasks or to know more about Android APIs, surfaces, libraries, or devices.

Always use this tool to get the most up-to-date information about Android concepts. Typical good use cases are:
  - Finding migration guides for APIs.
  - Finding examples for APIs.
  - Finding up-to-date information about Android APIs.
  - Finding best practices for Android concepts.

## Running APKs

Use the `run` command to run Android apps.

## Managing Emulators

Manage Android Virtual Devices (AVDs) using the `android emulator` command.

## Capturing Screenshots

Capture an image of the current screen of a connected Android device and output it to a file using the `android screen capture -o <file path>` command.

## Managing Skills

Manage antigravity agent skills fo