developer-device-platform-basics

The saved excerpt is a snapshot from when this skill was listed. The external source remains the complete and most current version.

---
name: developer-device-platform-basics
description: >-
  Provides guidance and instructions on managing remote devices on Developer Device Platform (DDP).
  Use when reserving remote Android devices, establishing connection tunnels, checking session status, or extending/cancelling leases.
  Don't use for iOS or local device/hardware inquiries.
metadata:
  category: CloudInfrastructureAndServices
---

# Developer Device Platform

Developer Device Platform (DDP) is a Google fully managed, global infrastructure
providing access to a wide variety of physical and virtual devices.

> [!WARNING] Developer Device Platform (DDP) is currently at Preview.

> [!IMPORTANT] For all devicerun and devicestreaming API operations (reserving,
> status checking, stopping/canceling, updating, or listing a session), always
> verify and use the exact instructions and curl commands provided in the linked
> reference `.md` files.

## Authentication & Setup

**CRITICAL**: Before running any requests, you MUST ensure the environment is
correctly initialized by following these steps:

Before running any requests, verify if the `gcloud` executable is present. If
missing, refer to the official
[Google Cloud CLI Installation Guide](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sdk/docs/install-sdk.md.txt)
to install it on the current platform (Linux, macOS, Windows, etc.).

1.  **Google Cloud Authentication**: Authenticate with your Google Cloud
    credentials and configure active Application Default Credentials (ADC) for
    the Developer Device Platform:

    ```bash
    gcloud auth login --no-browser
    gcloud auth application-default login --no-browser
    ```

2.  **Enable APIs** (if not already enabled):

    ```bash
    gcloud services enable devicerun.googleapis.com devicestreaming.googleapis.com testing.googleapis.com --quiet
    ```

> [!NOTE] Cloud Testing API is needed for Device Streaming API during Preview.

3.  **Enable gcloud beta component**:

    ```bash
    gcloud components install beta
    ```

4.  **Setup Environment Variables**: Set up the required project variable and
    access token:

    ```bash
    export PROJECT_ID=$(gcloud config get project)
    export ACCESS_TOKEN=$(gcloud auth application-default print-access-token 2>/dev/null)
    ```

5.  **Python Environment**: For instructions on setting up the python virtual
    environment, see [start_adb_forwarder.md].

## Listing Available Devices

To find the correct `modelCode` and `osVersion` to use when starting a session,
you can list the available devices:

1.  **List Models**: Run the following command to list available Android device
    models:

    ```bash
    gcloud beta device-run devices list
    ```

    Use the `ID` column to find the value for the `CATALOG_ID` parameter to
    describe a specific device (e.g., `shiba-36`).

2.  **Describe a Model**: Run the API request to get more details about a
    specific model (e.g., supportedProducts, resolution). Always rely on the
    exact curl command and instructions provided in [describe_device.md].

## Starting a Device Session

When the user asks to reserve or connect to a device:

1.  **Check Device Availability**:

    Look up `CATALOG_ID` of the device using `Listing Available Devices`
    instructions. Check the device availability of the `CATALOG_ID` by using the
    exact curl command and instructions provided in [describe_device.md]. The
    device MUST contain "deviceStreaming" in "supportedProducts" to be reserved.

    If no specific device is specified, use `CATALOG_ID=shiba-34` (Pixel 8 on
    SDK 34).

    If `OS_VERSION` was not specified by the user, ask the user to select a
    version from the device list (preferring the version with the highest
    availability {"available": "AVAILABILITY_HIGH" }).

    If `OS_VERSION` is unavailable for `deviceStreaming`, do not reserve one.
    Prompt the user for an alternative `OS_VERSION`.

2.  **Extract Parameters**:

    *   `model_id`: `modelCode` from device details. Req