android-cli – Coding skill for AI agents

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:

tmpdir="$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/android-cli.XXXXXX")" || exit 1
curl --fail --show-error --silent --location --max-time 30 https://dl.google.com/android/cli/latest/linux_x86_64/install.sh -o "$tmpdir/install.sh"
# Read the ENTIRE downloaded file and any secondary fetches it performs.
# Record its digest; first 160 lines alone are not a complete review.
cat "$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:

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.

Use installed-version help and dated official Android documentation; a returned search result is not guaranteed current or authoritative for the exact SDK. 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 for Android using the android skills command.

Inspecting UI Layouts

Use the android layout command to inspect the UI layout of an Android application. It returns the layout tree of an Android application in JSON format. When debugging UI errors, this is often a much faster approach than taking a screenshot.

Updating the CLI

Update the Android CLI using the android update command.

Limitations

• The android CLI must be installed and available on PATH; otherwise install it first or use the platform-specific setup guidance above.
• Device, emulator, SDK, and documentation commands can depend on local Android SDK state, network access, and attached hardware.
• Treat generated commands as environment-sensitive: inspect paths, package names, device serials, and install/update targets before running them.

Historical Android Help Output

Snapshot only: compare android --version and relevant --help output before

using flags; do not confuse this CLI with the deprecated SDK android tool.

Official CLI source documentation: https://developer.android.com/tools/agents/android-cli

and https://developer.android.com/tools/agents/android-cli/download .

Installing/updating and init/skills can modify local tools or agent configuration;

review destination, provenance, downloads and telemetry settings first. Do not

automatically change global tools, licenses or persistent agent instructions.

Usage: android [-hV] [--sdk=PARAM] [COMMAND]
  -h, --help        Show this help message and exit.
      --sdk=PARAM   Path to the Android SDK
  -V, --version     Print version information and exit.
Commands:
  create    Create a new Android project
  describe  Analyzes an Android project to generate descriptive metadata.
  docs      Android documentation commands
  emulator  Emulator commands
  help      Shows the help of all commands
  info      Print environment information (SDK Location, etc.)
  init      Initializes the environment (eg. skills) for Android CLI.
  layout    Returns the layout tree of an application
  run       Deploy an Android Application
  screen    Commands to view the device
  sdk       Download and list SDK packages
  skills    Manage skills
  update    Update the Android CLI

create
          Usage: android create [-h] [--verbose] [--list] [--minSdk=api]
                                --name=applicationName [-o=dest-path] [template-name]
          Create a new Android project
                [template-name]      The template name
            -h, --help               Show this help message and exit.
                --minSdk=api         The 'minSdk' supported by the application (default
                                       is defined in the template)
                --name=applicationName
                                      The name of the application (e.g. 'My Application')
            -o, --output=dest-path   The destination project directory path (default is
                                       '.')
                --verbose            Enables verbose output
                --list               List all available templates

describe
          Usage: android describe [-hV] [--project_dir=PARAM]
          Analyzes an Android project to generate descriptive metadata.
          This command identifies and outputs the paths to JSON files that detail the
          project's structure, including build targets and their corresponding output
          artifact locations (e.g., APKs). This information enables other tools and
          commands to locate build artifacts efficiently.
            -h, --help                Show this help message and exit.
                --project_dir=PARAM   The project directory to describe
            -V, --version             Print version information and exit.

docs
          Usage: android docs [-h] [COMMAND]
          Android documentation commands
            -h, --help   Show this help message and exit.
          Commands:
            search  Search Android documentation
            fetch   Fetch Android documentation

emulator
          Usage: android emulator [-h] [COMMAND]
          Emulator commands
            -h, --help   Show this help message and exit.
          Commands:
            create  Creates a virtual device
            start   Launches the specified virtual device. This command will return when
                      the emulator is fully started and ready to use.
            stop    Stops the specified virtual device
            list    Lists available virtual devices
            remove  Delete a virtual device

help
          Usage: android help [COMMAND]
          Shows the help of all commands
                [COMMAND]   The command to show help for

info
          Usage: android info <field>
          Print environment information (SDK Location, etc.)
                <field>   The specific field to print the value of. If omitted print all.

init
          Usage: android init
          Initializes the environment (eg. skills) for Android CLI.

layout
          Usage: android layout [-dhp] [--device=PARAM] [-o=PARAM]
          Returns the layout tree of an application
            -d, --diff           Returns a flat list of the layout elements that have
                                   changed since the last invocation of ui-dump
                --device=PARAM   The devi

… (full content is in the download package)