Android studio custom project template with two or more Modules together

Creating Custom Android Studio Project Templates with Multiple Modules

This article guides you through the process of creating custom Android Studio project templates that include two or more modules. This can streamline your development process, allowing you to quickly set up projects with pre-defined structures and dependencies.

Understanding Multi-Module Projects

Android Studio projects can be structured with multiple modules, each representing a distinct part of your application. Common scenarios for multi-module projects include:

• Feature Modules: Separating UI, logic, and data for different features of your app.
• Library Modules: Creating reusable components or shared logic across projects.
• Testing Modules: Isolating unit and integration tests.

Creating a Custom Template

Follow these steps to create a custom template with multiple modules:

1. Define Your Template Structure

Before starting, determine the modules your template will contain and their interdependencies:

• App Module: The main application module (usually with the android:application tag in the manifest).
• Feature Module (Optional): Example: A module for handling user authentication.
• Library Module (Optional): Example: A utility library with common helper functions.

2. Create a Sample Project

Start with a basic Android Studio project. This will serve as the foundation for your template.

3. Add Modules

Add the necessary modules to your project as per your template structure:

• Feature Module: Create a new module (File -> New -> Module) and select “Android Library” as the module type.
• Library Module: Similarly, create a new module and choose “Android Library.”

4. Configure Module Dependencies

Define the dependencies between modules using the build.gradle files:

// app/build.gradle
dependencies {
    implementation project(":feature-module")
    implementation project(":library-module")
    // Other dependencies
}

// feature-module/build.gradle
dependencies {
    // Dependencies required by this module
}

// library-module/build.gradle
dependencies {
    // Dependencies required by this module
}

5. Define Template Variables

Use template variables (e.g., ${packageName}) in your project files to make your template customizable:

// app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml

    


// feature-module/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml

    

6. Configure the Template Descriptor File

Create a template descriptor file (template.xml) in your project’s root directory:

7. Export the Template

Right-click on the project directory and select “Export Template” from the context menu. Choose a destination folder and provide a template name.

Using the Custom Template

Once your template is created, you can access it by:

• New Project Creation: When creating a new project in Android Studio, select your custom template from the “Create Project” window.
• Import Existing Project: You can import a project from your template folder. When prompted, choose your custom template as the project type.

Example Template Structure

Below is a simplified example of a template structure with two modules:

Conclusion

Customizing Android Studio project templates with multiple modules enhances your development workflow by establishing consistent project structures, simplifying dependency management, and accelerating project setup. Utilize this technique to optimize your development process and foster code reuse.