Difference Between Android.bp and Android.mk

Difference Between Android.bp and Android.mk

Android.mk and Android.bp are build systems used for compiling and building Android applications and components. While both serve the same purpose, they differ significantly in their syntax, features, and overall philosophy.

Android.mk

Overview

Android.mk is a legacy build system that uses a simple, Makefile-like syntax. It is based on GNU Make, a popular build system for Unix-like systems.

Features

• Simple and easy to understand syntax.
• Works well for small projects with limited dependencies.
• Supports basic build rules and variables.

Limitations

• Limited functionality and flexibility.
• Difficult to maintain and scale for large projects.
• Lack of advanced features like static analysis, parallel execution, and modularity.

Android.bp

Overview

Android.bp is a modern build system based on Bazel, a powerful and scalable build tool. It uses a more structured and declarative syntax.

Features

• Modern and expressive syntax.
• Supports advanced features like static analysis, parallel execution, and modularity.
• Better performance and scalability for large projects.
• Offers more control over the build process.

Limitations

• Steeper learning curve compared to Android.mk.
• May require changes to existing codebase.

Comparison Table

Code Example

Android.mk

LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)

include $(CLEAR_VARS)

LOCAL_MODULE := my_module
LOCAL_SRC_FILES := main.cpp

include $(BUILD_EXECUTABLE)

Android.bp

cc_binary {
  name: "my_module",
  srcs: ["main.cpp"],
}

Conclusion

Android.bp offers a significant improvement over Android.mk by providing a modern, scalable, and feature-rich build system. While it may require a learning curve, the benefits of using Android.bp outweigh the drawbacks for most projects. Android.mk is gradually being phased out in favor of Android.bp.