AAD Android Build System, Gradle & App Deployment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary build tool used in Android development with Android Studio?
- Apache Maven
- Apache Ant
- Gradle (Correct answer)
- Make
Correct answer: Gradle
Gradle is the official build system for Android, integrated into Android Studio and used for dependency management, compilation, and packaging.
Question 2: In an Android Gradle project, what does `compileSdkVersion` specify?
- The minimum Android API level the app can run on
- The Android API level used to compile the app source code (Correct answer)
- The Android version targeted for runtime optimization
- The API level used for running instrumented tests
Correct answer: The Android API level used to compile the app source code
`compileSdkVersion` defines the API level against which the app is compiled, giving access to the APIs available in that version without affecting runtime behavior.
Question 3: Which file contains the module-level Gradle build configuration including dependencies and build types?
- build.gradle (root)
- settings.gradle
- gradle.properties
- app/build.gradle (Correct answer)
Correct answer: app/build.gradle
The `app/build.gradle` file contains the module-specific configuration including dependencies, build types, and product flavors.
Question 4: What is the purpose of `versionCode` in an Android app?
- It is displayed to users on the Play Store as the app version string
- It is a string identifier used in Play Store release notes
- It is an internal integer used by the Play Store to determine if an update is newer (Correct answer)
- It specifies the minimum SDK version required to run the app
Correct answer: It is an internal integer used by the Play Store to determine if an update is newer
`versionCode` is an integer that must increase with each release; the Play Store uses it to determine update ordering, while `versionName` is the human-readable version shown to users.
Question 5: Which Gradle task produces a release-signed APK?
- buildRelease
- packageRelease
- assembleRelease (Correct answer)
- compileRelease
Correct answer: assembleRelease
The `assembleRelease` Gradle task compiles, packages, and signs the app with the release configuration, producing a release-ready APK.
Question 6: What is a 'build variant' in Android development?
- An alternative version of the app's XML layouts
- A combination of a build type and a product flavor (Correct answer)
- A different version of Kotlin used per module
- A variant of the manifest file for different screen sizes
Correct answer: A combination of a build type and a product flavor
A build variant is the combination of a build type (e.g., debug, release) and a product flavor (e.g., free, paid), allowing different versions of the app to be built from the same source.
Question 7: Where is the Gradle wrapper version for an Android project specified?
- build.gradle (root)
- gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties (Correct answer)
- settings.gradle
- local.properties
Correct answer: gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
The `gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties` file specifies the Gradle distribution URL, ensuring all team members and CI systems use the same Gradle version.
AAD Android Build System, Gradle & App Deployment 1
What is the primary build tool used in Android development with Android Studio?