Gradle, navigable
Browse Gradle tasks in the side panel — assemble, install, clean, sync without leaving the editor.
01 Thesis
Stop acting as a human router between editors, terminals, and device pickers.
This extension wires VS Code to the Gradle + AGP + SDK stack you already use — tasks, targets, and install in one flow.
build.gradle stays the source of truth; controls sit next to the code.
With agents in VS Code, fewer forced trips to a full IDE for routine Gradle or device steps — stay in one surface.
02 The hidden tax
Compilers are fast. Friction isn’t. It lives around the compile button.
- Gradle in the wrong working directory
- Guessing which device is attached
- Install steps that don’t live next to your code
That’s fragmentation — not “how Android is.” This tool aims to own the loop from the editor, without replacing your build.
03 The arsenal
A cockpit, not a junk drawer — Gradle, targets, install, detection.
Variants, picked
Discover build variants and modules from Gradle. Pick the active variant or root from a quickpick.
Targets, unambiguous
Live device + emulator picker with auto-selection. Status bar shows the active install target.
Build → install → launch
Tight loop — build, push to device, launch the app. Repeat until it runs.
Logcat, integrated
Live device logs with regex filters, level coloring, package filter, and persistent column settings.
APK cache, browseable
Re-install previous build outputs from a cache. Clean it on demand.
Debug, attached
Attach the JDWP debugger to a running process via local port forwarding. Source-mapped breakpoints out of the box.
Remote ADB, bridged
Connect to a phone over a WebSocket relay — wireless, remote LAN, or paired companion app.
Release signing, scaffolded
Guided setup writes signingConfigs blocks into your build.gradle. Local-override flow keeps secrets out of the repo.
Daemons, contained
Isolated GRADLE_USER_HOME so editor builds don't fight Studio. Auto-stop idle daemons after N minutes.
04 The loop
Linear flow — write → build → target → install → run.
- Write
- Build
- Target
- Install
- Run
05 Principles
Less theater around the toolchain.
- Respect Gradle — UI on top, not a replacement.
- Match CI — local runs should align with what pipelines enforce.
- Plain SDK/ADB — same binaries, visible flows.
06 Compatibility
Expects a normal Android/Gradle layout, AGP, SDK, and local.properties where applicable.
07 Reality check
Independent extension — not from Google or Gradle. Not a replacement for Android Studio when you need the full IDE; it optimizes the daily write → build → target → prove loop in VS Code.
It does not: rewrite your Gradle files, replace Studio for niche tooling, or magic away the SDK.
09 Open source
Issues and PRs: github.com/AndroidGradleTools
10 License
MIT — see the repository for exact terms.