Google released the Android Studio Dolphin that emphasizes three key themes: Jetpack Compose, Wear OS, and development productivity. FYI, these are Android’s new tools to build a native user interface and make high-quality apps. Here is a detailed look at the latest release. Also, you can download the build with version 2021.3.1 at the end of the page.
Must see: How to watch Paramount Plus on Play Station?
The latest platform offers a variety of new features, including tools to preview multiple screens, preview animations, WearOS 3-ready watch faces, titles, apps, and much more. Let’s take a detailed look at all the features that Android Studio Dolphin packs.
Android Studio Dolphin
Development tools
- Intellij 2021.3 Platform Update: The Intellij 2021.3 update adds some features such as an improved Find Usages flow, Kotlin debugger updates, constant conditions inspection for Kotlin, improved code intentions previews, and more.
- Gradle Managed Virtual Devices: Easing your work, you can now directly command the virtual devices regarding your need for your automated tests. Gradle will take care of everything, including SDK downloading to testing execution and teardown. Moreover, the new features like snapshot management, test caching, and test sharding optimize the test execution.
“Gradle Managed Virtual Devices also introduces a completely new type of device, called the Automated Test Device, which is optimized for automated tests, resulting in a significant reduction in CPU and memory usage during test execution.”
Jetpack Compose
- Compose Animation Inspector: Animation Preview inspector enables you to see all supported animations at once and coordinate them. Also, you can freeze a specific animation or scrub through an entire animation frame-by-frame. Currently, it supports animations built with update transition and Animated Visibility.
compose animation inspector - Compose Multi preview Annotations: Unlike before, you can now define an annotation class that includes multiple preview definitions. These new annotations will allow you to preview multiple devices, fonts, and themes at the same time, without any duplicity. That means no more copying and pasting the same @Preview code everywhere!
multipreview annotations - Compose Recomposition Counts in Layout Inspector: With Android Studio Dolphin, the Layout Inspector will allow you to view recomposition counts for a Compose app. If you want, these counts can be shown in the Component Tree and Attributes panels. It will help debug your Jetpack Compose UI and see if your UI is updating too often.
compose recomposition counts
Wear OS
- Wear OS Emulator Pairing Assistant: You can now see Wear OS devices in the Device Manager using the Emulator Pairing Assistant. In addition, it allows pairing more than one watch emulator with a single phone. On top, the Android Studio remembers pairings even after it closes, which means no more pairing/repairing.
wear os emulator pairing assistant - Wear OS Emulator Toolbar: There are new buttons and interactions on the Android Emulator toolbar. They align to Wear OS physical devices, allowing it to trigger bodily actions like the palm gesture or to simulate tilting the device.
wear os emulator side toolbar - Wear OS Direct Surface Launch: Lastly, Android Studio Dolphin enables you to create Run/Debug configurations for Wear OS tiles, watch faces, and complications that can be launched directly from Android Studio.
new wear os run/debug configuration types
Read more: Google may not release Pixelbook in 2023
Note: To use the Android Emulator features, make sure you are operating Android Emulator v31.3.0 or higher via the Android Studio SDK Manager. In case you are using a previous release of Android Studio, you can simply update to the latest version. Alternatively, just tap on the button below.
