Implementing CI-CD for Android-based projects using GitHub

Implementing CI-CD for Android-based projects using GitHub and automating unit tests, release package creation, and publishing to Maven Central involves several steps. Here’s a detailed guide to help you set up the entire workflow:

Prerequisites:

• GitHub account and a repository containing your Android project.
• Android project with Gradle for build automation.
• Maven Central account or an account on JFrog’s Bintray (for publishing artifacts).

Step 1: Set up Unit Tests:

• Ensure your Android project has proper unit tests using frameworks like JUnit or Espresso.
• Make sure your unit tests can be executed via Gradle tasks.

Step 2: Configure Gradle for Maven Central Publishing:

• Add the necessary configurations in your project’s `build.gradle` to publish artifacts to Maven Central or JFrog’s Bintray.
• Set up the required information, like group ID, version, and publication information.

Step 3: Create a GitHub Actions Workflow:

• In your GitHub repository, navigate to the “Actions” tab.
• Create a new workflow by selecting “Set up a workflow yourself” or choose a template that suits your needs (e.g., Android CI).
• Create a new YAML file (e.g., `.github/workflows/android-ci.yml`) and define the workflow steps.

Step 4: Define CI-CD Workflow:

name: Android CI

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  build:

    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
    - name: Checkout code
      uses: actions/checkout@v2

    - name: Set up JDK
      uses: actions/setup-java@v2
      with:
        java-version: '11'

    - name: Set up Android SDK
      uses: actions/setup-android@v1
      with:
        sdk-version: '30'

    - name: Run unit tests
      run: ./gradlew test

    - name: Build release package and publish to Maven Central
      if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')  # Execute only when a tag is created
      run: |
        ./gradlew assembleRelease

        # Replace the following lines with your actual publishing steps to Maven Central
        echo "Publishing to Maven Central..."

Your CI-CD workflow YAML file should include the following steps:

1. Set up the build environment:

• Use the `jobs` section to define a build environment, like Ubuntu, macOS, or Windows, depending on your project’s needs.

2. Checkout your repository:

• Use the `actions/checkout` action to clone your repository in the build environment.

3. Set up JDK and Android SDK:

• Use the `actions/setup-java` action to install the required JDK version.
• Use the `actions/setup-android` action to install the required Android SDK.

4. Run unit tests:

• Execute Gradle tasks for running unit tests using the `run` command.
• Ensure that the build fails if any tests fail by using the `continue-on-error: false` option.

5. Create release package when a tag is created:

• Use the `on` section with `tags` event to trigger the workflow when a new tag is pushed.
• Define steps to build a release package (APK or AAR) using Gradle tasks.

6. Publish to Maven Central:

• Define steps to publish the artifacts to Maven Central or JFrog’s Bintray using Gradle tasks and respective API calls or plugins.

Step 5: Push and Create Tags:

• Commit the changes and push them to your GitHub repository.
• To create a new tag, use the `git tag` command followed by `git push — tags`.

Step 6: Monitor and Verify:

• Check the “Actions” tab in your GitHub repository to monitor the CI-CD workflow’s execution.
• Review the workflow logs to ensure that unit tests pass, the release package is generated, and publishing to Maven Central is successful.

Please note that this is a high-level overview, and there might be additional configurations and steps required based on your project’s specific setup and requirements. It’s essential to thoroughly test the CI-CD workflow before deploying it in a production environment. Additionally, consider setting up proper security measures and access controls to protect sensitive information, such as API keys and signing certificates