chat_web_app/llm-fe/android

AI ML Chat — Android

Native Capacitor project for com.aimloperations.chat. Web UI comes from the CRA build/ output in the parent llm-fe/ package (synced with npx cap sync).

Broader Capacitor notes (env files, icons, QA): ../ANDROID.md.

Prerequisites

• Node.js 20
• JDK 17+
• Android Studio with SDK Platform 35
• ANDROID_HOME set, or open this folder once in Android Studio (writes local.properties)

Build the web bundle and sync

From the npm root (llm-fe/, one level up):

cd ..
npm ci
npm run build:mobile    # .env.mobile → react-scripts build → cap sync android

Open this project in Android Studio:

npm run android:open
# or: npx cap open android

Re-sync after changing web code (with an existing build/):

npm run android:sync

Backend URLs are baked in at web-build time via ../.env.mobile (prod by default).

Run on a device / emulator

Android Studio

1. Sync Gradle when prompted.
2. Pick an emulator or USB device (enable USB debugging).
3. Run app.

CLI (debug APK)

./gradlew assembleDebug
adb install -r app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk

Version before a store release

Edit app/build.gradle → defaultConfig:

Field	Rule
versionName	User-visible string; keep in sync with ../package.json version
versionCode	Integer; must increase for every Play upload

Sign a release build

Do not commit keystores or passwords.

1. Create an upload keystore (once), outside the repo:

keytool -genkey -v -keystore ~/Documents/secrets/aiml-chat-upload.jks \
  -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000 \
  -alias aiml-chat-upload

2. Create keystore.properties in this directory (android/, gitignored):

storeFile=/absolute/path/to/aiml-chat-upload.jks
storePassword=REPLACE_ME
keyAlias=aiml-chat-upload
keyPassword=REPLACE_ME

3. Build a signed App Bundle:

./gradlew bundleRelease

Output:

app/build/outputs/bundle/release/app-release.aab

Signed APK (if needed):

./gradlew assembleRelease
# → app/build/outputs/apk/release/app-release.apk

Without keystore.properties, release builds are unsigned; debug builds do not need it.

Deploy to Google Play

1. Play Console → app AI ML Chat (com.aimloperations.chat).
2. Complete store listing: privacy policy URL, data-safety form, screenshots.
3. Testing → Internal testing → create release → upload app-release.aab.
4. Add testers, roll out internal track, verify on devices.
5. Promote to closed / open / production only after internal QA passes.

Each new upload needs a higher versionCode.

Useful Gradle tasks

Task	Purpose
./gradlew assembleDebug	Debug APK
./gradlew assembleRelease	Release APK (signed if props present)
./gradlew bundleRelease	Play Store .aab
./gradlew clean	Clean build outputs

App identity

Application ID	com.aimloperations.chat
Display name	AI ML Chat
Min / target SDK	23 / 35 (see variables.gradle)