Android Plans to upgrade Kodi to Android NDK revision 21 LTS (Long-Term Support) release?
#1
Just wondering what the plans are regarding upgrading/migrating Kodi to use Android NDK r21?

https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/blob/master...Android.md


Android NDK r21 was mentioned in pull requests #17377 and #17363 but that change was not committed because it was just unrelated to those PRs, or is other changes the in Android NDK r21 reason?

https://github.com/android/ndk/wiki/Changelog-r21


Android NDK r21 could perhaps be a showstopper before Kodi 19.0 "Matrix" is released now that r20 including r20b is no longer official support by Android/Google?

https://developer.android.com/ndk/downlo...r_releases


Android NDK Revision 21 also happens to be Google's first LTS (Long-Term Support) release of the Android Native Development Kit so it will have a higher focus on stability:

https://android-developers.googleblog.co...-term.html


The latest stable version is currently Android NDK r21d

https://developer.android.com/ndk/downlo...on_history


While not on their roadmap there are some hints that this Android NDK r21 LTS release could be the last NDK version with official support to build 32-bit apps.

https://android.googlesource.com/platfor...Roadmap.md
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#2
(2020-10-21, 11:44)RockerC Wrote: While not on their roadmap there are some hints that this Android NDK r21 LTS release could be the last NDK version with official support to build 32-bit apps.

https://android.googlesource.com/platfor...Roadmap.md

Kodi developers might want to take notice that Google is now generally forcing all developers of Android apps using native code to also support 64-bit builds to make apps more future-proof.

https://android-developers.googleblog.co...mance.html

https://android-developers.googleblog.co...4-bit.html

https://android-developers.googleblog.co...droid.html

https://developer.android.com/distribute...lop/64-bit

There is not yet any need to exclusively only supporting 64-bit Android apps but to be available in the Google Play Store, all apps will also just need to have 64-bit app support there as well.
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#3
Other maybe interesting and somewhat related news that Google's Android team already quietly announced as "Native Dependencies in Android Studio 4.0" is the new package management for third-party libraries that is available now:

https://android-developers.googleblog.co...io-40.html

With Google's Android team maintaining "ndkports" (with its name probably as a tribute to MacPorts/DarwinPorts) to help third-parties distribute packages, and a tool called "Prefab" to help build packages for ndkports:

https://android.googlesource.com/platfor.../ndkports/

https://google.github.io/prefab/

The point with ndkports and prefab is to provide app developers with easier access to common open-source libraries from third-parties to better support native dependencies, done via Android Gradle Plugin 4.x as of AGP 4.1 and later:

https://developer.android.com/studio/build/gradle-tips/


PS: Off-topic, but as a heads-up, another big thing on the roadmap that is coming up is better CMake integration which is looking at providing NDK integration for CMake as part of the NDK package:

https://github.com/android-ndk/ndk/issues/463
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#4
By the way, testing of Android apps on a TV should now be easier for developers with the addition of new "Test Harness Mode" on Android TV and Google Play Store support in the Android TV Emulator to help to test apps as you develop.

https://source.android.com/compatibility/cts/harness

"Test Harness Mode is a feature added in Android 10 for third-party app developers that wish to automate a device or a fleet of devices. The feature provides a method to wipe all user data on an Android device, retain ADB keys, and skip all first-time setup screens. This enables the user to run a UI test immediately after startup without any manual interaction."

"Note: Test Harness Mode is different from TradeFed Test Harness. It shouldn't be used when running CTS test."
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Plans to upgrade Kodi to Android NDK revision 21 LTS (Long-Term Support) release?0