Android Studio 3.1 is officially live in the stable channel, and it brings a wealth of new features and optimizations, including a new Android Emulator that can use custom frames or no frame at all, along with SQL code completion suggestions to make life easier when it comes to tedious SQL tasks. Some other key new features include a Lint checker for Kotlin, a move to the D8 Dex compiler by default, passive Dex optimizations, quick boot for the Android Emulator, and updates to the same that bring compatibility with the Play Store and Google’s own APIs on Android API versions running from Nougat to the Android P Developer Preview.
The key features listed above are only the tip of the iceberg in this massive update. Starting from the most basic parts of the new build, the first big change to look at is C++ code profiling at the CPU level for monitoring and optimization purposes. On the same front but in a different area, developers can now monitor network activity for their app during live testing. In the Android Emulator, sessions will now boot in about 6 seconds flat, after an initial cold boot for each virtual device. Additionally, the emulator can run in frameless mode, or use custom frames that can mimic the 18:9 aspect ratio found on some newer devices, or even the display cutout API present in the Android P Developer Preview, which makes it easier to have your app work around the notch design popularized by Apple’s iPhone X and the Essential Phone. Since working with Dex code is a key part of Android app creation, the updates in that area don’t disappoint; the new D8 compiler is live by default in this build and saves you about 10% to 15% on space compared to older builds, and a new tree-based build output window is also on board. Moving finally to database development, the internal IntelliJ platform has been updated to the latest available version, SQL database code is now easier to edit and includes an autocomplete function, and Android Studio’s well-loved Lint Checker finally supports the Kotlin language.
The long list of changes means that apps coded in older versions of Android Studio should be ported over post-haste for optimization purposes, and you’re able to do just that as of this writing. The new Android Studio 3.1 is available for download through the source link, and can be set up in-place over older versions, with most porting and optimizations to old projects done automatically.
