Posted by Dan Galpin – Android Developer Relations
To higher help you and supply earlier, extra constant entry to in-development options, we’re asserting a major evolution in our pre-release program. Transferring ahead, the Android platform may have a Canary launch channel, which is able to substitute the earlier developer preview program. This Canary launch channel will perform alongside the present beta program.
This variation is designed to offer a extra streamlined and steady alternative so that you can check out new platform capabilities and supply suggestions all through the complete yr, not simply within the early months of a brand new launch cycle.
Limitations of the earlier developer preview mannequin
The Developer Preview program has been a important a part of our launch cycle, however its construction had inherent limitations:
- Developer Previews weren’t tied to a launch channel, and needed to be manually flashed to units each time the cycle would restart.
- As a result of previews had been tied to the subsequent designated Android launch, they had been solely obtainable in the course of the earliest a part of the cycle. As soon as a platform model reached the Beta stage, the preview monitor would finish, creating a niche the place options that had been promising however not but prepared for Beta had no official channel for suggestions.
A steady movement of options with the Canary channel
The brand new Android platform Canary channel addresses these challenges instantly. By flashing your supported Pixel gadget to the Canary launch channel, now you can obtain a steady, rolling stream of the newest platform builds by way of over-the-air (OTA) updates.
- You possibly can check out and supply enter on new options and deliberate habits modifications of their earliest phases. These modifications could not all the time make it right into a secure Android launch.
- The Canary launch channel will run in parallel with the beta program. The beta program stays the way in which so that you can strive a extra polished set of doubtless soon-to-be-released options.
- You should utilize the Canary builds together with your CI to see if any of our in-development options trigger sudden issues together with your app, maximizing the time we now have to deal with your issues.
Who ought to use the Canary channel?
The Canary channel is meant for builders that wish to discover and check with the earliest pre-release Android APIs and potential habits modifications. Builds from the Canary channel may have handed our automated assessments in addition to skilled a brief check cycle with inner customers. You need to count on bugs and breaking modifications. These bleeding-edge builds is not going to be your best option for somebody to make use of as their major or solely gadget.
The present beta channel will stay the first approach so that you can be sure that your apps are each appropriate with and benefit from upcoming platform options.
Getting began and offering suggestions
You should utilize the Android Flash Software to get the newest Canary construct onto your supported Pixel gadget. As soon as flashed, you must count on OTA updates for the newest Canary builds as they grow to be obtainable. To exit the channel, flash a Beta or Public construct to your gadget. This can require a knowledge partition wipe.
Canary releases can be obtainable on the Android Emulator by the Machine Supervisor in Android Studio (at present, simply within the Android Studio Canary channel), and Canary SDKs can be obtainable so that you can develop in opposition to by the SDK Supervisor.
Since most habits modifications require focusing on a launch, you’ll be able to goal Canary releases the way in which you’ll be able to goal another platform SDK model, or use the Compatibility Framework with supported options to allow habits modifications in your apps.
Suggestions is a important part of this new program, so please file function suggestions and bug experiences in your Canary expertise by the Google Concern Tracker.
By transitioning to a real Canary channel, we intention to create a extra clear, collaborative, and environment friendly growth course of, providing you with the seamless entry it is advisable put together for the way forward for Android.
