link android.mk to gradle android studio

Here's a well-written article on 'Linking Android.mk to Gradle in Android Studio':

When working with native libraries in your Android application, it's essential to understand how to link your Android.mk file to Gradle in Android Studio. In this article, we'll explore the process of linking Android.mk to Gradle and provide a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

Why Link Android.mk to Gradle?

In Android Studio 3.6 and higher, you no longer need to create a new project when updating an APK outside the IDE. This makes it easier to work with native libraries, but it also means that you'll need to link your Android.mk file to Gradle in order to build your application correctly.

Linking Android.mk to Gradle

To link your Android.mk file to Gradle, follow these steps:

1. First, create a standard Android application using Android Studio.

2. Open your terminal (Ubuntu) and navigate to the hello-jni folder.

3. Right-click on the app module in the Project explorer and choose New | Folder | JNI Folder from the context menu. This will create a new JNI folder called 'jni' inside your app module.

4. Copy your Android.mk file into the JNI folder.

5. Open your build.gradle file and add the following code to link your Android.mk file:

```

android {

...

sourceSets {

main {

jniLibs.srcDirs = ''src/main/jniLibs''

}

```

6. Save your build.gradle file and close it.

7. Open your terminal and navigate back to the root of your project directory.

8. Run the command `gradle assembleDebug` to build your application.

What is Android.mk?

Android.mk is a Makefile that tells the Android NDK how to compile your native code. It's used to specify the source files, libraries, and other settings needed to compile your native code.

What are SO Files?

SO files, also known as shared object files, contain the compiled code for your native library. They're stored in a folder within the APK file called `/lib//`.

Using Native Libraries in Your Android Application

To use a native library in your Android application, you'll need to add some code to your Android.mk file. Here's an example of how you can do it:

1. Open your Android.mk file and add the following code:

```

LOCAL_PATH := $(call my-dir)

include $(CLEAR_VARS)

LOCAL_MODULE := hello-jni

LOCAL_SRC_FILES := hello-jni.c

include $(BUILD_SHARED_LIBRARY)

```

2. Save your Android.mk file and close it.

3. Run the command `ndk-build` to generate a SO file for your native code.

Linking Android.mk to Gradle in Android Studio is an essential step when working with native libraries in your Android application. By following these steps, you can link your Android.mk file to Gradle and use native libraries in your Android application.

Link android.mk to gradle android studio