I added the audio android-ffmeg library project in my application.
I added a file called libsox.so in the libs folder of the application.
The file is called via a ShellCallback , looking in the file system.
The problem is that it return a "nullPointerException", depending on the mobile phone. On my Samsung it works without problem, but this problem appear on other device.
The problem looks to be in the first line:
fileBinDir = new File(_context.getFilesDir().getParentFile(),"lib");
soxBin = new File(fileBinDir,"libsox.so").getCanonicalPath();
Somebody know why it can't be found on some device ?
Native libraries are handled different to assets. Usually you include one library for each platform (armebi, armebi-v7a and x86). When you install the app the matching library in installed and the other libraries are just ignored.
If you want to load a library use System.loadlibrary("sox") instead. The "lib" and ".so" parts will be automatically added and Android knows where it installed the library.
Alternatively you can use System.mapLibraryName(..) to get the library file name and then use findLibrary(..) of your current classloader for getting the path to the library.
Related
Background
I'm working on an app that has become very popular, so much that a part of it is supposed to become an SDK (which would be available for developers), and the app will split to 2 apps (both use the SDK).
According to what I know, there are multiple ways to create an SDK module (previously called "project" on Eclipse) :
Completely open sourced (Android library) - all sources and resources are open sourced and can be modified. An example might be Facebook's SDK and a lot of Github repos.
a single Jar file, which can be closed sourced.
The problem
Sadly, I can't make the SDK open sourced, and it should relatively be protected vs prying eyes (obfuscated etc...).
The issue here is, the SDK needs to use some resources of its own (drawables, strings,...), and so far (because I didn't have a lot of experience with creating SDKs) I've found 2 ways to handle resources for SDKs :
use reflection and/or "context.getResources().getIdentifier" . This is quite messy, as I lose the whole "R" usage of the code. Also, it has issues with "styleable" , as I've written here. It also makes it hard to find unused resources.
even worse ways: put resources in assets folder, put files in a wacky way inside the jar file, ...
Note that a part of the SDK includes custom views (for example, classes that extend from TextView), so even if I do split the SDk into 2 modules- resources and java files, both might have issues of dependencies (each uses the other one).
The question
Is it possible to somehow solve this issue?
Is it possible for the code part of the SDK to remain closed sourced, reach the "R" file as usual, and make it easy for both me and whoever use the SDK ?
How would I then generate the jar file as being obfuscated via Android Studio? and is it possible to prepare it to to be used via gradle afterwards?
Can I maybe make the Android-library of the SDK into an obfuscated jar file and not worry about the "R" file ? I ask this because this way I could enjoy both worlds: for our apps, it would remain open sourced, and for third party apps it would be closed sourced.
EDIT: seeing that this is supposed to be easy, I've tried it myself. I've created a totally new POC project which has an Android library module called "sdkmodule", and added this class to it:
public class SdkClass
{
public String doIt(Context context)
{
return context.getResources().getString(R.string.app_name);
}
}
Then, I've made the app's module to use this one, and I wrote this code in it:
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
{
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
SdkClass sdkClass=new SdkClass();
Log.d("AppLog","string from SDK:"+sdkClass.doIt(this));
Log.d("AppLog","string with same ID name from app:"+getResources().getString(R.string.app_name));
}
What I expected is that the first log would print the string that's in the SDK module, and the second to show the string of the current project, but instead I got an exception:
java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: Failed resolution of: Lcom/example/user/sdkmodule/R$string;
On another try, I've got the same string that's used on the app itself (the one that uses the SDK module). And, on another run, the SDK produced the needed string as I've wanted.
How could it be? What should I do ?
In addition, I've tried to make a second activity in the SDK itself, and I've created a resource there that has the same resource name (used for a textView in its layout) as of the app itself, yet with a different value, yet when I've reached this activity, I've seen the one used by the app.
Here's the project, zipped (ignore the name of the folder, I wanted to try flavors too) :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-PZZGk2vPohX25WUDNKTmotUTg/view?usp=sharing
The answer to your problem is to package and distribute your library as an AAR bundle
This format allows you to provide an obfuscated SDK jar and with its resources and the R mapping file.
This format is a standard and fully supported by maven-android-plugin (actually it's the replacement of the old APKLib format which supports only the distribution of source files).
Of course it's also supported by Gradle and Android Studio.
The Android Archive (AAR) format does what you want. It's like an Android-specific JAR file and contains compiled code, but includes its own resources and manifest. You can also include obfuscation as part of the build process. By default, the current version of Android Studio (1.2) and Gradle automatically build .AAR files for all library modules you create in your project.
You can change an app module into a library project that will publish an AAR file just by changing apply plugin: 'com.android.application' into apply plugin: 'com.android.library' in your module's Gradle file. The .AAR file will be placed in your MODULENAME/build/outputs/aar folder after each build. Some more information is available here.
Edit 1, after question updated:
The resources in your AAR get consolidated with the app module when the final APK gets compiled. The app resources will override the library's. This is probably by design, to allow people using a 3rd party library to customize its resources when creating their app, without having to rebuild the library. I think the easiest way to solve your resource conflict issue would just be to name your sdkmodule resources something more unique. Why not make the string key R.string.com_example_sdk_name or something?
No, the AAR libraries don't get obfuscated by default, but you can set up ProGuard in the Gradle build file for your AAR library to take care of this. Other tools are also available.
Hi I am working on a Android native application.
There is 'abc.so' files which depend on some 'xyz.so.1' file. All of the required files are available in the project structure before building, but the '.so.1' are not a part of the generated .apk file (I checked the apk file by unpacking).
This is causing in a "'java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError' Couldnt load 'abc.so.1' from loader dalvik" when trying to run the application.
I dont want to push the .so.1 file as the phone is not rooted and runs on a production build. How do I include the .so.1 files as a part of the APK?
Thank you.
I think you havent got the concept of loading native libraries to Java through JNI.
First you define the native methods in java and do the corresponding implementation in the native and compile it (you have to register the native methods by either 1) following a naming convention 2) registering the native methods in jni_onload...i think you must have done this, if not check http://www.ntu.edu.sg/home/ehchua/programming/android/android_ndk.html)
Next, you have to load the library before any call can be made to native. This has to be done once. You can do it in an activity by defining:
static{
System.loadLibrary("mylib.so");
}
Note while compiling the library you will have got the library name as libXYZ.so, but when loading the library in java the "lib" should be omitted ,just system.loadlibrary(XYZ.so)
If you are using NDK the library would have been already copied to Java project > libs > armeabi folder , if not you have to copy your lib.so there
Now if you have multiple shared libraries , you should load the least dependent lib.so first , followed by second etc i.e.
Static {
System.loadLibrary(independent_lib.so); // should depend on only android libs
System.loadLibrary(next_dependent_lib1.so); //can depend on android libs and independent_lib.so
System.loadLibrary(next_dependent_lib2.so); //can depend on android libs,independent_lib.so,next_dependent_lib1.so
.....
....
..
}
If you jumble up, the VM will not be able to link the libraries and throw a unsatisfied link error.
Lastly, all this .so s will be part of your apk and it will be pushed to the system libs only runtime. Unless its a rooted phone you cannot extract the .so. If you follow the above method you will not need to push any .so to the system. Only build on eclipse/cygwin and run
Hope this helps,
Regards,
Shrish
I have seen this question, and have some more doubts regarding creating a jar file which I can distribute and can be used in any android applications.
What my requirement is
As I said, I want to build and distribute a closed source library. I
don't want the source code to be visible.
In that library I don't want to use any assets, layouts, resources
etc. But I want to use some android specific codes, like getting
android device id.
The most popular answer in the above linked SO question tells to create a regular java project and import android.jar in it. I tried to do that, but I don't know how to add android.jar to any java project. I would like to get some clarification on that too.
Moreover I would like to know if there are any other methods using android sdk itself (without using java project) create a closed source library jar file.
I think what I want is possible, since google analytics for android native apps seems to have done it. I am sure in the .jar file they distribute they are using android specific codes, since there seems no other way for them to get the device information to display in the analytics viewer.
EDIT : CAN SOMEONE CLARIFY THIS??
I think I have made some progress. This is what I have done
Created a regular android project (not library project, the "is
Library" checkmark is unchecked)
In the project I have coded out my logic. It uses some android
specific classes like SharedPreference, UUID, PackageManager. But
nothing related with assets, layouts also no class extending
Activity. Just a java class extending java.lang.object
Exported the project using Project->rightclick->export->Java->JAR
file. In the next screen I unchecked the checkbox near
AndroidManifest.xml. Set a destination directory to export and
clicked next thrice with keeping the default settings. Then I clicked
Finish, and got a lovely libMyLibraryName.jar at my desktop.
Then I created another android project, added this libMyLibraryName.jar to new project using project->rightclick->properties->java build path -> libraries->add external jar.
And I tried to use my class in the library, in my new project
MyLibraryClass objClass = new MyLibraryClass(this);
And I was able to compile and run successfully. I even sent the library to one of my co worker who was able to use the library in his on machine (Just making sure library project in my workspace wont influence the project using it).
Now I have 2 questions.
1) My first question is , what they meant by the term "true library" in the below given documentation ? Is it any non android java project which can be exported to a JAR file?
However, a library project differs from an standard Android
application project in that you cannot compile it directly to its own
.apk and run it on an Android device. Similarly, you cannot export
the library project to a self-contained JAR file, as you would do
for a true library. Instead, you must compile the library indirectly,
by referencing the library in the dependent application and building
that application.
Well this portion is taken from documentation under title "Library Projects".
2) My second question is, anything wrong with the way I have created the JAR file? Any possible pitfalls which might bite me back later? I would like to make sure I am not doing something terribly wrong, before using it in my important projects.
I might add that I didn't try the method of creating a JAVA project and importing android.jar. I am ready to try that one, if what I have done currently is wrong.
The android.jar will be located where you installed your Android SDK. Under the platforms directory there should be a number of other directories named android-<version>. The android.jar will be there. Choose the one specific to the minimum android version you are targeting.
Once you have that, copy it into your project. If you're using eclipse I think you can just cut and paste jars straight into your project, right click and add it to build path. If you're not using eclipse or any other IDE, you just need to ensure that the android.jar is on the classpath when building your jar file.
After that your newly built android library can be dropped into any Android project.
In answer to your additional questions:
What they mean by a true library is a jar file as opposed to an Android library project.
I don't think there's anything wrong with the way you created the jar file. I would have made it using the android.jar as I mentioned above but your way should also work. To verify this I would examine the jar contents and make sure all you have in there is .class files.
I am attempting to add a third-party library to my Android app. It utilizes a .jar file and a .so file. This is a pre-built .so file (i.e. not built specifically for the Android app) - which I know will provide me with plenty of problems down the road. I do NOT have access to the source files for the .jar or .so files!
I am attempting to dynamically load the library via a call to System.loadLibrary("foo");. Currently, when attempting to run the app, it crashes with the UnsatisfiedLinkError: Library foo not found. I have the .so file in both the libs/ and the libs/armeabi file in my project.
Am I chasing after a ghost here? I am trying to determine if what I'm after is even feasible. I have no native code that I'm referencing - all my function calls are to the .jar file that is, as I understand it, backed by the .so file. I have not run the Android.mk file as I'm not compiling anything - the .so file is already provided. I could really use some advice as to what direction to proceed from here.
It's possible that the base name given to System.loadLibrary() is expanding to a file (or path) name different than that of the actual prebuilt library. Logcat should show you exactly what it is trying to load. You could also use System.load() with a full path/file name instead of System.loadLibrary() - though you really should get it working with the later.
While I think it would generate a different error message, it's also possible that the .so is not android compatible - it must not only be for a compatible processor type and abi, but not depend on any dynamic libraries (such as a non-bionic libc) not installed on the device.
I work for an operator, and we preload applications on Android phones.
However, some preloaded applications, once upgraded from Market, crash.
The problem is this:
- the application contains a .so library file
- in order to preload the complete application on a phone, the .so library file has to be placed separately into the lib directory (/system/lib/libXXXXjni.so)
- when the preloaded application is upgraded from Market and run, instead of the .so library file in the new APK being found, the older preloaded .so file is found first - causing a crash, because the two .so fiels have differing contents
Does anyone have a suggested work-around, or knowledge of the library-searching algorthim which may help me solve this?
One possible solution might be to simply rename the library file, but is that enough?
Thanks in advance...
When you preload, try putting the applications library in:
/data/data/com.package.foobar/lib/libXXXXjni.so
Renaming the library would work. Possibly using the app's version number as the name of the .so file. The build becomes more complicated though.