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Dagger2 dependency injection: How does it work in an android app?

I am trying to understand an example for an app with offline support using retrofit and room:
You can find the code for it here:
This project is using dependency injections with Dagger2. I've never worked with it so I am trying to understand how things work together. I understand the purpose of dependency injection but I don't understand the implementation of the project above.
I found a very good introduction into Dagger2 here:
A Friendly Introduction to Dagger 2
Dagger 2 example Code:
I worked through it and got most of it. Back to the actual project I am trying to understand (link 2). It still doesn't make sense to me and here is why:
The interface AppComponent has one method which is used:
public void inject(MainActivity2ViewModel viewModelModule); The return type is void. In the Dagger2 sample project (link 3 and 4) they use WeatherReporter getWeatherReporter(); which makes sense because later they call this method to get a WeatherReporter-Instance and Dagger2 manages all of the instantation process in the background. But I get nothing if the return type is void. Why is the return type not an object?
There is one #Inject in MainActivity2ViewModel:
#Inject
public void setRepository(GitHubRepository2 repository) {
this.repository = repository;
}
repository is the only field of MainActivity2ViewModel so it is a dependency. The GitHubRepository2 constructor has 3 parameters:
#Inject
public GitHubRepository2(GitHubApi api, GitHubDao dao, Executor executor)
For each of them there is a module explaining how to create those objects. But why is there an AppModule and a NetModule? Maybe the AppModule is there because DaoModule needs an Application reference but why is there a NetModule and where is it used?

There's a lot of comprehensive tutorials about Dagger2 in Android. But I'll show you a glimpse of what it's used for. And minimal usage.
Ultimately, dagger will use the annotation #Inject which will provide(reference to the object or value) to the variable.
Injection is usually used on reusable or boilerplate objects like Dao, Repository, ViewModel, NetworkAdapter
class SomethingThatRequiresNetwork { // Activity, Fragment
#Inject
MyReusableNetworkAdapter myReusableNetworkAdapter;
String baseUrl; // for example purpose only
SomeDependency someDependency;
void init() {
// #NOTE: DaggerMyExampleComponent is a generated class. It will be red before compilation.
MyExampleComponent MyExampleComponent = DaggerMyExampleComponent.builder().build();
MyExampleComponent.inject(this); // the actual injection happens here
}
// yes, you can just use #Inject on the variables directly but this is another use.
#Inject
void methodInjection(String baseUrl, SomeDependency someDependency) {
this.baseUrl = baseUrl;
this.someDependency = someDependency;
}
}
// ANSWER to the two questions
// this is a pseudocode of the generated code. You do not write this
// MyExampleComponent class
void inject(SomethingThatRequiresNetwork obj) {
// #NOTE: modules are actually instantiated by MyExampleComponent. Not called statically. I just shortened it
obj.myReusableNetworkAdapter = NetModule.provideNetworkAdapter();
obj.methodInjection(NetModule.provideBaseUrl(), SomeModule.provideSomeDependency());
}
// these here are modules that provide by return TYPE
// you write these
#Module
class NetModule {
#Provides
#Singleton
String provideBaseUrl() {
return "www.some-url.com";
}
#Provides
#Singleton // will store the object and reuse it.
// #NOTE: provision can work internally within modules or inter-module. the input here is provided by provideBaseUrl
MyReusableNetworkAdapter provideNetworkAdapter(String baseUrl) {
return new MyReusableNetworkAdapter(baseUrl);
}
}
#Modules
class SomeModule {
#Provides
#Singleton
SomeDependency provideSomeDependency() {
return new SomeDependency();
}
}
// Component. uses modules
#Singleton // .build() will reuse
#Component(modules = {NetModule.class, SomeModule.class})
interface MyExampleComponent {
// the method name doesn't matter
// the class type does matter though.
void inject(SomethingThatRequiresNetwork somethingThatRequiresNetwork);
// some other class that needs injection. #NOTE: I did not give example for this
void inject(SomethingThatRequiresDependency some);
}
NOTE. This code is usually written from bottom to top lol. You start writing the Component then Module then Injections.
Just follow the calls from the top of this answer and you'll figure out how Dagger2 works.

Dagger 2.2 component builder module method deprecated

I started using dagger 2.2 and the module methods in the Component builder are deprecated.
This is my Application component :
#Component(modules = ApplicationModule.class)
public interface ApplicationComponent {
void inject(Application application);
}
And the Application module:
#Module
public class ApplicationModule {
Application application;
public ApplicationModule(Application application) {
this.application = application;
}
#Provides
#Singleton
Application providesApplication() {
return application;
}
}
Here is the generated class:
#Generated(
value = "dagger.internal.codegen.ComponentProcessor",
comments = "https://google.github.io/dagger"
)
public final class DaggerApplicationComponent implements ApplicationComponent {
private DaggerApplicationComponent(Builder builder) {
assert builder != null;
}
public static Builder builder() {
return new Builder();
}
public static ApplicationComponent create() {
return builder().build();
}
#Override
public void inject(Application application) {
MembersInjectors.<Application>noOp().injectMembers(application);
}
public static final class Builder {
private Builder() {}
public ApplicationComponent build() {
return new DaggerApplicationComponent(this);
}
/**
* #deprecated This module is declared, but an instance is not used in the component. This method is a no-op. For more, see https://google.github.io/dagger/unused-modules.
*/
#Deprecated
public Builder applicationModule(ApplicationModule applicationModule) {
Preconditions.checkNotNull(applicationModule);
return this;
}
}
}
How do I initialize the component if not with the ComponentBuilder?

You should read the description of why it is deprecated. If you are using an IDE like IntelliJ or Android Studio you can just select the method and hit Control + Q on Windows to read the Javadoc including the deprecation notice.
The Javadoc reads:
#deprecated This module is declared, but an instance is not used in the component. This method is a no-op. For more, see https://google.github.io/dagger/unused-modules.
And from this link you can see:
When the Dagger processor generates components, it only requires instances of modules and component dependencies that are explicitly needed to supply requests for a binding.
If all of a module’s methods that are used in the component are static, Dagger does not need an instance of that module at all. Dagger can invoke the static methods directly without a module.
If a module provides no bindings for a Component, no instance of that module is necessary to construct the graph.
It is safe to say that you can just ignore the deprecation. It is intended to notify you of unused methods and modules. As soon as you actually require / use Application somewhere in your subgraph the module is going to be needed, and the deprecation warning will go away.

It show deprecated because you are not using Component and module in your application by
#Inject
SomeObjectFromModule mSomeObject
if you are not injecting dependencies in your applications there is no use of initialising your component so dagger look for at least one usage
once you add these lines in any classes you want to inject views and then clean build and rebuild the project and your deprecation will be solved

It showing error when my Module have no #Provides method or the object that provide by Dagger is not used in app.
Example to remove deprecated module
Module
#Module
public class SecondActivityModule {
#Provides
Book provideBookTest() {
return new Book();
}
}
Activity
public class SecondActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
#Inject
Book test;
...
}
OR in Component
#Component(modules = SecondModule.class)
public interface SecondComponent {
void inject(SecondActivity activity);
Book getBookTest();
}

I have the same problem with host and I just want everyone has deprecated issue on Generated component builder class should check two things to save time:
1/ Correct dagger syntax for module, component also check carefully where you inject.
2/ Must have injection object (inject annotation and its object) in place you want to inject or else the dagger compiler cannot see where to use your module so some method will be deprecated.Just inject at least one module's provides to your injection place and re-compile the code, you won't have that issue anymore :)

you will get module method deprecated if you declare void inject(AppCompactActivity activity); in component class. instead of you have to use tight coupling like following void inject(MainActivity activity);and rebuild your project you will see, there is no deprecate method in module class

Dagger2: Component cannot depend on multiple scoped components

Yes, I know this has been asked before, and yes, I know it is "by design".
But I'd like to do something like this:
#Component(modules = {RealmModule.class})
public interface RealmComponent {
Realm realm();
}
#Component(modules = {RepositoryModule.class})
public interface RepositoryComponent {
PersonRepository personRepository();
ScheduleRepository schedulesRepository();
}
#Component(dependencies = {RealmComponent.class, RepositoryComponent.class})
public interface AppDataComponent
extends RealmComponent, RepositoryComponent {
}
#ApplicationScope
#Component(dependencies = {AppContextComponent.class,
AppDataComponent.class,
AppDomainComponent.class,
AppPresentationComponent.class,
AppUtilsComponent.class})
public interface ApplicationComponent
extends AppContextComponent, AppDataComponent, AppDomainComponent, AppUtilsComponent, AppPresentationComponent {
void inject(CustomApplication customApplication);
void inject(DashboardActivity dashboardActivity);
}
However, what I get is unscoped, every time I inject a JobManager or a ScheduleRepository or anything else, I get a new instance. The only way I could "fix" that was this.
#Module
public class JobManagerModule {
private JobManager jobManager;
#Provides
public JobManager jobManager(Context context) {
if(jobManager == null) {
jobManager = new JobManager(context, new Configuration.Builder(context).networkUtil(
new WifiOrMobileNetworkUtil(context)).build());
}
return jobManager;
}
}
Not a fan.
So, how is one meant to structure and rip apart the dependency tree, without making one big gigantic über blob component that has every single module listed and every single provision method (instead of these "subcomponent" component dependencies)?
I tried using subcomponents for this, but then you have to provide every single module for the final ApplicationComponent.
I'm not sure what to do here. I tried specifying #Singleton for every first-level component and #SubcomponentScope for every AppDataLevelComponent, I also tried making a new scope for every single subcomponent, but both of them failed with "cannot depend on multiple scoped components".
EDIT: Apparently in order to get scoped providers, marking the components with the scope is not enough - you must specify the scope for the #Provides annotated methods too.
#Module
public class RepositoryModule {
#Provides
#Singleton
public PersonRepository personRepository() {
return new PersonRepositoryImpl();
}
#Provides
#Singleton
public ScheduleRepository schedulesRepository() {
return new SchedulesRepositoryImpl();
}
}
In the meantime, I ended up with this übercomponent.
#Singleton
#Component(modules = {
AppContextModule.class,
DbMapperModule.class,
DbTaskModule.class,
RealmModule.class,
RepositoryModule.class,
InteractorModule.class,
ServiceModule.class,
PresenterModule.class,
XmlPersisterModule.class
})
public interface ApplicationComponent
extends AppContextComponent, AppDataComponent, AppDomainComponent, AppUtilsComponent, AppPresentationComponent {
Where the xyzComponent classes are just interfaces to store the provision methods...
(Please note that this structure is an anti-pattern as described by Martin Fowler, and you should organize modules based on features / activities, and make them into subscoped components using component dependencies. Component dependencies are used to subscope your superscope components, and "inherit" dependency providers.)

I had same problems like you not while ago and ended using the same ubercomponent approach except I use #Subcomponents in order organize the things and not to have all modules listed in the ubercomponent (I call it "top" or "app's" component).
You may see an example here:
How to migrate missing inject from module with complete = false from Dagger 1 to Dagger 2

Provide method dependendies

In the documentation it says that #Provides methods may have dependencies on their own, like:
#Provides Pump providePump(Thermosiphon pump) {
return pump;
}
What would change if I would write it like that:
#Provides Pump providePump() {
return new Thermosiphon();
}
And in the first snipped: Where does the method get its pump from?

The documentation also shows the Thermosiphon class:
class Thermosiphon implements Pump {
private final Heater heater;
#Inject
Thermosiphon(Heater heater) {
this.heater = heater;
}
...
}
The constructor of this class is annotated with #Inject. This lets Dagger know to use this Constructor whenever a Thermosiphon is necessary, and automatically supplies a Heater instance to it, so you don't have to.
It is perfectly fine for you to create a new Thermospihon instance yourself, but Dagger saves you the trouble by doing it like this. For example, you would need to get some Heater reference from somewhere if you do it manually. That is what Dagger is all about, so you don't have to do the tedious repetitive work.

These are effectively the same IF a new instance of Thermosiphon.class is created every time you request an instance. If it's a singleton (or scoped in any way), then we have a difference.
If you have the following, then the first example is an alias to the singleton. The second example, however, will still create new instances every time.
#Provides
#Singleton
Thermosiphon provideThermosiphon() {
return new Thermosiphon();
}
Personally, I like the first approach better. Using the first approach, you could add or alter the provider later and adjust the scope or the state of the instance before it'a passed to the alias. It seems a little more flexible.

It looks for other beans declared in your module
For example:
#Module
public class MainModule {
#Provides
public EmailServiceApiGateway provideEmailServiceApiGateway() {
return new EmailServiceApiGateway();
}
#Provides
public EmailSendingActivityPresenter provideEmailSendingActivityPresenter(EmailServiceApiGateway emailServiceApiGateway) {
return new EmailSendingActivityPresenterImpl(emailServiceApiGateway);
}
}
So in the case above, EmailServiceApiGateway gets automatically injected into EmailSendingActivityPresenter.

What does #Module means in dagger for android?

I have read many blogs but still i am not able to figure out #Module annotation functioning in dagger.
#Inject i got that it provides dependency injection at runtime. But what does #Module does.
since the object graph is also built on module.
For ex i.e i have this snippet of code from https://github.com/AndroidBootstrap/android-bootstrap.
#Module(
complete = false,
injects = {
BootstrapApplication.class,
BootstrapAuthenticatorActivity.class,
MainActivity.class,
BootstrapTimerActivity.class,
}
)
public class BootstrapModule {
}
so what does it basically does. since i am also trying to build one application using dagger as dependency injection for android.But since I am not able to get #Module concept clearly I am just stuck.
Can anyone please help me out with some basic example or concept. I think this will be helpful for all who is using dagger.

If you have a look to the docs for the annotation, a #Module annotated class defines a class that contributes to the dagger object graph. In the Spring framework for example, the equivalent would be the #Configuration anntotation. It defines a configuration point for your object graph, where you declare which objects you want to be available for injection and their scopes.
As a simple example, let's say we want a singleton object to be used by any Activity in the app. It has to be created in the module:
#dagger.Module(injects = {MyActivity.class})
public class Module {
#Provides
#Singleton
public MySinletonBean provideMySingleton() {
return new MySinletonBean();
}
}
This will create a MySingleton object which can be injected in MyActivity. This is a very basic example, but we can perform other actions in the graph there, like using dependencies in the constructors:
#dagger.Module(injects = {MyActivity.class})
public class Module {
private DependencyBean dependency = new DependencyBean();
#Provides
#Singleton
public MySinletonBean provideMySingleton() {
return new MySinletonBean(dependency);
}
#Provides
#Singleton
public MySinletonBean provideMyOtherSingleton() {
return new MyOtherSinletonBean(dependency);
}
}
Then, in MyActivity we need to access the graph for the application in the onCreate method:
#Inject
MySingletonBean singleton;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.my_activity);
((MyApplication) getApplication()).getGraph().inject(this);
}
So, who does create the object graph here? The MyApplication class does it when your application starts (don't forger to add it in your androidManifest.xml):
public class MyApplication extends Application {
private ObjectGraph graph;
public ObjectGraph getGraph() {
return graph;
}
#Override
public void onCreate() {
super.onCreate();
graph = ObjectGraph.create(new Module(this));
graph.inject(this);
}
}
So the execution flow in a dagger app would be:
The android app starts and the MyApplication class builds the graph, parsing the #Module annotated classes and keeping an instance of it.
Then, the classes declared in the module can access its objects just injecting themselves in the object graph. Gradle then will evaluate their #Inject annotations and perform the dependency injections.

I guess Annotation Processing Tool requires that to generate code at the compile time.
This makes it Dagger can provide validation at compile time and not only at runtime.