Posted by Xavier Ducrohet – Tech Lead, Android Studio and Adarsh Fernando – Group Product Supervisor, Android Studio
Final yr, we doubled our launch frequency for Android Studio with the introduction of Function Drops, a change designed to carry you new options and enhancements extra shortly. Right this moment, we’re excited to announce the subsequent evolution in our launch schedule: we’re shifting to month-to-month secure releases of Android Studio.
This new cadence means you’ll be capable of get your palms on the newest options and demanding enhancements, sooner than ever earlier than. This is what you may anticipate: each few months, we’ll introduce a model that comprises the newest IntelliJ platform model, equivalent to Android Studio Narwhal primarily based on IntelliJ 2025.1. You’ll then see Function Drops every month that embrace essential bug fixes and new performance you’ll wish to check out, till it’s time to launch Android Studio with the subsequent platform model of IntelliJ.
You’ve really already skilled this new launch cadence with Android Studio Narwhal! Within the final Function Drop launch we had been in a position to take options equivalent to Agent Mode from Canary to the Steady channel sooner than ever earlier than, making it attainable so that you can check out new options, sooner!
Why Month-to-month Releases?
You instructed us ready for the subsequent main launch to get a crucial bug repair or a quality-of-life enchancment will be irritating. With the transfer to month-to-month releases, we are able to ship these updates to you with out the lengthy delays. This implies you will have entry to the options you need and the fixes you want, proper while you want them.
It is essential to notice that the Android Emulator and the Android Gradle Plugin will proceed to be up to date individually from Android Studio at a tempo of each two months. And, as all the time, you needn’t replace these elements to obtain and use the newest secure model of the IDE every month.
Our Dedication to High quality
A sooner launch cadence does not imply a compromise on high quality. In reality, our means to launch extra steadily is a direct results of our long-term funding in our testing infrastructure. This effort started with Undertaking Marble, a concerted effort to enhance the standard and testing of Android Studio. Since then, we have been constantly bettering and tooling our testing technique to be extra dependable, and to get suggestions from these checks sooner. Final yr, we reached some extent the place we might confidently double our releases, and now, we’re able to take the subsequent step with month-to-month updates. This implies you’ll see releases 2X extra typically than earlier than!
We’re additionally persevering with to supply early entry to stable-ready releases. Beforehand, we’ve offered these alternatives first by way of Beta releases. With our investments in detecting and addressing points earlier, we’re in a position to take a launch from Canary straight into our Launch Candidate (RC) channel with a stable-ready degree of high quality and polish. This offers you an opportunity to check out the newest options and enhancements earlier than they’re launched to the secure channel and to supply us with precious suggestions.
Replace Month-to-month and Assist Us Enhance
We encourage you to replace to the newest secure model of Android Studio every month to reap the benefits of the newest options and enhancements. Your suggestions is important to serving to us make Android Studio the very best it may be.
This is how one can become involved:
- Obtain Android Studio Narwhal 3 Function Drop: It’s at the moment accessible within the Canary channel and is one of the simplest ways to get early entry to new options and to supply us with suggestions earlier than a launch is finalized. In order for you a extra secure construct, obtain this model as quickly because the Launch Candidate turns into accessible.
- Report a bug: For those who encounter a problem, please tell us by reporting a bug. This helps us to establish and repair points extra shortly.
We’re enthusiastic about this new chapter for Android Studio and we’re assured that it’s going to make it easier to to construct higher apps, sooner. As all the time, you will be a part of our vibrant Android developer group on LinkedIn, Medium, YouTube, or X.