Migrating to AndroidX

Android X

AndroidX is a major improvement to the original Android Support Library, which is no longer maintained. androidx packages fully replace the Support Library by providing feature parity and new libraries.

As there will be no further updates to the Android Support libraries we are migrating all our extensions to AndroidX. Importantly Android Support libraries are not compatible with AndroidX so applications have to migrate all functionality from the support libraries to AndroidX together.

This means you cannot use older extensions that rely on the Android Support libraries with the latest builds of our extensions and you must upgrade all of our extensions simultaneously.

Generally migrating is fairly simple.

Simply use the table below to swap the extensions you currently have in your application.

Android Support	Android X
com.distriqt.androidsupport.V4	androidx.core
com.distriqt.androidsupport.AppCompatV7	androidx.appcompat
com.distriqt.androidsupport.CardViewV7	androidx.cardview
com.distriqt.androidsupport.CustomTabs	androidx.browser
com.distriqt.androidsupport.Design	com.google.android.material
com.distriqt.androidsupport.InstallReferrer	com.android.installreferrer
com.distriqt.androidsupport.RecyclerView	androidx.recyclerview

We have included all these extensions in the existing Android Support repository and will continue to use this repository to hold any common Google provided Android libraries that aren't dependent on the Google Play Services.

When migrating we also suggest you check the manifest additions and "Add the Extension" documentation. Some of the extensions will require changes to the manifest, where references to the Android Support libraries were being used. And there may be additional extensions required.

Manifest changes

This extension requires changes to the manifest additions for Android X.

Previously you may have had the following ProcessLifecycleOwnerInitializer provider in your manifest:

<!-- Add this for FOREGROUND / BACKGROUD events -->
<provider
    android:name="android.arch.lifecycle.ProcessLifecycleOwnerInitializer"
    android:authorities="APPLICATION_PACKAGE.lifecycle-trojan"
    android:exported="false"
    android:multiprocess="true" />

It should be removed and changed to be the following (not the change both in the android:name and android:authorities attributes):

<!-- APPLICATION STATE EVENTS -->
<provider
    android:name="androidx.lifecycle.ProcessLifecycleOwnerInitializer"
    android:authorities="APPLICATION_PACKAGE.lifecycle-process"
    android:exported="false"
    android:multiprocess="true" />

With the latest release this should now be:

<!-- APPLICATION STATE EVENTS -->
<provider
    android:name="androidx.startup.InitializationProvider"
    android:authorities="APPLICATION_PACKAGE.androidx-startup"
    android:exported="false" >
    <meta-data
        android:name="androidx.lifecycle.ProcessLifecycleInitializer"
        android:value="androidx.startup" />
</provider>