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 deliver you new options and enhancements extra shortly. Immediately, we’re excited to announce the subsequent evolution in our launch schedule: we’re transferring 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 important enhancements, quicker than ever earlier than. This is what you may anticipate: each few months, we’ll introduce a model that accommodates the newest IntelliJ platform model, comparable to Android Studio Narwhal primarily based on IntelliJ 2025.1. You’ll then see Function Drops every month that embody vital bug fixes and new performance you’ll need 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 comparable to Agent Mode from Canary to the Steady channel quicker than ever earlier than, making it doable so that you can check out new options, quicker!
Why Month-to-month Releases?
You advised us ready for the subsequent main launch to get a vital bug repair or a quality-of-life enchancment might be irritating. With the transfer to month-to-month releases, we will ship these updates to you with out the lengthy delays. This implies you may have entry to the options you need and the fixes you want, proper once you want them.
It is vital 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 at all times, you need not replace these parts to obtain and use the newest secure model of the IDE every month.
Our Dedication to High quality
A quicker launch cadence does not imply a compromise on high quality. In reality, our potential to launch extra continuously is a direct results of our long-term funding in our testing infrastructure. This effort started with Venture Marble, a concerted effort to enhance the standard and testing of Android Studio. Since then, we have been repeatedly enhancing and tooling our testing technique to be extra dependable, and to get suggestions from these checks quicker. Final yr, we reached some extent the place we may 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 usually than earlier than!
We’re additionally persevering with to supply early entry to stable-ready releases. Beforehand, we’ve supplied 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 immediately into our Launch Candidate (RC) channel with a stable-ready degree of high quality and polish. This provides 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 useful 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 one of the best it may be.
This is how one can become involved:
- Obtain Android Studio Narwhal 3 Function Drop: It’s at present out there within the Canary channel and is the easiest way to get early entry to new options and to supply us with suggestions earlier than a launch is finalized. If you need a extra secure construct, obtain this model as quickly because the Launch Candidate turns into out there.
- Report a bug: In case you encounter a problem, please tell us by reporting a bug. This helps us to determine and repair points extra shortly.
We’re enthusiastic about this new chapter for Android Studio and we’re assured that it’s going to aid you to construct higher apps, quicker. As at all times, you might be a part of our vibrant Android developer neighborhood on LinkedIn, Medium, YouTube, or X.