Google announced the launch of Jetpack Compose Beta version. This Beta version includes API updates that are expected to make it easier to create gestures, animations, and scrolling with less code.
In 2019, Google announced the open source Jetpack Compose , Jetpack Compose is a non-bundled UI toolkit, which combines the reactive programming model and the simplicity and ease of use of the Kotlin programming language to simplify UI development. The release of this Beta version means that its API has been "functionally complete" with all the features needed to build applications that can be used in a production environment. At the same time, Google also said that this is also a set of stable APIs, so Google will not change or delete any of them.
Officials say that now is a good time to start learning Compose and start planning how to use it in upcoming projects or features when it reaches 1.0 later this year. Since open source development in 2019, the team has released 30 public versions, resolved more than 700 external errors, and accepted more than 200 external contributions.
"For the Beta version, we have always focused on ensuring the integrity of the API; all basic APIs already exist so that we can continue to use them on version 1.0 and later. We will work to stabilize these APIs to version 1.0, especially Focus on application performance and accessibility."
Since the alpha version was released, the development team has added and improved many features, including:
- Coroutines support
- Talkback intercom system support
- Easy-to-use animation with a brand new API since the alpha version
- Interoperability with Views
- Material UI components
- Lazy Lists
- DSL-based constraint layout
- Modifiers
- Testing
- Themes and graphics, easily support Dark and Light modes
- Input and gestures
- Text and editable text
- Window management
Google encourages developers to install Jetpack Compose Beta and the developer beta of Android 12. The first public Beta of Android12 will be launched around May, and the stable version will be released around August. Jetpack Compose allows developers to use their knowledge of Android Views to create widgets and other layouts. The software engineer behind Google Jetpack Compose is trying to improve its performance to at least the same level as Android Views and optimize it for low-end Android devices.
In addition, Google also released a set of free tutorials to help encourage Android application developers to adopt Jetpack Compose; at the same time, it also released a new document .
For more details, please check the official blog .