Android AppCompat dependency in custom library

Question

I just created a new library, Powerful Image View .
My library is a custom AppCompatImageView, so I need the appcompat-v7 library. And here comes the question:

How should I add it to my library?
Should I use 'compile', or 'provided' and let the user add the library to its own dependencies?
And how should i handle different versions of the libraries used, since i'm not depending on a specific version?

I added to the library's gradle file this line:

provided 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:+'

I'd like to know your thoughts about this :)

Answer 1

Should I use 'compile', or 'provided' and let the user add the library to its own dependencies?

I would use compile and make sure that the developer using your library understands that your library relies upon appcompat-v7 , as that in turn places lots of other requirements (eg, using AppCompatActivity , using Theme.AppCompat ).

And how should i handle different versions of the libraries used, since i'm not depending on a specific version?

Well, you are requiring some version. AppCompatImageView does not exist in all versions of appcompat-v7 . I recommend depending upon a concrete version (ie, not + ), ideally the latest-and-greatest version.