How to get the build/version number of your Android application?

Question

I need to figure out how to get or make a build number for my Android application. I need the build number to display in the UI.

Do I have to do something with

Answer 1

Using Gradle and BuildConfig

Getting the VERSION_NAME from BuildConfig

BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME

Yep, it's that easy now.

Is It Returning an Empty String for VERSION_NAME?

If you're getting a empty string for BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME then read on.

I kept getting an empty string for BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME because I wasn't setting the versionName in my Grade build file (I migrated from ANT to Gradle). So, here are instructions for ensuring you're setting your VERSION_NAME via Gradle.

build.gradle

def versionMajor = 3
def versionMinor = 0
def versionPatch = 0
def versionBuild = 0 // bump for dogfood builds, public betas, etc.

android {

  defaultConfig {
    versionCode versionMajor * 10000 + versionMinor * 1000 + versionPatch * 100 + versionBuild

    versionName "${versionMajor}.${versionMinor}.${versionPatch}"
  }

}

Note: This is from the masterful Jake Wharton.

Removing versionName and versionCode from AndroidManifest.xml

And since you've set the versionName and versionCode in the build.gradle file now, you can also remove them from your AndroidManifest.xml file, if they are there.