Release-Debug Builds for Android Application

Question

In C++ I would normally setup 2 builds - debug and release with each having DEBUG and RELEASE predefined respectively. I would then use these defin

Answer 1

If you are running the application from Eclipse, it will always be a debug.

When you export the application (Android Tools -> Export (un)signed Application Package)

If you want to know dynamically if its release or debug, you can use BuildConfig.DEBUG (Its located in the gen folder, I don't know if this is supported by all the API levels)

Like as followed:

if (BuildConfig.DEBUG) {
    Log.d(TAG, "Text");
}

If you look at the generated bytecodes you will see the following (In debug mode):

public class Sample{

    private static final boolean LOG_ENABLED = true;

    public static void main(String args[]){
        if (BuildConfig.DEBUG){
            System.out.println("Hello World");
        }
    }
}

Produces the following bytecodes:

public class Sample extends java.lang.Object{
    public Sample();
      Code:
       0:   aload_0
       1:   invokespecial   #1; //Method java/lang/Object."":()V
       4:   return

    public static void main(java.lang.String[]);
      Code:
       0:   getstatic   #2; //Field java/lang/System.out:Ljava/io/PrintStream;
       3:   ldc #3; //String Hello World
       5:   invokevirtual   #4; //Method Java/io/PrintStream.println(Ljava/lang/String;)V
       8:   return

}

And if the BuildConfig.DEBUG is false

public class Sample extends java.lang.Object{
    public Sample();
      Code:
       0:   aload_0
       1:   invokespecial   #1; //Method java/lang/Object."":()V
       4:   return

    public static void main(java.lang.String[]);
      Code:
       0:   return
}