Cordova Update to Android API 29

Introduction

Cordova is a popular open-source framework used by developers to build mobile applications using web technologies. It acts as a bridge between web technologies (such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) and native mobile device features.

Android API 29 is the software interface provided by Android for developers to build apps specifically for Android devices. It includes new features, bug fixes, and improvements over the previous API versions. It is recommended for developers to update their Cordova projects to target the latest Android API for better performance, compatibility, and security.

This guide will walk you through the process of updating your Cordova project to target Android API 29.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding with the update, make sure you have the following prerequisites in place:

• Cordova CLI installed on your development machine
• Android SDK installed and configured
• Existing Cordova project

Steps to Update Cordova to Android API 29

1. Open a terminal or command prompt and navigate to your Cordova project directory.
2. Execute the following command to update Cordova's Android platform to the latest version:

cordova platform update android

3. Next, you need to update the Android target SDK version to 29 in your project's config.xml. Open the file and locate the <preference> element with the name android-targetSdkVersion. Set its value to 29 as shown below:

<preference name="android-targetSdkVersion" value="29" />

4. Save the config.xml file and close it.

Verify Update

To verify that your Cordova project is now targeting Android API 29, follow these steps:

1. Run the following command to build your Cordova project:

cordova build android

2. Once the build process completes, navigate to the platforms/android/app/build.gradle file in your project directory.
3. Locate the defaultConfig section and verify that the targetSdkVersion is set to 29:

android {
    defaultConfig {
        targetSdkVersion 29
    }
}

If you see targetSdkVersion set to 29, congratulations! You have successfully updated your Cordova project to target the latest Android API.

Additional Steps (if required)

Updating to the latest Android API might introduce some breaking changes or require additional configuration. Here are some additional steps you might need to perform depending on your project:

1. Review Plugin Compatibility: Some Cordova plugins may not be compatible with the latest Android API version. Verify that all your plugins support API 29 or newer. Update incompatible plugins or look for alternative plugins.

2. Permissions and Declarations: Android API 29 introduced stricter permission handling and requirements for declarations. Make sure to review and update your app's permission requests and manifest declarations according to the new requirements.

3. Platform-Specific Code: If your Cordova project includes platform-specific code, review it for any changes required due to API 29 updates. Some APIs might be deprecated or have different behavior in the latest API version.

4. Testing and Debugging: After updating your project, thoroughly test all functionalities on Android devices running API 29 or newer. Use debugging tools to identify and fix any issues that arise.

Conclusion

Updating your Cordova project to target Android API 29 is essential for ensuring compatibility, performance, and security. By following the steps and additional considerations mentioned in this guide, you can successfully update your Cordova project to target the latest Android API and make the most of its features.