Early Access Alert: Android Studio Ladybug Feature Drop Canary 1 Available Now!

Exciting news for Android developers! The first Canary build for the upcoming Android Studio Ladybug Feature Drop (version 2024.2.2) is now live!

This early access release brings a wave of bug fixes and improvements based on your valuable feedback. Whether you're an experienced developer or just starting your Android journey, this update is worth checking out.

Who should download this Canary build?

This Canary build is for developers who want to be on the bleeding edge of Android Studio development. It's a chance to test new features and report bugs before they reach the stable release. Keep in mind that Canary builds can be unstable, so it's not recommended for production environments.

How to access the Canary build:

If you're already using the Canary channel in Android Studio, simply navigate to Help > Check for Updates (Android Studio > Check for Updates on macOS).

For those not on the Canary channel, you can download the build directly (download link not provided in this article due to potentially changing location).

What's new in Canary 1?

This release focuses primarily on bug fixes for a variety of areas within Android Studio, including:

• Android Gradle Plugin: Fixes related to JacocoTransform, variant APIs, targetSdk compatibility, and generated source directories.
• Code Editor: Improved auto-completion for annotations like @RequiresPermission.
• Dagger/Hilt Support: Enhanced gutter icons for Dagger injected providers with Kotlin 2.
• Gradle Files Editor: Improved detection of changes made in the diff viewer.
• Lint: Compatibility fixes with recent changes and variant task detection.
• Logcat: Scrolling functionality is back!
• Manifests: Addresses issues with the tools:node="merge-only-attributes" attribute.
• Navigation Editor: Integration with the ktfmt formatting tool.
• Project Structure: Eliminated zero-width buttons for a better user experience.
• Running Devices: Copy & paste functionality restored on Linux systems.
• StudioBot: Resolved a logging issue involving the "(Ask Gemini)" message.

Get Involved!

This is your chance to shape the future of Android Studio. By downloading the Canary build, testing these fixes, and reporting any bugs you encounter, you're directly contributing to a smoother development experience for everyone.

For a complete list of fixed issues and any known limitations, refer to the official Android Studio Preview release notes (link not provided in this article, but findable on developer.android.com).

Happy coding!

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