Android dependencies : apklib vs aar files

Question

From my understanding, apklib contains code + resource shared with Maven . aar files are distributed by Gradle.

The aar differ from apklib in one major way : classes are compiled and included in a classes.jar in the root of the aar. Whereas apklib cannot contain compiled class files or jars.

1 Can somebody explain the main differences between apklib vs aar files ?

2 Can Maven use aar ? Can Gradle use apklib ?

3 Which format is "better" ?

Struthious

Answer 1

1 Can somebody explain the main differences between apklib vs aar files ?

Couple differences that come to my mind, in addition to the ones you mentioned

1. aar doesn't contain source code
2. aar can contain custom proguard file and custom lint rules

2 Can Maven use aar ? Can Gradle use apklib ?

The Android Maven Plugin supports aar since version 3.7.0. Gradle doesn't support using apklib dependencies but you could export your android-library as apklib (see this post).

Zilla

Also apklib is deprecated in the android-maven-plugin since its VERY old and predates aar and other formats and only ever worked with the maven tooling. – Brom