APPS

Android Studio Otter 2 Feature Drop is stable!



While the training of large language models provides deep knowledge that is excellent for common tasks—like creating Compose UIs—training concludes on a fixed date, resulting in gaps for new libraries and updated best practices. They are also less effective with niche APIs because the necessary training data is scarce. To fix this, Android Studio’s Agent Mode is now equipped with the Android Knowledge Base, a new feature designed to significantly improve accuracy and reduce hallucinations by grounding responses with authoritative documentation. This means that instead of just relying on its training data, the agent can actively consult fresh documentation from official sources like the Android developer docs, Firebase, Google Developers, and Kotlin docs before it answers you.

The information in the Android Knowledge Base is stored in Android Studio and its content is automatically updated in the background on a periodic basis, so this feature is available regardless of which LLM you’re using for AI assistance.

Gemini searching documentation before it answers you

This feature will be invoked automatically when Agent Mode detects a need for additional context, and you’ll see additional explanatory text. However, if you’d like Agent Mode to reference documentation more frequently, you can include a line such as “Refer to Android documentation for guidance” in your Rules configuration.

Requested settings updates

Backup and Sync

Backup and Sync is a new way to keep your personalized Android Studio environment consistent across all your installations. You can now back up your settings—including your preferred keymaps, Code Editor settings, system settings, and more—to cloud storage using your Google Account, giving you a seamless experience wherever you code. We also support Backup and Sync using JetBrains accounts for developers using both IntelliJ and Android Studio installs simultaneously.

Backup and Sync

Getting started is simple. Just sign into your Google Account by clicking the avatar in the top-right corner of the IDE, or navigate to Settings > Backup and Sync. Once you authorize Android Studio to access your account’s storage, you have full control over which categories of app data you want to sync. If you’re syncing for the first time on a new machine, Android Studio will give you the option to either download your existing remote settings or upload your current local settings to the cloud. Of course, if you change your mind, you can easily disable Backup and Sync at any time from the settings menu. This feature has been available since the first Android Studio Otter release.

You can now opt in to receive communications directly from the Android Studio team. This enables you to get emails and notifications about important product updates, new features, and new libraries as soon as they’re available.

You’ll see this option when you sign in, and you can change your preference at any time by going to Settings > Tools > Google Accounts > Communications.

Your option to receive emails and notifications



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