if using a gradle.properties file to specify versions, what's the best way to check for available up...

# gradle

[Christopher Mederos]

if using a gradle.properties file to specify versions, what's the best way to check for available updates? Android studio has a nice version bump suggestion feature, but it doesn't work when using variables for library versions

[Chris Lee]

Use version catalogs.

[Vampire]

While I fully agree with Chris, "best" is a matter of preference either way.

I for example use version catalogs and a combination of Ben Manes' versions plugin to reliably display all latest versions, as it uses Gradle resolution engine and thus supports all repository Gradle supports and feature variants and so on. Together with the refreshVersions plugin that can write all newer versions to the version catalog as comments for me to pick from and is faster, but only supports explicitly supported repository types.

[Vampire]

And the versions plugin you can also use with any setup like versions coming from properties and similar, while refreshVersions is opinionated to a dedicated versions file, either it's own it the official version catalog.

[Christopher Mederos]

thanks! starting migrating over and it's a breeze now 😎