Can someone help me get some clarity on the difference between these 2 plugins? ```'com.android.kot...

# multiplatform

[Daniele Segato]

Can someone help me get some clarity on the difference between these 2 plugins?

'com.android.kotlin.multiplatform.library' and 'com.android.library' plugins cannot be applied in the same project.

Which one should I use? what are the drawbacks of using one or the other?
If I apply the com.android.library I need to add androidTarget() to the kotlin configuration with multiplatform and I keep using the standard android configuration.
However if I add the com.android.kotlin.multiplatform.library I need to use androidLibrary { } instead.

Android Studio generate multiplatform libraries with com.android.kotlin.multiplatform.library .
If I recall I went with com.android.library because with the other Android Studio wasn’t showing compose previews.

I’d really appreciate if someone could shed some light on this. I couldn’t find any documentation on this. Thank you

[Scott Lanoue]

I can't tell you what to use, but I can tell you for my library, I'm using this:

plugins {
    id("com.android.library")
    kotlin("multiplatform")
}

This allows me to create a KMP library with an android target

[Scott Lanoue]

My assumption is that you're trying to create a KMP library, in which case you can take a look at my buildSrc script that I use to build library components:

https://github.com/schott12521/compose-cupertino/blob/main/buildSrc/src/main/kotlin/multiplatform-module-convention.gradle.kts

[tapchicoma]

com.android.kotlin.multiplatform.library is a new plugin from Google for KMP/Android target. Eventually "com.android.library" will stop working in KMP, but it will be not soon

[tapchicoma]

The difference between them that in the "com.android.library" case KMP calls AGP public APIs to fit it in KMP project model. In the other case new plugin will call KMP special API to configure Android target in KMP project model

[Daniele Segato]

Thank you @tapchicoma . What I take away is that com.android.kotlin.multiplatform is the future. Right now they are more or less equivalent. Right now this plugin doesn't work with previews in android studio, I should check it periodically to do the switch

[tapchicoma]

I think you should wait for official announcement that should be around Kotlin 2.2.0

[Daniele Segato]

Sound reasonable thank you!