Suggestion Needed Should we use buildSrc for depen...

# android

[Iqbal Ahmed]

Suggestion Needed
Should we use buildSrc for dependencies in 2022? or should we go with ext for versioning?

[Paul Woitaschek]

The version catalog is the standard way to go

[Vampire]

ext is basically almost always the wrong answer, no matter the question. Every time you even think about using ext, you should feel dirty and make it properly instead. 😉

[Iqbal Ahmed]

😂 , In last project we have used buildSrc for dependencies, but updating library still is an issue. only reason I see to using ext is you can easily know the new version available and AS recognize in module setting. but still don’t want to use ext 😂

[Paul Woitaschek]

The version catalog is the standard way to go

Really, this ☝️

[Iqbal Ahmed]

ya I am considering this, but how about updating the library? @Paul Woitaschek

[Paul Woitaschek]

You either increment the version or use sth like renovate

[Paul Woitaschek]

For example like this:
https://github.com/PaulWoitaschek/Voice/blob/main/gradle/libs.versions.toml

[Paul Woitaschek]

https://github.com/PaulWoitaschek/Voice/pull/1147

[Vampire]

What do you mean by "updating the library"?
Whether you have it in buildSrc or in a local variable, or in an ext property, or in a version catalog, doesn't really make a difference, does it?
You increase the version and are good.
And you can use some tool like renovate or dependabot or whatever that does the version increases for you,
or you can also simply use some plugin that tells you what is out dated like the Gradle Versions plugin of Ben Manes which I usually prefer.

[ade]

I believe he is referring to the standard "newer version available" highlighting that comes with android studio out of the box, which doesnt work with buildSrc variables for version

[Vampire]

if that's the case, then neither buildSrc nor version catalogs are supported:
https://www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/package-search-build-system-support-limitations.html#gradle_support

But according to https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/IDEA-277582#focus=Comments-27-5173902.0-0 they should be working on supporting it now that version catalogs became stable.