Did you guys switch over to anko or do ye still us...

# android

[royal10march]

Did you guys switch over to anko or do ye still use xml for layouts? Do you think Anko Layouts will replace xml?

[louiscad]

I used Anko, then went back to xml, then did my own View DSL that you can try: https://github.com/LouisCAD/Splitties/tree/master/viewdsl

To make it short: it is lighter than Anko, and more flexible. I've been using it in production for months

[edwardwongtl]

Still xml, cause the preview of anko is often broken lol

[louiscad]

Missing flexibility in Anko layouts and low re-usability in xml was my primary incentive to make Splitties View DSL.

[edwardwongtl]

Xml is low re-usability?

[louiscad]

Yes, no extension functions, tightly coupled to code in host Activity/Fragment

[gildor]

XML, especially with constraint layout.
I still have filling that declarative XML is better choice.

[edwardwongtl]

xml can be decouple easily and recompose just like DSL using <include>, if you have ALL xml tightly coupled to activity/fragment, there must be something wrong

[rkeazor]

XML is way better especially with constraint layouts... Anko, is a cute project, but having to do all that nesting can be annoying. it will never replace XML. And I mean never lol

[louiscad]

@edwardwongtl Where all those findViewById are done? In an Activity or a Fragment, right?

[louiscad]

I wouldn't say xml is way better, but I'd say it's better supported in the IDE (especially with ConstraintLayout).

[edwardwongtl]

They can be done any where as long as you have the View, it can be inside a viewholder of recyclerview

[louiscad]

Yes, but then, your ui is split between an xml file and a source code file

[edwardwongtl]

Much much better support for xml, especially the preview

[sindrenm]

Same for me. Would love to make views programmatically if the tools supported it properly.

[louiscad]

@sindrenm Did you try Splitties View DSL I mentioned above? Tools support is good enough for me, I can use preview if needed, and Kotlin support is all that is needed in regards of IDE support

[sindrenm]

@louiscad: I haven't tried it yet, although I saw you mentioned it some time ago in another thread! Will give it a go in the near future on a personal project. simple smile

[louiscad]

@sindrenm You should try the sample before trying it in your project, so you can get to know it without writing code