Add Ability To Exclude A Specific Library Jar From Proguard To Avoid Proguard Bugs

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Proguard is a popular tool used in Android app development to optimize and shrink the size of the application. However, it can sometimes cause issues with certain libraries, leading to bugs and crashes. In this article, we will explore how to exclude specific library jars from Proguard to avoid these bugs.

What are Proguard Bugs?

Proguard bugs occur when Proguard optimizes and shrinks the code in a way that causes issues with certain libraries. These bugs can manifest in various ways, such as:

  • Crashes: The app crashes when it tries to use a library that has been optimized by Proguard.
  • Exceptions: The app throws exceptions when it tries to use a library that has been optimized by Proguard.
  • Incorrect behavior: The app behaves incorrectly when it uses a library that has been optimized by Proguard.

Why Exclude Specific Library Jars?

Excluding specific library jars from Proguard can help avoid these bugs and ensure that the app works correctly. By excluding these jars, you can prevent Proguard from optimizing and shrinking the code in a way that causes issues.

How to Exclude Specific Library Jars

To exclude specific library jars from Proguard, you need to add the following lines to your proguard-rules.pro file:

-dontwarn com.example.library1
-dontwarn com.example.library2
-dontwarn com.example.library3

In the above code, com.example.library1, com.example.library2, and com.example.library3 are the names of the libraries that you want to exclude from Proguard.

Using the -keep Option

In addition to the -dontwarn option, you can also use the -keep option to specify which classes and methods you want to keep in the optimized code. For example:

-keep class com.example.library1 {
    *;
}

In the above code, the com.example.library1 class and all its methods are kept in the optimized code.

Using the -keepclassmembers Option

You can also use the -keepclassmembers option to specify which class members you want to keep in the optimized code. For example:

-keepclassmembers class com.example.library1 {
    public void method1();
}

In the above code, the method1() method of the com.example.library1 class is kept in the optimized code.

Using the -keepnames Option

You can also use the -keepnames option to specify which class names you want to keep in the optimized code. For example:

-keepnames class com.example.library1

In the above code, the com.example.library1 class name is kept in the optimized code.

Using the -keepclass Option

You can also use the -keepclass option to specify which classes you want to keep in the optimized code. For example:

-keepclass class com.example.library1

In the above code, the com.example.library1 class is kept in the optimized code.

Using the -keepclass Option with Wildcards

You can also use the -keepclass option with wildcards to specify which classes you want to keep in the optimized code. For example:

-keepclass class com.example.**.library1

In the above code, all classes that start with com.example. and end with library1 are kept in the optimized code.

Using the -keepclass Option with Regular Expressions

You can also use the -keepclass option with regular expressions to specify which classes you want to keep in the optimized code. For example:

-keepclass class com.example.library1.*$

In the above code, all classes that start with com.example.library1 and end with a dollar sign are kept in the optimized code.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored how to exclude specific library jars from Proguard to avoid Proguard bugs. We have discussed the -dontwarn option, the -keep option, the -keepclassmembers option, the -keepnames option, and the -keepclass option, and how to use them to specify which classes and methods you want to keep in the optimized code. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your app works correctly and avoid Proguard bugs.

Best Practices

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when excluding specific library jars from Proguard:

  • Use the -dontwarn option sparingly: The -dontwarn option should be used only when necessary, as it can prevent Proguard from optimizing and shrinking the code.
  • Use the -keep option carefully: The -keep option should be used carefully, as it can prevent Proguard from optimizing and shrinking the code.
  • Use the -keepclassmembers option carefully: The -keepclassmembers option should be used carefully, as it can prevent Proguard from optimizing and shrinking the code.
  • Use the -keepnames option carefully: The -keepnames option should be used carefully, as it can prevent Proguard from optimizing and shrinking the code.
  • Use the -keepclass option carefully: The -keepclass option should be used carefully, as it can prevent Proguard from optimizing and shrinking the code.

Common Issues

Here are some common issues that you may encounter when excluding specific library jars from Proguard:

  • Proguard bugs: Proguard bugs can occur when Proguard optimizes and shrinks the code in a way that causes issues with certain libraries.
  • Crashes: The app can crash when it tries to use a library that has been optimized by Proguard.
  • Exceptions: The app can throw exceptions when it tries to use a library that has been optimized by Proguard.
  • Incorrect behavior: The app can behave incorrectly when it uses a library that has been optimized by Proguard.

Troubleshooting

Here are some steps you can follow to troubleshoot Proguard bugs:

  • Check the Proguard logs: Check the Proguard logs to see if there are any errors or warnings.
  • Check the app logs: Check the app logs to see if there are any errors or warnings.
  • Use the -verbose option: Use the -verbose option to get more detailed information about the Proguard process.
  • Use the -dump option: Use the -dump option to dump the Proguard output to a file.
  • Use the -keep option: Use the -keep option to specify which classes and methods you want to keep in the optimized code.

Conclusion

Q: What is Proguard?

A: Proguard is a popular tool used in Android app development to optimize and shrink the size of the application.

Q: Why do I need to exclude specific library jars from Proguard?

A: You need to exclude specific library jars from Proguard to avoid Proguard bugs, which can cause the app to crash, throw exceptions, or behave incorrectly.

Q: How do I exclude specific library jars from Proguard?

A: To exclude specific library jars from Proguard, you need to add the following lines to your proguard-rules.pro file:

-dontwarn com.example.library1
-dontwarn com.example.library2
-dontwarn com.example.library3

Q: What is the difference between the -dontwarn and -keep options?

A: The -dontwarn option tells Proguard not to warn about certain classes or methods, while the -keep option tells Proguard to keep certain classes or methods in the optimized code.

Q: Can I use both the -dontwarn and -keep options together?

A: Yes, you can use both the -dontwarn and -keep options together to specify which classes and methods you want to keep in the optimized code.

Q: How do I specify which classes and methods I want to keep in the optimized code?

A: You can specify which classes and methods you want to keep in the optimized code using the -keep option, like this:

-keep class com.example.library1 {
    *;
}

Q: Can I use wildcards with the -keep option?

A: Yes, you can use wildcards with the -keep option to specify which classes and methods you want to keep in the optimized code. For example:

-keep class com.example.**.library1

Q: Can I use regular expressions with the -keep option?

A: Yes, you can use regular expressions with the -keep option to specify which classes and methods you want to keep in the optimized code. For example:

-keep class com.example.library1.*$

Q: What are some common issues that I may encounter when excluding specific library jars from Proguard?

A: Some common issues that you may encounter when excluding specific library jars from Proguard include Proguard bugs, crashes, exceptions, and incorrect behavior.

Q: How do I troubleshoot Proguard bugs?

A: To troubleshoot Proguard bugs, you can check the Proguard logs, check the app logs, use the -verbose option, use the -dump option, and use the -keep option to specify which classes and methods you want to keep in the optimized code.

Q: Can I use Proguard exclusion with other optimization tools?

A: Yes, you can use Proguard exclusion with other optimization tools, such as Android Studio's built-in optimization tools.

Q: Are there any best practices for using Proguard exclusion?

A: Yes, there are several best practices for using Proguard exclusion, including using the -dontwarn option sparingly, using the -keep option carefully, and using the -keepclassmembers option carefully.

Q: Can I automate Proguard exclusion using a script?

A: Yes, you can automate Proguard exclusion using a script, such as a bash script or a Python script.

Q: Are there any tools available that can help me with Proguard exclusion?

A: Yes, there are several tools available that can help you with Proguard exclusion, including Proguard's built-in tools and third-party tools such as Proguard Analyzer.