Use of Configuration APKs while still targeting pre lollipop devices

Question

When developing for Instant Apps the use of Configuration APKs (https://developer.android.com/topic/instant-apps/guides/config-splits.html) offers useful option for cutting

Answer 1

Instant apps are only supported in API 21+ devices (link), older devices will only support full apk.

The better approach is to define different minSdk based on your module, like:

You can take a look at Google's analytics sample on GitHub

Project's gradle

ext {
    buildTools = '26.0.2'
    compileSdk = 26
    minSdk = 15
    minSdkInstant = 21
    versionCode = 1
    versionName = '1.0'
    supportLib = '26.1.0'
    firebaseVer = '10.2.4'
    instantAppsVer = '1.0.0'
}

Base gradle

android {
    compileSdkVersion rootProject.compileSdk
    buildToolsVersion rootProject.buildTools
    baseFeature true
    defaultConfig {
        minSdkVersion rootProject.minSdk
        targetSdkVersion rootProject.compileSdk
        versionCode rootProject.versionCode
        versionName rootProject.versionName
    }
    buildTypes {
        release {}
    }
}

Installed gradle

 defaultConfig {
        applicationId "com.example.android.instant.analytics"
        minSdkVersion rootProject.minSdk
        targetSdkVersion rootProject.compileSdk
        versionCode rootProject.versionCode
        versionName rootProject.versionName

    }

Instant gradle

android {
    defaultConfig {
        minSdkVersion rootProject.minSdkInstant
    }
}