Android Studio - Can't specify own minSdkVersion

Question

After installing the Android L Developer Preview SDK earlier today I wanted to make my app compatible with both Android L and older versions such as Jelly Bean. My app uses

Answer 1

You are using this dependency:

compile "com.android.support:support-v4:+"

In this way you are using the support-v4 in L-preview (21-rc1).

This support lib is declaring minSdkVersion L (you can check the Manifest).

You have to force the minSdkVersion to be 'L' (check the doc: http://developer.android.com/preview/setup-sdk.html)

On the development environment, open the build.gradle file for your module and make sure that:

compileSdkVersion is set to 'android-L'
minSdkVersion is set to 'L'
targetSdkVersion is set to 'L'

It is not a bug, but this is because these APIs are not final. It is a way to prevent installing the apps on a final API 21 device or publishing it on the store using support lib 21-r1.

Answer 2

In developer documentation says (http://developer.android.com/preview/setup-sdk.html):

On the development environment, open the build.gradle file for your module and make sure that:

• compileSdkVersion is set to 'android-L'
• minSdkVersion is set to 'L'
• targetSdkVersion is set to 'L'

It seems that can't be backward compatible (right now).

Answer 3

See my post to /r/AndroidDev here that provides a workaround.