If you would like to contribute to the Android app, but find the build documentation a little daunting, this guide lets you copy-paste your way to a successful APK build.
#### Estimated build time
25 - 40 minutes (depending on Internet connection speeds)
#### What do you need?
* A computer running Ubuntu 18.04
* Internet access to download modules and packages.
* At least 15GB of free disk space.
* Alternatively, Docker. You can skip steps 1 through 5 if you make use of the `lbry/android-base` Docker base image. Scroll down to Fast track if you would prefer to use Docker.
### Step 1 of 10
Install all the apt packages required by running the following commands. You can copy-paste directly to your terminal.
Install buildozer, a tool for creating the apk package using the python for android toolcahin.
```
git clone https://github.com/lbryio/buildozer.git
cd buildozer && python2.7 setup.py install && cd ..
```
### Step 4 of 10
The Android SDK needs to be setup for buildozer. This requires creating a few directories and downloading a number of files. Run the following commands to create the buildozer directory, download the required archives and extract them into their proper destination folders.
Install the Crystax NDK which is required for building Python 3.7 for the mobile app, and a number of native C / C++ modules and packages used by the app. Run the following commands to download and extract the NDK.
Clone the lbryio/lbry-android git repository, initialise submodules and create your `buildozer.spec` and `google-services.json` files. The provided `buildozer.spec.sample` contains defaults provided you followed steps 1 through 5 exactly as described. You can also customise the spec file if you want to. The `google-services.sample.json` can be used to ensure the build completes successfully.
If you made it this far, you're finally ready to build the package! You just have to run a single command to generate the APK.
```
buildozer android debug
```
### Fast Track
Install Docker and start a container using the `lbry/android-base` image, which is about 1.72GB in size. Run the following commands for Ubuntu and then follow steps 6 through 10 in the container's bash prompt.
```
sudo apt-get install docker-ce
docker run -it lbry/android-base:latest /bin/bash
```
**Protip:** You can also make use of Docker to run your builds on macOS or Windows.