Updating TargetSdk 35 And Fixing FirebaseUI Auth Phone Number Edge-to-Edge Issues

As Android development progresses, staying up-to-date with the latest target SDK is crucial for ensuring your application leverages the newest features, security enhancements, and performance improvements. With the introduction of targetSdk 35, developers are encouraged to migrate their applications to align with the latest Android standards. This migration often involves addressing compatibility issues and adopting new APIs and behaviors. One common challenge encountered during this process is related to FirebaseUI Auth, specifically concerning phone number authentication and edge-to-edge display implementations. This article delves into the intricacies of updating your application to targetSdk 35, focusing on resolving potential problems with FirebaseUI Auth phone number sign-in, especially in the context of edge-to-edge layouts. We will explore common issues, provide step-by-step solutions, and offer best practices to ensure a smooth transition and optimal user experience. By understanding the nuances of targetSdk 35 and FirebaseUI Auth, developers can create robust and modern Android applications that meet the evolving demands of the platform.

Target SDK, or targetSdkVersion, is a crucial element in Android application development. It specifies the API level against which your application is compiled, signaling to the Android system the intended behavior and features your app is designed to utilize. Updating the targetSdkVersion is not merely a version bump; it's a declaration that your application is ready to embrace the latest Android features and adhere to the platform's evolving standards. When you set your targetSdkVersion to 35, you're essentially telling the Android system that your app is compatible with Android 14 and should benefit from the enhancements and optimizations introduced in this version. However, this also means that your application must comply with the new behaviors and restrictions imposed by Android 14, which can sometimes lead to compatibility issues if not handled correctly. One of the primary reasons for updating the target SDK is to leverage the latest APIs and features offered by the Android platform. Each new API level introduces functionalities that can significantly improve the user experience, enhance performance, and provide access to cutting-edge technologies. By targeting SDK 35, you gain access to features such as predictive back gestures, granular media permissions, and improved background task management. These features can allow you to create more engaging, secure, and efficient applications. Furthermore, Google Play Store often favors applications that target recent API levels, potentially improving your app's visibility and discoverability. Users also tend to prefer apps that are up-to-date with the latest platform features, as it often translates to a better and more modern user experience. Ignoring the targetSdkVersion can lead to your application falling behind in terms of features and performance, potentially impacting user satisfaction and retention. However, updating the targetSdkVersion is not without its challenges. As Android evolves, certain behaviors and APIs may be deprecated or changed, requiring developers to adapt their code accordingly. Failure to address these changes can result in runtime errors, unexpected behavior, or even app crashes. Compatibility testing becomes paramount when updating the targetSdkVersion. Thoroughly testing your application on various Android versions and devices is essential to ensure that the update doesn't introduce any regressions or break existing functionality. This includes testing core features, UI elements, and interactions with external libraries and services. In the context of FirebaseUI Auth, updating the targetSdkVersion to 35 may require specific considerations due to changes in how the library interacts with the Android system and the underlying Firebase services. Issues related to phone number authentication, UI rendering, and edge-to-edge display implementations are common pain points that developers face during this migration. Understanding these potential challenges and proactively addressing them is crucial for a successful update. In the following sections, we will delve deeper into the specific issues related to FirebaseUI Auth and provide practical solutions to ensure a seamless transition to targetSdk 35.

When updating your application to targetSdk 35, integrating FirebaseUI Auth for phone number authentication can present several challenges, particularly in conjunction with edge-to-edge display implementations. Understanding these common issues is crucial for a smooth transition and optimal user experience. One prevalent problem is the incompatibility with edge-to-edge layouts. Edge-to-edge, or immersive mode, allows your application's content to extend to the very edges of the screen, overlapping the status bar and navigation bar. This design choice can create a more visually appealing and immersive experience, but it also requires careful handling of UI elements to prevent them from being obscured or rendered incorrectly. FirebaseUI Auth, in its default configuration, may not seamlessly integrate with edge-to-edge layouts. The phone number input field, verification code screen, or other UI components might overlap with the system bars, making them difficult to see or interact with. This can lead to a frustrating user experience and potential usability issues. Another significant issue arises from changes in permission handling. Android 14 introduces stricter permission requirements and behaviors, impacting how applications request and handle permissions, especially for sensitive operations like phone number verification. If your application doesn't properly handle these changes, the FirebaseUI Auth flow might be disrupted, leading to authentication failures or unexpected crashes. Specifically, the way FirebaseUI Auth interacts with the SMS Retriever API for automatic verification code retrieval might be affected. You may need to explicitly declare the necessary permissions in your manifest and handle runtime permission requests appropriately to ensure the authentication process works correctly. UI rendering glitches and layout issues are also common when targeting SDK 35. The updated Android system behaviors and rendering engine might expose subtle differences in how UI elements are drawn and positioned, potentially revealing layout inconsistencies or visual artifacts in the FirebaseUI Auth screens. This can include misaligned text, incorrect padding, or overlapping components, which can detract from the user experience and create a sense of unprofessionalism. Moreover, dependency conflicts and version mismatches can emerge when updating to targetSdk 35. FirebaseUI Auth relies on several underlying libraries and dependencies, such as the Firebase Authentication SDK and the Android Support Library (or its successor, AndroidX). If these dependencies are not compatible with targetSdk 35 or if there are version conflicts between them, you might encounter runtime errors or build failures. Ensuring that all dependencies are updated to their latest versions and are compatible with each other is crucial for resolving these issues. Furthermore, changes in the Android lifecycle and background task execution can impact FirebaseUI Auth's behavior. Android 14 introduces new restrictions on background activity launches and task scheduling, which might affect how FirebaseUI Auth handles tasks like sending SMS messages or verifying phone numbers. If your application doesn't adhere to these restrictions, the authentication flow might be interrupted or fail entirely. You may need to adjust your code to use appropriate background task mechanisms, such as WorkManager, to ensure that FirebaseUI Auth functions reliably. In summary, updating to targetSdk 35 while using FirebaseUI Auth for phone number authentication requires careful consideration of edge-to-edge layout compatibility, permission handling changes, UI rendering adjustments, dependency management, and background task execution. By understanding these potential issues and proactively addressing them, you can ensure a smooth and successful migration, providing a seamless authentication experience for your users.

Updating your application to targetSdk 35 and resolving potential issues with FirebaseUI Auth requires a systematic approach. This step-by-step guide provides a comprehensive roadmap to ensure a smooth transition.

1. Update Your Project's build.gradle Files: The first step is to update the targetSdkVersion and compileSdkVersion in your project's build.gradle file (both the project-level and app-level files). Set them to 35 to align with the latest Android API level.

android {
compileSdkVersion 35

defaultConfig {
applicationId "your.package.name"
minSdkVersion 21 // Or your minimum supported SDK
targetSdkVersion 35
versionCode 1
versionName "1.0"
}
}

Also, ensure that you are using the latest versions of FirebaseUI Auth and Firebase Authentication libraries.

dependencies {
implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-auth:23.2.1' // Ensure this is the latest version
implementation 'com.firebaseui:firebase-ui-auth:9.0.0' // Ensure this is the latest version
}

Sync your Gradle files to apply the changes. This will download the necessary SDK components and libraries.

2. Address Edge-to-Edge Layout Compatibility: To handle edge-to-edge layouts, you need to ensure that your application content doesn't overlap with the system bars (status bar and navigation bar). This typically involves using the WindowInsetsController API and adjusting your layout XML files.

• Enable Edge-to-Edge: In your Activity's onCreate method, enable edge-to-edge:

import androidx.core.view.WindowCompat
import androidx.core.view.WindowInsetsCompat
import androidx.core.view.WindowInsetsControllerCompat

class YourActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
setContentView(R.layout.your_layout)

// Enable edge-to-edge display
WindowCompat.setDecorFitsSystemWindows(window, false)

val windowInsetsController = WindowCompat.getInsetsController(window, window.decorView)
// Configure the behavior of the system bars
windowInsetsController.systemBarsBehavior = WindowInsetsControllerCompat.BEHAVIOR_SHOW_TRANSIENT_BARS_BY_SWIPE

// Optional: Set status bar color to transparent
window.statusBarColor = Color.TRANSPARENT

// Optional: Set navigation bar color to transparent
window.navigationBarColor = Color.TRANSPARENT
}
}

• Adjust Layouts: Use android:paddingTop, android:paddingBottom, or ConstraintLayout's guidelines and barriers to prevent UI elements from overlapping with system bars. You can also use View.OnApplyWindowInsetsListener to dynamically adjust padding based on system insets.

<androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:paddingBottom="?attr/actionBarSize">


<TextView
android:id="@+id/titleTextView"
android:layout_width="0dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Your Title"
app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent"
app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
android:padding="16dp"/>


<Button
android:id="@+id/signInButton"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Sign In with Phone"
app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/titleTextView"
app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"/>


</androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>

3. Handle Permission Changes: Android 14 introduces stricter permission requirements. Ensure your application requests necessary permissions at runtime and handles permission denials gracefully.

• Declare Permissions: In your AndroidManifest.xml, declare the necessary permissions, such as android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS and android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS.

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS"/>

• Request Permissions at Runtime: Use ActivityCompat.requestPermissions to request permissions when needed, typically before starting the FirebaseUI Auth flow.

import android.Manifest
import android.content.pm.PackageManager
import androidx.core.app.ActivityCompat
import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat

private val SMS_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE = 100

private fun checkSmsPermission() {
if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(
this,
Manifest.permission.RECEIVE_SMS
) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
) {
ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(
this,
arrayOf(Manifest.permission.RECEIVE_SMS),
SMS_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE
)
} else {
startFirebaseUIAuth()
}
}

override fun onRequestPermissionsResult(
requestCode: Int,
permissions: Array,
grantResults: IntArray
) {
super.onRequestPermissionsResult(requestCode, permissions, grantResults)
if (requestCode == SMS_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE) {
if (grantResults.isNotEmpty() && grantResults[0] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
startFirebaseUIAuth()
} else {
// Handle permission denial
Toast.makeText(this, "SMS permission required", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()
}
}
}

private fun startFirebaseUIAuth() {
// Your FirebaseUI Auth start code here
}

// Call this method before starting the FirebaseUI Auth flow
checkSmsPermission()

4. Address UI Rendering Glitches: Inspect your FirebaseUI Auth screens for any UI rendering issues, such as misaligned text or overlapping components. Use Android Studio's Layout Inspector to identify and fix these problems.

• Update Dependencies: Ensure you are using the latest versions of FirebaseUI Auth and related libraries, as updates often include bug fixes and UI improvements.
• Customize UI: FirebaseUI Auth allows you to customize the UI using themes and styles. If necessary, override default styles to address specific rendering issues.

5. Resolve Dependency Conflicts: Use the Gradle dependency resolution tools to identify and resolve any dependency conflicts.

• ./gradlew app:dependencies: Run this command in your terminal to view your project's dependency tree and identify any conflicting versions.
• exclude or force: Use these Gradle directives in your dependencies block to exclude conflicting dependencies or force a specific version.

dependencies {
implementation('com.example:libraryA:1.0') {
exclude group: 'com.example', module: 'libraryB'
}

implementation('com.example:libraryB:2.0')

// Or
implementation('com.example:libraryC:1.0') {
force = true
}
}

6. Handle Background Task Restrictions: Android 14 imposes restrictions on background activity launches. If your application relies on background tasks for FirebaseUI Auth (e.g., SMS verification), use WorkManager to schedule these tasks.

• Use WorkManager: Schedule tasks that need to run in the background using WorkManager. This ensures that your tasks are executed in a way that respects Android's background task limitations.

import androidx.work.OneTimeWorkRequest
import androidx.work.WorkManager

class SmsVerificationWorker(context: Context, workerParams: WorkerParameters) :
Worker(context, workerParams) {
override fun doWork(): Result {
// Your SMS verification logic here
return Result.success()
}
}

fun scheduleSmsVerification() {
val smsVerificationWorkRequest = OneTimeWorkRequest.Builder(SmsVerificationWorker::class.java)
.build()

WorkManager.getInstance(context).enqueue(smsVerificationWorkRequest)
}

7. Test Thoroughly: After making these changes, thoroughly test your application on various Android versions and devices to ensure that FirebaseUI Auth works correctly and that there are no regressions.

• Emulators and Physical Devices: Test on both emulators and physical devices to cover a wide range of scenarios.
• Different Android Versions: Test on devices running different Android versions, including Android 14, to ensure compatibility.
• Edge Cases: Test edge cases, such as permission denials, network connectivity issues, and unexpected user inputs.

By following this step-by-step guide, you can update your application to targetSdk 35 and address common issues with FirebaseUI Auth, ensuring a smooth transition and optimal user experience.

Integrating FirebaseUI Auth with targetSdk 35 requires adherence to best practices to ensure a seamless and secure user experience. These practices encompass various aspects of development, from dependency management to UI design and permission handling.

1. Keep Dependencies Updated: Regularly update your FirebaseUI Auth and Firebase Authentication dependencies to the latest versions. These updates often include bug fixes, performance improvements, and compatibility enhancements that are crucial for running smoothly on targetSdk 35. Using outdated libraries can lead to unexpected behavior, security vulnerabilities, and compatibility issues. Leverage Gradle's dependency management features to easily update and manage your dependencies. Periodically check for new releases and incorporate them into your project to maintain a stable and secure authentication flow. Additionally, keeping other related libraries and SDKs up-to-date, such as the AndroidX libraries, can prevent conflicts and ensure compatibility across your application.

2. Implement Proper Permission Handling: Android 14 introduces stricter permission requirements, making it essential to implement proper permission handling in your application. Always request necessary permissions at runtime, and gracefully handle permission denials. Educate users on why your application needs specific permissions to enhance trust and transparency. Utilize the ActivityCompat.requestPermissions method to request permissions and handle the results in the onRequestPermissionsResult callback. Provide clear and concise explanations to users when requesting sensitive permissions, such as the RECEIVE_SMS permission, to improve user understanding and acceptance. Implement fallback mechanisms for cases where permissions are denied, ensuring that your application can still function, albeit with reduced functionality.

3. Customize UI for Consistency: Customize the FirebaseUI Auth UI to match your application's design and branding. A consistent UI creates a more cohesive user experience and enhances user trust. FirebaseUI Auth provides theming options that allow you to override default styles and colors, ensuring that the authentication screens blend seamlessly with the rest of your application. Use custom layouts and styles to align the appearance of the authentication screens with your application's visual identity. Pay attention to details such as font styles, button designs, and color schemes to create a unified and professional look. Test the customized UI on various screen sizes and resolutions to ensure responsiveness and proper rendering.

4. Handle Edge-to-Edge Layouts Correctly: When using edge-to-edge layouts, ensure that your UI elements do not overlap with the system bars. Use WindowInsets and View.OnApplyWindowInsetsListener to adjust padding and margins dynamically. Edge-to-edge layouts provide a more immersive user experience by allowing your application's content to extend to the very edges of the screen. However, this requires careful handling of UI elements to prevent them from being obscured by the status bar or navigation bar. Use ConstraintLayout guidelines and barriers to position UI elements safely within the visible screen area. Test your layouts thoroughly on different devices and screen orientations to ensure that the UI adapts correctly to various screen configurations.

5. Implement Error Handling: Implement robust error handling to manage potential issues during the authentication process. Network errors, invalid credentials, and other unexpected events can disrupt the authentication flow. Display user-friendly error messages to guide users on how to resolve the issue. Use try-catch blocks and error listeners to catch exceptions and handle them appropriately. Log errors for debugging purposes, but avoid displaying sensitive information in error messages shown to users. Provide clear instructions or links to support resources to assist users in resolving authentication issues.

6. Test on Multiple Devices and Android Versions: Thoroughly test your FirebaseUI Auth integration on a variety of devices and Android versions, including Android 14, to ensure compatibility and identify any potential issues. Testing on physical devices is crucial, as emulators may not accurately represent real-world conditions. Use cloud-based testing services or device labs to access a wide range of devices and configurations. Perform both automated and manual testing to cover different aspects of the authentication flow. Pay special attention to edge cases and scenarios that may trigger unexpected behavior.

7. Monitor Performance and Usage: Monitor the performance and usage of your FirebaseUI Auth implementation to identify areas for optimization. Track metrics such as authentication success rates, error rates, and latency to gain insights into the user experience. Use Firebase Performance Monitoring or other analytics tools to gather data and identify performance bottlenecks. Optimize your code and infrastructure to improve the speed and reliability of the authentication process. Regularly review your monitoring data to detect and address any emerging issues proactively.

By following these best practices, you can ensure a seamless and secure FirebaseUI Auth integration with targetSdk 35, providing a positive user experience and maintaining the integrity of your application's authentication flow.

Updating your application to targetSdk 35 while integrating FirebaseUI Auth for phone number authentication presents both opportunities and challenges. By understanding the implications of targetSdk 35, addressing common issues, and following best practices, developers can ensure a smooth transition and optimal user experience. This article has provided a comprehensive guide to navigate this process, covering essential aspects such as updating dependencies, handling edge-to-edge layouts, managing permissions, resolving UI rendering glitches, and addressing background task restrictions. The step-by-step guide offers a practical roadmap for developers to follow, ensuring that no critical aspect is overlooked during the migration. Furthermore, the best practices outlined in this article emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring, thorough testing, and proactive error handling. By adopting these practices, developers can create robust and secure authentication flows that meet the evolving demands of the Android platform. As Android development continues to advance, staying informed and adaptable is crucial for maintaining application quality and user satisfaction. Updating to the latest targetSdk is not merely a technical requirement but a commitment to providing users with the best possible experience. FirebaseUI Auth simplifies the authentication process, but it requires careful integration and adherence to best practices to function seamlessly. By leveraging the knowledge and strategies presented in this article, developers can confidently update their applications to targetSdk 35 and harness the full potential of FirebaseUI Auth for phone number authentication. The key takeaways include the necessity of keeping dependencies up-to-date, implementing proper permission handling, customizing the UI for consistency, handling edge-to-edge layouts correctly, implementing robust error handling, and thoroughly testing on multiple devices and Android versions. By embracing these principles, developers can create secure, user-friendly, and modern Android applications that stand out in the competitive landscape. In conclusion, updating to targetSdk 35 and integrating FirebaseUI Auth effectively requires a holistic approach that combines technical expertise, attention to detail, and a commitment to user-centric design. This article serves as a valuable resource for developers seeking to navigate this process successfully and build exceptional Android applications. Remember, a well-executed authentication flow is a cornerstone of a positive user experience, and by investing the time and effort to implement it correctly, you can significantly enhance the overall quality and appeal of your application.