So NDK 16 released. I just compiled a new cocos project from scratch using the latest GitHub commit and it builds.
I think making the default for the future of cocos ndk 16, c++_static or c++_shared and clang is the best option
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But prebuilt libs now working for me. Did you test it also? iOS and macOS works ok, but android has many problem.s
I haven’t tested it, but since generating the pre-built libs means that it will be compiling the same source, I can assume that it should
I’ll try it out and get back to you.
I never tried source code for android, I don’t know how) and it will compile forever every time…
Currently, I can compile prebuilt with NDK 16 with:
APP_STL := gnustl_static
My minimum target is api 19:
cocos gen-libs -p android --ap android-19 --app-abi x86:armeabi-v7a
What do you mean it takes a while?
Once you compile once, it shouldn’t compile cocos2d-x again unless you change something in the engine or change things in the Application.mk file.
Also, the current limitation with cocos gen-libs is that you need to use the old build system ant. This is what I get when I try
Mozart-Ari:~ mozartlouis$ cocos gen-libs -p android --ap android-19 --app-abi x86:armeabi-v7a
Python 2.7.10
running: '/Users/mozartlouis/Code/Libraries/Cocos2d-x/tools/cocos2d-console/bin/cocos compile -s /Users/mozartlouis/Code/Libraries/Cocos2d-x/tools/simulator -p android --ndk-mode release --app-abi x86:armeabi-v7a --ap android-19'
Python 2.7.10
Building mode: debug
Using Eclipse project : /Users/mozartlouis/Code/Libraries/Cocos2d-x/tools/simulator/frameworks/runtime-src/proj.android
Ant (Eclipse project) is not supported from Android SDK Tools 25.3.0.
Error running command, return code: 101.
Try to compile using NDK 16 with
APP_STL := c++_static and use clang for this.
I currently use gradle for build in android studio, which in my opinion is the better option than using cocos commane line tools
Here’s an exampile of my gradle
build.gradle
import org.apache.tools.ant.taskdefs.condition.Os
apply plugin: 'com.android.application'
android {
compileSdkVersion PROP_COMPILE_SDK_VERSION.toInteger()
buildToolsVersion "27.0.1"
defaultConfig {
applicationId "com.mozartlouis.game"
minSdkVersion PROP_MIN_SDK_VERSION
targetSdkVersion PROP_TARGET_SDK_VERSION
versionCode 1
versionName "1.0"
externalNativeBuild {
ndkBuild {
if (!project.hasProperty("PROP_NDK_MODE") || PROP_NDK_MODE.compareTo('none') != 0) {
// skip the NDK Build step if PROP_NDK_MODE is none
targets 'game'
arguments 'NDK_TOOLCHAIN_VERSION=clang'
arguments 'APP_PLATFORM=android-' + PROP_APP_PLATFORM
arguments '-j' + Runtime.runtime.availableProcessors()
abiFilters.addAll(PROP_APP_ABI.split(':').collect { it as String })
}
}
}
}
sourceSets.main {
java.srcDir "src"
res.srcDir "res"
manifest.srcFile "AndroidManifest.xml"
assets.srcDir "../../Resources"
}
externalNativeBuild {
ndkBuild {
if (!project.hasProperty("PROP_NDK_MODE") || PROP_NDK_MODE.compareTo('none') != 0) {
// skip the NDK Build step if PROP_NDK_MODE is none
path "jni/Android.mk"
}
}
}
signingConfigs {
dev {
if (project.hasProperty("STORE_FILE")) {
storeFile file(STORE_FILE)
storePassword STORE_PASSWORD
keyAlias ALIAS_DEV
keyPassword ALIAS_DEV_PASSWORD
v2SigningEnabled true
}
}
release {
if (project.hasProperty("STORE_FILE")) {
storeFile file(STORE_FILE)
storePassword STORE_PASSWORD
keyAlias ALIAS_RELEASE
keyPassword ALIAS_RELEASE_PASSWORD
v2SigningEnabled true
}
}
}
buildTypes {
debug {
debuggable true
jniDebuggable true
renderscriptDebuggable true
minifyEnabled false
shrinkResources false
if (project.hasProperty("STORE_FILE")) {
signingConfig signingConfigs.dev
}
externalNativeBuild {
ndkBuild {
arguments 'NDK_DEBUG=1'
}
}
}
release {
debuggable false
jniDebuggable false
renderscriptDebuggable false
minifyEnabled true
shrinkResources true
proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android-optimize.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
if (project.hasProperty("STORE_FILE")) {
signingConfig signingConfigs.release
}
externalNativeBuild {
ndkBuild {
arguments 'NDK_DEBUG=0'
}
}
}
}
}
android.applicationVariants.all { variant ->
// delete previous files first
delete "${buildDir}/intermediates/assets/${variant.dirName}"
variant.mergeAssets.doLast {
copy {
from "${buildDir}/../../Resources"
into "${buildDir}/intermediates/assets/${variant.dirName}"
exclude "**/*.gz"
}
}
}
dependencies {
implementation fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: ['*.jar'])
implementation project(':libcocos2dx')
}
gradle.properties
# Project-wide Gradle settings.
# IDE (e.g. Android Studio) users:
# Gradle settings configured through the IDE *will override*
# any settings specified in this file.
# For more details on how to configure your build environment visit
# http://www.gradle.org/docs/current/userguide/build_environment.html
# Specifies the JVM arguments used for the daemon process.
# The setting is particularly useful for tweaking memory settings.
# Default value: -Xmx10248m -XX:MaxPermSize=256m
org.gradle.jvmargs=-Xmx2048m -XX:MaxPermSize=512m -XX:+HeapDumpOnOutOfMemoryError -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8
# When configured, Gradle will run in incubating parallel mode.
# This option should only be used with decoupled zprojects. More details, visit
# http://www.gradle.org/docs/current/userguide/multi_project_builds.html#sec:decoupled_projects
# org.gradle.parallel=true
PROP_COMPILE_SDK_VERSION=19
PROP_APP_PLATFORM=19
PROP_MIN_SDK_VERSION=19
PROP_TARGET_SDK_VERSION=27
PROP_APP_ABI=armeabi-v7a:arm64-v8a:x86
android.library.reference.1=../cocos2d/cocos/platform/android/java/libs/gps/
Seems to be, for example when clean project it recompiles. I just want prebuilt to save that time. And I want tot use one lib folder for all games.
Thats in ideal world… well, I like prebuilt.
My config is here Pre-built libs for android not compiles with NDK 14+
That for using prebuilt libs.
android is very new to me… I can say that I just create prebuilt via console and then built my game via android studio after that and run on emulator.
You need to replace tool folder to older it’s common issue.
UPD:
But with:
modified Cocos2d-x/tools/simulator/frameworks/runtime-src/proj.android/jni/Application.mk
APP_STL := c++_static
I got:
/Volumes/MacData/Cocos2d-x/external/spidermonkey/prebuilt/android/x86/libjs_static.a(jscntxt.o)(.text+0x1178): error: undefined reference to 'vtable for std::basic_filebuf<char, std::char_traits<char> >'
/Volumes/MacData/Android/SDK/ndk-bundle/toolchains/x86-4.9/prebuilt/darwin-x86_64/lib/gcc/i686-linux-android/4.9.x/../../../../i686-linux-android/bin/ld: the vtable symbol may be undefined because the class is missing its key function
/Volumes/MacData/Cocos2d-x/external/spidermonkey/prebuilt/android/x86/libjs_static.a(jscntxt.o)(.text+0x11a3): error: undefined reference to 'std::basic_ios<char, std::char_traits<char> >::clear(std::_Ios_Iostate)'
/Volumes/MacData/Cocos2d-x/external/spidermonkey/prebuilt/android/x86/libjs_static.a(jscntxt.o)(.text+0x11fe): error: undefined reference to 'std::string::find(char const*, unsigned int, unsigned int) const'
/Volumes/MacData/Cocos2d-x/external/spidermonkey/prebuilt/android/x86/libjs_static.a(jscntxt.o)(.text+0x127b): error: undefined reference to 'std::__throw_bad_cast()'
clang++: error: linker command failed with exit code 1 (use -v to see invocation)
make: *** [obj/local/armeabi-v7a/libcocos2dlua.so] Error 1
make: *** Waiting for unfinished jobs....
clang++: error: linker command failed with exit code 1 (use -v to see invocation)
make: *** [obj/local/x86/libcocos2dlua.so] Error 1
make: Leaving directory `/Volumes/MacData/Cocos2d-x/tools/simulator/frameworks/runtime-src/proj.android'
Error running command, return code: 2.
Error running command, return code: 14.I don’t know, if it’s possible even to build libs via android studio?
I just copied that config from some old topic and some guys helped me with that. Too bad, that there is nobody making proper tutorial about that and documentation is abandoned and old for prebuilt libs and other…
Hmmm I see. I definitely understand the benefits of using prebuilt libs. I guess it’s just that no one has tried to standardize and modernize it for cocos2d-x.
Maybe we should work together to do that. I am currently an Android developer so I know my way around the ecosystem pretty well.
We should migrate from Ant to Gradle first and get pre-built libraries working with Android Studio
@slackmoehrle is that something we can do since it is kind of a big part of the dev process for android or is that something that we should leave up to the cocos developers?
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Thats good for you 
but me, as iOS only dev is nothing understandable… I just know that some current work in some way for my game and I can run it on android. But if it best, or stable I don’t know…
Also, c++_static should be used because gnustl_static will be abandoned soon. However, it’s nobody starting to use and test it for now…
I think we are going to recommend not using the pre-built libraries on Android because there are so many factors that play into how they are compiled and and what SDK version, etc. on IOS and Windows pre-builts are great. very simple, no frustration. Android not so much. Let me talk to the team and get their thoughts.
I’m forked the GitHub repo and I’m going to make a pull request for it. I have it working! I’ll update this thread when uploaded
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Cool. Can you please also advise maybe how to use it with prebuilt libs?
Ideally I’m looking for a sample project.
Actually I’m using it without problems, for last 3-4 month. Main problems arrive when I’m trying to use latest NDK and static and documentation abandoned, without examples.
Prebuilt libs sholud be n1 method of using cocos2d-x. It will save time and space, also update of cocos game project is amazingly simple.(you don’t need to change anything in project, just recompile libs once and it will work for all games you develop, because cocos is shared between).
This I think is the biggest problem with pre-builts on Android.
So all can be fixed, by developers who understand android.
To solve this issue, there needs to be less variables.
I think if cocos2d-x complete switches over to c++_static and use gradle to generate libs, this won’t be a problem at all.
c++static is the future for the NDK and will be supported all the way to C++20 apparently. With tht info, we just need to configure it all. The way ti use prebuilt libraries is probably doing a check for them in the Android.mk files associated with them. This will make sure when building with gradle, it will use pre-built libraries instead of compiling them again
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I’m really waiting for that 
and also it would be cool, to push forward using prebuilt cocos2d-x libs for games. Easy update, easy to use. Easy to add source code if needed(just drag into Xcode and remove later if not needed).
SDKBox is ready for c++_static