Ship it Faster: Android CI/CD with GitHub Actions - workshop

Android development can become chaotic when builds are done manually, tests are skipped, and releases are delayed. CI/CD automates your workflow, allowing you to ship quickly and confidently.

In this hands-on workshop, we will create a full CI/CD pipeline for an Android app using GitHub Actions. I will walk you through the process of creating workflows, automating builds, running tests, signing your app, and deploying it to the Play Store for internal testing.

We'll also go over how to keep your keystore files and API credentials secure, how to speed up pipelines with caching and matrix builds, and how to get into advanced concepts like self-hosted runners and release management.

This workshop was provided at Devfest Helwan 2025.
https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-helwan-presents-devfest25-gdg-helwan/

By the end of the workshop, you will not only have understood but also built your own CI/CD system.

Key Takeaways:
- Understand the core principles of CI/CD and why it matters for Android.
- Create and configure GitHub Actions workflows for Android apps.
- Automate build, test, and deployment steps.
- Securely manage keystores, passwords, and service account files.
- Deploy to Google Play (Internal Testing) using the Play Developer API.
- Bonus: Improve pipelines with caching, matrices, and self-hosted runners.

Target Audience:
- Android developers who want to automate their workflow.
- Mobile teams are struggling with slow, manual releases.
- Developers curious about GitHub Actions, CI/CD, or DevOps for mobile.

Prerequisites:
- Basic Android development experience.
- Basic Git/GitHub knowledge.
- A GitHub repository ready to use (Play Console access not required for demo).

Session Format & Level:
Format: Hands-on Workshop
Level: Intermediate (Beginner-friendly but practical for working developers)

Ship it Faster: Android CI/CD with GitHub Actions

Shipping Android apps shouldn’t be slow or stressful. In this session, we’ll break down how CI/CD can transform your development workflow—from faster builds to safer releases. You’ll learn how GitHub Actions can automate your Android pipeline end-to-end: building your app, running tests, signing artifacts, and preparing releases for the Play Store.

We’ll also explore essential best practices like securing keystores and API credentials, speeding up pipelines with caching and matrix builds, and understanding when to adopt advanced options such as self-hosted runners or streamlined release management.

This session will be provided virtually at Devfest On Discord 2025
https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-google-developer-community-online-presents-devfest-on-discord-2025/

By the end of the session, you’ll have a clear, actionable blueprint for building your own Android CI/CD system and shipping with confidence.

Modern Android App Security: A Practical Guide to Keeping Users Safe

Today’s Android applications handle increasingly sensitive data, from financial transactions to biometric information. Despite this, a large number of vulnerabilities originate from common developer errors.

This session will explore the actual attack surface of Android apps and introduce the contemporary tools and APIs provided by Google to enhance user security.

Attendees will gain practical knowledge on:
* Securing local data storage.
* Implementing safe network communication.
* Strengthening authentication mechanisms and sensitive actions.
* Protecting the application's code itself.

We will analyze real-world examples and frequent security pitfalls found in production applications, demonstrating how to apply up-to-date Android APIs and best practices for remediation. Regardless of your experience level (junior or senior), you will leave with concrete, actionable improvements for your code to implement immediately.

This session will be provided virtually at Devfest Cairo 2025.
https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-cairo-presents-devfest-cairo-2025/