Get Autka running on your Android device or emulator in minutes. You need JDK 17, a recent Android Studio, and optionally Node.js if you want to run the local backend alongside the app.
Clone the repository
Download the Autka source code from GitHub:
Install JDK 17
Autka requires JDK 17. Verify your installation:
If you see a version other than 17, install JDK 17 through Android Studio (Settings/Preferences > Build, Execution, Deployment > Build Tools > Gradle > Gradle JDK) or your system package manager.
Open in Android Studio
Launch Android Studio and select Open to import the Autka project folder. Android Studio will sync Gradle and download dependencies automatically. This may take several minutes on first open.
Build the debug APK
Assemble a debug build from the terminal or Android Studio's built-in terminal:
The APK will be placed in app/build/outputs/apk/debug/.
Install on device or emulator
Install the debug build directly to a connected device or running emulator:
Alternatively, drag the APK onto an emulator window or use adb install.
(Optional) Start the local backend
If you want the app to talk to a local backend instead of production, navigate to the backend folder and start the Cloudflare Worker locally:
The Android debug build points at http://10.0.2.2:8787/, which is the Android emulator alias for the host running wrangler dev. A physical device cannot use 10.0.2.2; for device testing, point the local debug backend URL at the development machine's LAN address (for example http://192.168.1.20:8787/) and ensure the Worker is listening on an interface reachable from the phone.
Verify the build#
After installation, open Autka on your device. You should see the main listings screen. If you started the local backend, verify connectivity by checking the source health screen or performing a search.
Use ./gradlew connectedCheck to run instrumented tests on a connected device or emulator.
Troubleshooting#
Gradle sync fails with JDK version error
Ensure Android Studio is using JDK 17 for the project. Go to Settings > Build, Execution, Deployment > Build Tools > Gradle > Gradle JDK and select JDK 17.
Backend not reachable from emulator
Confirm the backend is running with npm run dev and that the Android debug build uses the emulator loopback. The debug build is preconfigured to http://10.0.2.2:8787/.
InstallDebug fails with device not found
Ensure your device is connected with USB debugging enabled, or that an emulator is running. Run adb devices to verify detection.