Build release APK giving the error ':background_fetch:verifyReleaseResources' and others

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05-10-2024

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Troubleshooting " ':background_fetch:verifyReleaseResources' and other errors during Android App Release APK Build"

Problem: You're attempting to build a release APK for your Android app, but you encounter errors like ':background_fetch:verifyReleaseResources', 'Execution failed for task ':app:processReleaseResources'', or other related issues.

Simplified Explanation: Essentially, your Android Studio build process is unable to properly bundle the resources (images, layouts, etc.) needed for your app's release version. This happens because the build system detects discrepancies or problems within your app's resources.

Scenario & Original Code:

Let's assume you're using a third-party library called background_fetch in your project. This library is likely involved in handling background tasks within your app. Building the release APK fails with the following error:

:background_fetch:verifyReleaseResources FAILED

FAILURE: Build failed with an exception.

* What went wrong:
Execution failed for task ':background_fetch:verifyReleaseResources'.
> Android resource linking failed
> AAPT2 aapt2-3.8.1-5394014-windows/bin/aapt2.exe compile --legacy-style --output F:\my_project\app\build\intermediates\merged_res\release\out\resources-release.ap_ \
>    F:\my_project\app\build\intermediates\incremental\mergeReleaseResources\merged.dir\values\values.xml
>    F:\my_project\app\build\intermediates\incremental\mergeReleaseResources\merged.dir\values-en\values.xml
>    F:\my_project\app\build\intermediates\incremental\mergeReleaseResources\merged.dir\values-fr\values.xml
> Error: Attribute @drawable/ic_notification_default is not a valid resource.

Analysis & Clarification:

The error message indicates that the resource ic_notification_default is not found in the release build. This can happen for several reasons:

• Missing Resource: The resource ic_notification_default is not actually included in your project's drawable folder.
• Incorrect Path: The path to the resource might be incorrect in your project's code or configuration files.
• Conflicting Resources: Another library or your own code might be defining a resource with the same name but different content, causing a conflict.
• Build Configuration: The issue might be specific to the release build configuration. For example, a resource might be available in the debug build but not in the release build.

Troubleshooting & Solutions:

1. Double-Check Resource Existence:

   • Ensure the ic_notification_default image exists in the drawable folder of your project.
   • Check the file name is spelled correctly (case-sensitive).

2. Verify Resource Usage:

   • Search your project for the resource name ic_notification_default.
   • Confirm that the path to the resource in your code and configuration files is accurate.

3. Address Resource Conflicts:

   • If the resource is defined in multiple places, ensure all definitions match in terms of content and usage.
   • Consider using a different resource name or renaming the resource to avoid conflicts.

4. Examine Build Configuration:

   • Verify that the resource is correctly included in the release build configuration.
   • Check your build.gradle files (app and module levels) for any configuration that might exclude the resource.

Additional Tips & Best Practices:

• Clean and Rebuild: Perform a "Clean Project" and then rebuild your project. This can sometimes resolve temporary build issues.
• Invalidate Caches / Restart: Invalidate Caches / Restart from the Android Studio menu to clear cached data and restart the IDE.
• Use a Debug Build: Build your app in debug mode to see if the resource is available. This can help you narrow down the source of the problem.
• Code Review: Thoroughly review the code that uses the resource and any relevant configuration files for potential issues.

Remember: This is a general approach to solve this kind of error. The exact cause and solution might vary depending on the specific project setup and your build configuration.

References:

• Android Developer Documentation - Resource Types
• Android Studio - Clean Project
• Android Studio - Invalidate Caches
• Android Developer Documentation - Build Variants

By following these steps and considering the best practices, you should be able to successfully build your release APK and overcome the ':background_fetch:verifyReleaseResources' and related errors.