Build Android Apps.
Without Android Studio.
ktroid is a lightweight Python CLI that replaces bloated IDE workflows with fast, scriptable terminal commands. Reclaim your RAM.
pip install ktroidBuilt for terminal purists.
You don't need a heavy GUI to build powerful native apps. Control the entire Android toolchain directly from Bash or Zsh.
Terminal Purists
You live in Vim, Neovim, or VS Code. ktroid fits your keyboard-driven workflow without forcing a context switch.
Low-Spec Machines
4 GB RAM? Old laptop? ktroid uses ~50 MB while Android Studio demands 2–4 GB just to open.
CI/CD Pipelines
Scriptable, headless, no GUI required. Drop 'ktd build release' into any automated pipeline.
Offline Environments
Once set up, ktroid builds entirely offline. No cloud dependency, no surprise network calls.
Zero to APK in seconds
pip install ktroid# Works on Linux, macOS, Windows
ktd setup# Auto-configures Gradle & SDK
ktd create MyApp# Generates standard Gradle project
ktroid does not invent a proprietary build system. It generates standard 100% Android Studio compatible projects.
├── app/
│ ├── build.gradle
│ └── src/main/
│ ├── AndroidManifest.xml
│ └── java/com/mycorp/app/
│ └── MainActivity.kt
├── build.gradle
├── settings.gradle
└── gradlew
Why not just use Android Studio?
See the difference in resource consumption and workflow flexibility.
| Metric | ktroid | Android Studio |
|---|---|---|
| RAM Usage | ~50 MB | 2.5 – 4.0 GB+ |
| Startup Time | 0.1 seconds | 30s – 2 min |
| Install Size | ~100 KB (CLI) | ~1.5 GB |
| CI/CD Friendly | ✓ Native | Requires workarounds |
| Offline Builds | ✓ After setup | Partial |
| Works via SSH | ✓ Yes | No (needs GUI) |
ktroid does not replace Android Studio's visual layout editor or memory profiler. Use the right tool for the job.
Ready to compile from the terminal?
GPL-3.0 · Free forever · No telemetry