Bump minSdkVersion to 21 (lollipop)

[ghost]

As by https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3034811 this version is only suited for api-21 and above, this should be respected in the minSdkVersion.

[rovo89]

I think the idea is right, but I wouldn't want to close the door for adding support for earlier Android versions one day. If the minSdkVersion is 21, new code might not be compatible with 15 anymore.

[ghost]

Looking at the docs, the only intended purpose of this, is user-facing:

An integer designating the minimum API Level required for the application to run. The Android system will prevent the user from installing the application if the system's API Level is lower than the value specified in this attribute. You should always declare this attribute.

https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-sdk-element.html

If an IDE like AS provides some automated checks against this value, that might be cover by adding minSdkVersion at multiple locations, e.g. having debug builds with lower requirements than release builds. Would that be acceptable?

[rovo89]

If an IDE like AS provides some automated checks against this value

Yep, that's what I was thinking about. If you try to use some SDK21+ method, Android Studio / Lint will show it as an error if the minSdkVersion is lower than that.

e.g. having debug builds with lower requirements than release builds. Would that be acceptable?

Yeah, if that works, it would be fine. Although there's something I don't like about the minSdkVersion: If an APK is rejected because of it, the error message is something like "package is corrupted", no word about the real reason. Maybe it would be better to let the user install the app, but then say that KitKat and below is currently not supported?

[ghost]

Well, this wouldn't hurt. However, I work on F-Droid and F-Droid honors this setting and doesnt even show such apps for installation (if not expert settings are set to ignore this). I can forcefully up the minsdk at build-time. Or maybe just providing a build flavor for us like...

android {
  ..
    productFlavors { 
         fdroid {
                minSdkVersion 21
         }
    }
}

... would be acceptable?

[Bubu]

Taking this over on the f-droid side. As the app itself works on api 15 (just tested) I think there is no reason to have an artificial minapi 21 in the apk/fdroid.

This can be closed form my/our side.