Build and publish an Android Automotive music player with Claude Code
I created a media player for Android Automotive OS—not to be confused with Android Auto. I had been using an old, unmaintained app that lacked several features I wanted in a music player. I used Claude Code to build a new app from scratch, test it in an emulator, and eventually publish it for internal testing through the Google Play Store. After working through several bugs, I now have version 3 running reliably enough for day-to-day use in my car. I plan to add a few more features before ultimately releasing it publicly for free on the Play Store. Step-by-step: 1. I pointed Claude Code to the unmaintained package and gave it the option of using that as a starting point or starting from scratch. Claude chose to start from scratch. 2. I described the additional features I wanted. Claude suggested using Kotlin and Gradle, which I endorsed. 3. Claude created an initial build and installed an emulator to run alongside it. I did all of this on an Omarchy installation. 4. The initial build was buggy, so Claude and I worked together to identify and fix the problems. Claude often used the emulator autonomously to investigate what was going wrong. 5. Once I had a functional prototype, I needed to install it in my car. Claude guided me through creating a Google developer account and handling the administrative requirements beyond the app itself, including a privacy policy. 6. After the developer account was set up, Claude packaged the app for upload. I uploaded it and marked it for internal testing, which allowed me to access the app through the Play Store in my car. 7. Claude and I worked through a few more bugs. We are now on version 3, and the app is functional for day-to-day use. We plan to add more features, with the ultimate goal of releasing it publicly for free on the Play Store.
0 comments