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Glance Canonical Layouts

Android (Google)OfficialCreated by Google LLCDistributed by Android (Google)

  • Skill
  • Tool integration
  • Software development
  • Apache-2.0
  • Low risk
  • Has scripts

From the author

Use this skill to create home screen widgets using Jetpack Glance Canonical Layouts from the Android Platform Samples project, or when asked to implement standard widget layout patterns (including Check List, Image Grid, Snap Scrolling, and Standard Toolbar).
— the description by Google LLC

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

This skill provides a collection of reference implementations for Android home screen widgets using Jetpack Glance. It includes pre-built canonical layout patterns such as check lists, image grids, toolbars, and snap-scrolling layouts. Users can integrate these patterns into their Android projects by copying the provided reference files, configuring the widget provider, and registering the receiver in the Android manifest.

What it does

  • Provides source code for standard widget layout patterns like Action List, Check List, and Image Grid.
  • Offers guidance on configuring widget providers with SizeMode.Exact.
  • Includes necessary XML definitions for app widget providers.
  • Supplies supporting utility classes for theme, color, and action handling.
  • Details dependency requirements for Jetpack Glance and image loading libraries.
  • Provides troubleshooting steps for common issues like background color rendering.

When to use it

  • When you need to implement a standard widget layout pattern in an Android app using Jetpack Glance.
  • When you require a consistent design structure for home screen widgets.
  • When you need to integrate specific features like snap scrolling or search toolbars into your widget.
  • When you are setting up a new Glance-based widget and want to follow established reference implementations.

Advantages

  • Reduces development time by providing ready-to-use layout templates.
  • Ensures consistency with recommended Android widget design patterns.
  • Provides clear instructions on manifest registration and dependency management.
  • Includes modular components that can be adapted to specific app requirements.

Usage examples

“How do I implement a check list widget in my Android app?”
The agent will provide the CheckListAppWidget.kt, CheckListLayout.kt, and associated XML files, along with instructions to register the receiver in your AndroidManifest.xml.
“Create a search toolbar widget for my app.”
The agent will guide you to copy the SearchToolBarAppWidget.kt and SearchToolBarLayout.kt files and configure the widget provider with the required size mode.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://autogineer.com/agent-skills/android/glance-canonical-layouts/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip glance-canonical-layouts.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Google LLC

To implement a widget Canonical Layout that follows the recommended design patterns:

  1. The project MUST use Jetpack Glance.

  2. You MUST locate the requested layout from the list under Canonical Layout Reference Files.

  3. Copy the layout reference files into your project's target app module (e.g., src/main/java/ and src/main/res/) in one step to implement the exact design and reduce the number of tool calls.

  4. You MUST set override val sizeMode: SizeMode = SizeMode.Exact in the widget provider class.

  5. Validate that your project compiles, updating sample package declarations, import paths, and class names to match the target app's package name.

  6. Clean your project's widget code, removing unused classes (for example, unused buttons).

  7. You MUST register the widget receiver in AndroidManifest.xml inside <application> after <activity>, ensuring android:resource="@xml/..." matches the filename of the copied Widget Info XML. Otherwise, the widget won't appear in the widget picker:

<br />

<receiver android:name=".glance.MyReceiver"
    android:exported="true">
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.appwidget.action.APPWIDGET_UPDATE" />
    </intent-filter>
    <meta-data
        android:name="android.appwidget.provider"
        android:resource="@xml/my_app_widget_info" />
</receiver>

<br />

Dependencies

Add Jetpack Glance dependencies to the app module's build.gradle.kts (dependencies block):

  • androidx.glance:glance-appwidget:1.2.0 or higher

  • androidx.glance:glance-material3:1.2.0 or higher

  • androidx.glance:glance-appwidget-preview:1.2.0 or higher

  • androidx.glance:glance-preview:1.2.0 or higher

Use version 1.3.0-alpha02 or higher with compileSdk = 37 and Android Gradle Plugin (AGP) 9.1.0 or higher (for example, agp = "9.1.0" in gradle/libs.versions.toml) when implementing Snap Scrolling.

If copying sample data repositories that load bitmaps with Coil (such as FakeImageGridDataRepository.kt, FakeImageTextListDataRepository.kt, or FakeTextWithImageRepository.kt), also add an image loading library dependency such as io.coil-kt:coil (e.g., implementation("io.coil-kt:coil:2.7.0")) if one doesn't already exist.

Canonical layout reference files

Action list layout (action_list)
Check list layout (check_list)
Expressive toolbar layout (expressive_toolbar)
Image grid layout (image_grid)
Image text list layout (image_text_list)
Long text layout (long_text)
Search toolbar layout (search_toolbar)
Full-bleed image layout and snap scrolling (snap_scrolling)
Standard toolbar layout (standard_toolbar)
Text with image layout (text_with_image)

Troubleshooting

  1. Background Colors : Use GlanceModifier.background(Color) directly for solid background colors rather than ColorProvider, otherwise the background will be transparent.

  2. When using ColorProvider (outside of the background), avoid import errors :

    1. Import type: import androidx.glance.unit.ColorProvider

    2. Use fully qualified creator: androidx.glance.color.ColorProvider(dayColor, nightColor)

Checklist

  • [ ] Did you register the widget in the AndroidManifest?

  • [ ] Did you copy the corresponding Widget Info XML file and leave the given values including minWidth, minHeight, and minResizeHeight unchanged?

  • [ ] Did you use the given Glance Theme color values from the corresponding Layout Composable file?

  • [ ] Did you use dimension resource references for android:minWidth and android:minHeight in appwidget-provider XML definitions?

  • [ ] Did you override val sizeMode: SizeMode = SizeMode.Exact in the widget provider class?

Files

references/collections/layout/ImageGridLayout.kt

package com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.collections.layout

import android.graphics.Bitmap
import androidx.annotation.DrawableRes
import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
import androidx.compose.ui.unit.Dp
import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
import androidx.compose.ui.unit.sp
import androidx.glance.GlanceModifier
import androidx.glance.GlanceTheme
import androidx.glance.Image
import androidx.glance.ImageProvider
import androidx.glance.LocalContext
import androidx.glance.LocalSize
import androidx.glance.action.clickable
import androidx.glance.appwidget.components.CircleIconButton
import androidx.glance.appwidget.components.Scaffold
import androidx.glance.appwidget.components.TitleBar
import androidx.glance.appwidget.cornerRadius
import androidx.glance.layout.Box
import androidx.glance.layout.ContentScale
import androidx.glance.layout.fillMaxSize
import androidx.glance.layout.fillMaxWidth
import androidx.glance.layout.padding
import androidx.glance.layout.wrapContentHeight
import androidx.glance.preview.ExperimentalGlancePreviewApi
import androidx.glance.preview.Preview
import androidx.glance.text.FontWeight
import androidx.glance.text.Text
import androidx.glance.text.TextStyle
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.R
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.collections.layout.ImageGridLayoutDimensions.contentPadding
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.collections.layout.ImageGridLayoutDimensions.gridCells
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.collections.layout.ImageGridLayoutDimensions.imageCornerRadius
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.collections.layout.ImageGridLayoutDimensions.itemCornerRadius
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.collections.layout.ImageGridLayoutDimensions.textStartMargin
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.collections.layout.ImageGridLayoutDimensions.titleTextBreakpoint
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.collections.layout.ImageGridLayoutSize.Large
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.collections.layout.ImageGridLayoutSize.Medium
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.collections.layout.ImageGridLayoutSize.Small
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.utils.ActionUtils
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.utils.LargeWidgetPreview
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.utils.MediumWidgetPreview
import com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.utils.SmallWidgetPreview

/**
 * A layout focused on presenting a grid of images (with optional title and supporting text). The
 * list is displayed in a [Scaffold] below an app-specific title bar.
 *
 * In this sample layout, image is the primary focus of the widget and title & supporting text act
 * as secondary information.
 *
 * The layout scales by adjusting the number of grid cells, and the font size of the texts (if
 * present).
 *
 * [com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.collections.ImageGridAppWidget] loads the images as bitmaps, and
 * scales them to fit into widget's limits. Number of items are capped. When using bitmaps, this
 * approach is suitable for use cases that recommend / feature limited items.
 *
 * The layout serves as an implementation suggestion, but should be customized to fit your
 * product's needs.
 *
 * @param title the text to be displayed as title of the widget, e.g. name of your widget or app.
 * @param titleIconRes a tintable icon that represents your app or brand, that can be displayed
 * with the provided [title]. In this sample, we use icon from a drawable resource, but you should
 * use an appropriate icon source for your use case.
 * @param titleBarActionIconRes resource id of a tintable icon that can be displayed as
 * an icon button within the title bar area of the widget. For example, a search icon.
 * @param titleBarActionIconContentDescription description of the [titleBarActionIconRes] button
 * to be used by the accessibility services.
 * @param titleBarAction action to be performed on click of the [titleBarActionIconRes] button.
 * @param items list of items to be displayed in the grid; typically, image with optional title
 *              and supporting text.
 *
 * @see [ImageGridItemData] for accepted inputs.
 * @see [com.example.platform.ui.appwidgets.glance.layout.collections.ImageGridAppWidget]
 */
@Composable
fun ImageGridLayout(
  title: String,
  @DrawableRes titleIconRes: Int,
  @DrawableRes titleBarActionIconRes: Int,
  titleBarActionIconContentDescription: String,
  titleBarAction: () -> Unit,
  items: List<ImageGridItemData>,
) {

  @Composable
  fun TitleBar() {
    TitleBar(
      startIcon = ImageProvider(titleIconRes),
      title = title.takeIf { LocalSize.current.width >= titleTextBreakpoint } ?: "",
      iconColor = GlanceTheme.colors.primary,
      textColor = GlanceTheme.colors.onSurface,
      actions = {
        CircleIconButton(
          imageProvider = ImageProvider(titleBarActionIconRes),
          contentDescription = titleBarActionIconContentDescription,
          contentColor = GlanceTheme.colors.secondary,
          backgroundColor = null, // transparent
          onClick = titleBarAction
        )
      }
    )
  }

  Scaffold(
    titleBar = { TitleBar() },
    backgroundColor = GlanceTheme.colors.widgetBackground,
    horizontalPadding = contentPadding,
    modifier = GlanceModifier.padding(bottom = contentPadding)
  ) {
    if (items.isEmpty()) {
      EmptyListContent()
    } else {
      Grid(items)
    }
  }
}

@Composable
private fun Grid(items: List<ImageGridItemData>) {
  RoundedScrollingLazyVerticalGrid(
    modifier = GlanceModifier.fillMaxSize(),
    gridCells = gridCells,
    items = items,
    itemContentProvider = { item ->
      GridItem(
        item = item,
        modifier = GlanceModifier.fillMaxSize()
      )
    })
}

@Composable
private fun GridItem(
  item: ImageGridItemData,
  modifier: GlanceModifier,
) {
  @Composable
  fun Image() {
    val imageProvider = if (item.image != null) {
      ImageProvider(item.image)
    } else {
      ImageProvider(R.drawable.sample_placeholder_image)
    }

    Image(
      provider = imageProvider,
      contentDescription = item.imageContentDescription,
      contentScale = ContentScale.Fit,
      modifier = GlanceModifier
        .cornerRadius(imageCornerRadius)
        .fillMaxWidth()
        .wrapContentHeight()
    )
  }

  @Composable
  fun Title(text: String) {
    Text(
      text = text,
      maxLines = 1,
      style = ImageGridLayoutTextStyles.titleText,
      modifier = GlanceModifier.padding(start = textStartMargin)
    )
  }

  @Composable
  fun SupportingText(text: String) {
    Text(
      text = text,
      maxLines = 1,
      style = ImageGridLayoutTextStyles.supportingText,
      modifier = GlanceModifier.padding(start = textStartMargin)
    )
  }

  if (item.title != null) {
    VerticalListItem(
      modifier = modifier
        .cornerRadius(itemCornerRadius)
        .clickable(ActionUtils.actionStartDemoActivity("Item click ${item.title}")),
      topContent = { Image() },
      titleContent = { Title(text = item.title) },
      supportingContent = takeComposableIf(item.supportingText != null) {
        SupportingText(text = checkNotNull(item.supportingText))
      }
    )
  } else {
    Box(modifier) {
      Image()
    }
  }
}

/** Returns the provided [block] composable if [predicate] is true, else returns null */
@Composable
private inline fun takeComposableIf(
  predicate: Boolean,
  crossinline block: @Composable () -> Unit,
): (@Composable () -> Unit)? {
  return if (predicate) {
    { block() }
  } else null
}

data class ImageGridItemData(
  val key: String,
  val image: Bitmap?,
  val imageContentDescription: String?,
  val title: String? = null,
  val supportingText: String? = null,
)

/**
 * Size of the widget per the reference breakpoints. Each size has its own display
 * characteristics such as - number of grid cells, font sizes, etc.
 *
 * In this layout, only width breakpoints are used to scale the layout.
 */
private enum class ImageGridLayoutSize(val maxWidth: Dp) {
  // Smaller fonts, single column
  Small(maxWidth = 320.dp),

  // Larger fonts, 2 column
  Medium(maxWidth = 519.dp),

  // 3 column
  Large(maxWidth = Dp.Infinity);

  companion object {
    /**
     * Returns the corresponding [ImageGridLayoutSize] to be considered for the current widget
     * size.
     */
    @Composable
    fun fromLocalSize(): ImageGridLayoutSize {
      val size = LocalSize.current

      ImageGridLayoutSize.values().forEach {
        if (size.width < it.maxWidth) {
          return it
        }
      }
      throw IllegalStateException("No mapped size ")
    }
  }
}

private object ImageGridLayoutTextStyles {
  /**
   * Style for the text displayed as title within each item.
   */
  val titleText: TextStyle
    @Composable get() = TextStyle(
      fontWeight = FontWeight.Medium,
      fontSize = if (ImageGridLayoutSize.fromLocalSize() == Small) {
        14.sp // M3 Title Small
      } else {
        16.sp // M3 Title Medium
      },
      color = GlanceTheme.colors.onSurface
    )

  /**
   * Style for the text displayed as supporting text within each item.
   */
  val supportingText: TextStyle
    @Composable get() =
      TextStyle(
        fontWeight = FontWeight.Normal,
        fontSize = 12.sp, // M3 Label Medium
        color = GlanceTheme.colors.secondary
      )
}

private object ImageGridLayoutDimensions {
  val contentPadding = 12.dp

  val titleTextBreakpoint = 200.dp
  /**
   * Amount of space before the text in each item
   */
  val textStartMargin = 4.dp

  /** Corner radius for image in each item. */
  val imageCornerRadius = 16.dp

  /** Corner radius applied to each item **/
  val itemCornerRadius = 16.dp

  /**
   * Number of columns the grid layout should use to display items in available space.
   */
  val gridCells: Int
    @Composable get() {
      return when (ImageGridLayoutSize.fromLocalSize()) {
        Medium -> 2
        Large -> 3
        else -> 1
      }
    }
}

/**
 * Preview sizes for the widget covering the width based breakpoints of the image grid layout.
 *
 * This allows verifying updates across multiple breakpoints.
 */
@OptIn(ExperimentalGlancePreviewApi::class)
@Preview(widthDp = 319, heightDp = 200)
@Preview(widthDp = 321, heightDp = 200)
@Preview(widthDp = 518, heightDp = 200)
@Preview(widthDp = 520, heightDp = 200)
private annotation class ImageGridBreakpointPreviews

/**
 * Previews for the image grid layout with both title and supporting text below the image
 *
 * First we look at the previews at defined breakpoints, tweaking them as necessary. In addition,
 * the previews at standard sizes allows us to quickly verify updates across min / max and common
 * widget sizes without needing to run the app or manually place the widget.
 */
@ImageGridBreakpointPreviews
@SmallWidgetPreview
@MediumWidgetPreview
@LargeWidgetPreview
@Composable
private fun ImageTextGridLayoutPreview() {
  val context = LocalContext.current

  ImageGridLayout(
    title = context.getString(R.string.sample_image_grid_app_widget_name),
    titleIconRes = R.drawable.sample_grid_icon,
    titleBarActionIconRes = R.drawable.sample_refresh_icon,
    titleBarActionIconContentDescription = context.getString(
      R.string.sample_refresh_icon_button_label
    ),
    titleBarAction = {},
    items = listOf(
      ImageGridItemData(
        key = "0",
        image = null, // placeholder
        imageContentDescription = "A single water droplet rests in a budding red pansy.",
        title = "A single water droplet rests in a budding red pansy.",
        supportingText = "193 views"
      ),
      ImageGridItemData(
        key = "1",
        image = null, // placeholder
        imageContentDescription = "A single water droplet rests in a budding red pansy.",
        title = "A single water droplet rests in a budding red pansy.",
        supportingText = "193 views"
      ),
      ImageGridItemData(
        key = "2",
        image = null, // placeholder
        imageContentDescription = "Green plant, sky and flowers",
        title = "Green plant, sky and flowers",
        supportingText = "99,467 views"
      ),
      ImageGridItemData(
        key = "3",
        image = null, // placeholder
        imageContentDescription = "A snow-shoer walking up Strelapass",
        title = "A snow-shoer walking up Strelapass",
        supportingText = "3,033 views"
      )
    )
  )
}

/**
 * Previews for the image grid layout with only images
 *
 * First we look at the previews at defined breakpoints, tweaking them as necessary. In addition,
 * the previews at standard sizes allows us to quickly verify updates across min / max and common
 * widget sizes without needing to run the app or manually place the widget.
 */
@ImageGridBreakpointPreviews
@SmallWidgetPreview
@MediumWidgetPreview
@LargeWidgetPreview
@Composable
private fun ImageOnlyGridLayoutPreview() {
  val context = LocalContext.current

  ImageGridLayout(
    title = context.getString(R.string.sample_image_grid_app_widget_name),
    titleIconRes = R.drawable.sample_grid_icon,
    titleBarActionIconRes = R.drawable.sample_refresh_icon,
    titleBarActionIconContentDescription = context.getString(
      R.string.sample_refresh_icon_button_label
    ),
    titleBarAction = {},
    items = (0..5).map { index ->
      ImageGridItemData(
        key = "$index",
        image = null, // placeholder
        imageContentDescription = null,
      )
    }
  )
}

Requirements and compatibility

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Security

What our scanner noticed· Low risk

  • Scripts that your agent may run

This skill includes scripts that your agent may run. Read them before you use it.

A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.

Attribution and licence

Created by
Google LLC
Publisher
Android (Google) (Official)
Distributed by
Android (Google)
Source
android/skills · system/glance-canonical-layouts · commit bf68e2d
Licence
Apache License 2.0 (redistribution allowed)
  • LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE.txt)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
Synced

AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google LLC or Android (Google).

Download ZIP

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