I have been working with Xavier (SDK lead) and Hans (Gradle lead) on this.
It means a few things:
- the core functionality of the SDK tools moves into a java library that
gradle wraps
http://search.maven.org/#search%7Cgav%7C1%7Cg%3A%22com.android.tools.build%22%20AND%20a%3A%22gradle%22
- this library is deployed to the central repository and we will be using
that in the android maven plugin as well in the future, it is already in
central now
http://search.maven.org/#search%7Cgav%7C1%7Cg%3A%22com.android.tools.build%22%20AND%20a%3A%22builder%22
- a new format expanding on the ideas of apklib is being created and will
use packaging/extension aar (for android archive just like jar for java
archive)
- the android maven plugin will move to support that format
- Xavier is going to push sdk tools related jars to the central repository
freeing up the Android4Maven project from the need to do that
- hopefully all artifacts like android jar and closed source ones like
maps will end up in the central repo (still working on that, stay tuned)
So all in all it looks like there are great things ahead.
Manfred
PS: I know there are a number of pull requests. I am going to look at
merging them and cut a new release asap ...