The Android open-source ecosystem is a developer's paradise. Need to make network calls? There's a library for that. Need to load images? There are a dozen. This abundance of plugins and libraries can supercharge your development, saving you hundreds of hours of work. But it's also a double-edged sword.

Choosing the wrong plugin can introduce bugs, security vulnerabilities, performance issues, and technical debt that will haunt your project for years. A third-party library is a long-term commitment. This guide provides a practical checklist for evaluating plugins so you can choose tools that help, not hinder, your app's success.

The Developer's Evaluation Checklist

Before you add that `implementation` line to your Gradle file, run the library through this checklist. Be a critical consumer, not just a collector of dependencies.

1. Is it Actively Maintained?

This is the most important question. An abandoned library is a ticking time bomb. It won't receive security patches, bug fixes, or updates to support new Android versions and APIs.

  • Check the GitHub repository: When was the last commit? If it's been over a year, be very cautious.
  • Look at the open issues and pull requests: Are there dozens of critical bugs sitting unanswered for months? This is a major red flag.
  • Check the release history: Is the author publishing regular, stable releases?

2. Is the Documentation Clear and Complete?

Good documentation is a sign of a well-maintained and thoughtfully designed library. If you can't figure out how to set up the library from its `README.md` file, you're going to have a bad time.

  • Look for a quick start guide: It should be easy to get the library working.
  • Check for advanced usage examples: Does it cover more than just the "hello world" scenario?
  • Is there a public API reference (KDoc/JavaDoc)?

3. What is the Performance and Size Impact?

Every library you add increases your app's size and potential performance overhead. Be mindful of the cost.

  • Method Count: How many methods does the library add to your app? This is particularly important if you're still supporting older Android versions without multidex.
  • Initialization Time: Does the library do a lot of work on app startup? This can slow down your cold start time.
  • Transitive Dependencies: What other libraries does this library pull in? You might be adding five new dependencies without realizing it. Use the `./gradlew app:dependencies` command to see the full tree.

4. Is There a Strong Community?

A library with a strong community is more likely to survive long-term. When you run into a problem, you'll have a place to turn for help.

  • GitHub Stars: While not a perfect metric, a high star count indicates widespread adoption.
  • Stack Overflow: Is there an active tag for the library on Stack Overflow?
  • Official Support Channels: Does the author provide a Slack channel, Discord server, or discussion forum?

The AndroShelf Seal of Approval

While you should always do your own research, some libraries have become the de facto standard in the Android community for a reason. They are well-maintained, performant, and backed by major companies or dedicated open-source contributors.

When in doubt, start with these. You can't go wrong choosing from this list for your core app components.
  • Networking: Retrofit & OkHttp (by Square)
  • Dependency Injection: Hilt (by Google)
  • Asynchronous Programming: Kotlin Coroutines (by JetBrains)
  • Local Database: Room (by Google)
  • JSON Parsing: Moshi (by Square) or Kotlinx.serialization (by JetBrains)
  • Image Loading: Coil (by Coil Contributors) or Glide (by Bumptech)

Choosing a plugin is an architectural decision. By taking a few extra minutes to run through this checklist, you can ensure you're building your app on a foundation of high-quality, reliable, and secure tools.