Life is too short not to use ADB commands

Talk given at the following conferences/events:
- N26 Barcelona | Android Meetup (February / 2020)
- Codemotion Berlin (November / 2019)
- Droidcon Lisbon (September / 2019)
- droidcon Berlin (July / 2019)
- 360AnDev (July / 2018)

ADB is a versatile command-line tool that lets you communicate with a device. The ADB command facilitates a variety of device actions, such as installing and debugging apps, and it provides access to a Unix shell that you can use to run a variety of commands on a device. It is maybe one of the most used tools by the Android developers, but it is for sure the less known.

Do you want to learn the basic ADB commands or extends your knowledge with some advanced commands? Are you struggling with some bugs? Are you tired to perform some repetitive test? This talk is for you! You can make ADB work for you with automation and assist you to kill bugs. I spent weeks diving into the ADB commands for Sony Mobile and Motorola, and I learned helpful commands that will make your life easier.

It’s time for me to share this with you!

Transcript

1. ADB "Life is too short not to use ADB commands" Zhenlei Ji @zhenleiji
2. About this talk How does it work? Brushing up on some basic commands Some ADB commands you may have never heard about @zhenleiji
3. How does it work? Android Debug Bridge (adb) ADB Daemon (adbd) Android ADB Server (adb) Client Client Host TCP 5555 to 5585 Usb or TCP 5037 TCP 5037 @zhenleiji
4. Brushing up on some basic commands… @zhenleiji
5. ~$ adb Android Debug Bridge Usages @zhenleiji
6. Android Debug Bridge version 1.0.40 Version 4797878 Installed as /Users/zji/Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools/adb global options: -a listen on all network interfaces, not just localhost -d use USB device (error if multiple devices connected) -e use TCP/IP device (error if multiple TCP/IP devices available) -s SERIAL use device with given serial (overrides $ANDROID_SERIAL) -t ID use device with given transport id -H name of adb server host [default=localhost] -P port of adb server [default=5037] -L SOCKET listen on given socket for adb server [default=tcp:localhost:5037] ~$ adb Usages Android Debug Bridge @zhenleiji
7. ~$ adb tcpip 5555 Debug connections Wireless debugging @zhenleiji
8. ~$ adb tcpip 5555 Wireless debugging ~$ adb connect <device-ip> Debug connections @zhenleiji
9. ~$ adb tcpip 5555 Wireless debugging ~$ adb connect <device-ip> ~$ adb usb Usb debugging Debug connections @zhenleiji
10. @zhenleiji
11. ~$ adb devices -l Devices Show device detail list @zhenleiji
12. ~$ adb devices -l Devices Show device detail list List of devices attached ZX1G4295NB device usb:336592896X product:shamu model:Nexus_6 device:shamu transport_id:2 emulator-5554 device product:sdk_gphone_x86 model:Android_SDK_built_for_x86 device:generic_x86 transport_id:4 @zhenleiji
13. ~$ adb devices -l Devices Show device detail list List of devices attached ZX1G4295NB device usb:336592896X product:shamu model:Nexus_6 device:shamu transport_id:2 emulator-5554 device product:sdk_gphone_x86 model:Android_SDK_built_for_x86 device:generic_x86 transport_id:4 ~$ adb -s [serial_number] … Send commands to a specific device ZX1G4295NB, emulator-5554 @zhenleiji
14. Transfer ~$ adb install <apk-path> Install/Uninstall an app ~$ adb uninstall <package> @zhenleiji
15. Transfer ~$ adb install <apk-path> Install/Uninstall an app ~$ adb uninstall <package> ~$ adb install -r <apk-path> Reinstall an app @zhenleiji
16. Transfer ~$ adb install <apk-path> Install/Uninstall an app ~$ adb uninstall <package> ~$ adb push <local> <remote> Copy files to/from a device ~$ adb pull <remote> <local> ~$ adb install -r <apk-path> Reinstall an app @zhenleiji
17. Some ADB commands you may have never heard about… @zhenleiji
18. ~$ adb shell pm Package Manager Call package manager @zhenleiji
19. ~$ adb shell pm Package Manager Call package manager usage: pm path [--user USER_ID] PACKAGE pm dump PACKAGE pm install [-lrtsfd] [-i PACKAGE] [--user USER_ID] [PATH] pm install-create [-lrtsfdp] [-i PACKAGE] [-S BYTES] [--install-location 0/1/2] [--force-uuid internal|UUID] pm install-write [-S BYTES] SESSION_ID SPLIT_NAME [PATH] pm install-commit SESSION_ID pm install-abandon SESSION_ID pm uninstall [-k] [--user USER_ID] PACKAGE pm set-installer PACKAGE INSTALLER pm move-package PACKAGE [internal|UUID] . . . @zhenleiji
20. ~$ adb shell pm list packages Package Manager Show package list @zhenleiji
21. ~$ adb shell pm list packages | grep youtube Package Manager Show package list @zhenleiji
22. ~$ adb shell pm list packages | grep youtube Package Manager Show package list ~$ adb shell pm path [package] Print the path to the APK of the given package @zhenleiji
23. APK Analyzer Search for youtube package Locate youtube.apk path Pull youtube.apk to the machine
24. Package Manager @zhenleiji
25. Package Manager ~$ adb shell pm clear [package] Clear data @zhenleiji
26. Package Manager ~$ adb shell pm clear [package] Clear data @zhenleiji
27. Package Manager ~$ adb shell pm clear [package] Clear data ~$ adb shell pm grant[package][permission] Grant a permission to an app ~$ adb shell pm revoke[package][permission] Revoke a permission to an app @zhenleiji
28. ~$ adb shell pm list packages | grep youtube Package Manager ~$ adb shell pm dump [package] Print current system state associated with the given PACKAGE Actions Schemes Broadcast Receivers ContentProviders Permissions Pending Intents Activity Back Stack Memory Usage @zhenleiji
29. Upload video @zhenleiji
30. Activity Launcher @zhenleiji
31. Deeplink
32. Broadcast Receiver
33. Content Provider
34. Permissions
35. Pending Intents
36. Activity Back Stack
37. Memory Usage
38. ~$ adb shell am Activity Manager Call activity manager @zhenleiji
39. ~$ adb shell am Activity Manager Call activity manager usage: am [subcommand] [options] usage: am start [-D] [-N] [-W] [-P <FILE>] [--start-profiler <FILE>] [--sampling INTERVAL] [-R COUNT] [-S] [--track-allocation] [--user <USER_ID> | current] <INTENT> am startservice [--user <USER_ID> | current] <INTENT> am stopservice [--user <USER_ID> | current] <INTENT> am force-stop [--user <USER_ID> | all | current] <PACKAGE> am kill [--user <USER_ID> | all | current] <PACKAGE> am kill-all am broadcast [--user <USER_ID> | all | current] <INTENT> . . . @zhenleiji
40. ~$ adb shell am start [options] [intent] Start an Activity specified by intent Intent @zhenleiji
41. ~$ adb shell am start [options] [intent] Start an Activity specified by intent Intent -D: Enable debugging. -W: Wait for launch to complete. --start-profiler file: Start pro fi ler and send results to file. -P file: Like --start-profiler, but pro fi ling stops when the app goes idle. -R count: Repeat the activity launch count times. Prior to each repeat, the top activity will be fi nished. -S: Force stop the target app before starting the activity. --opengl-trace: Enable tracing of OpenGL functions. --user user_id | current: Specify which user to run as; if not speci fi ed, then run as the current user. @zhenleiji
42. ~$ adb shell am start [options] [intent] Start an Activity specified by intent Intent -a action Specify the intent action, such as android.intent.action.VIEW. You can declare this only once. -d data_uri Specify the intent data URI, such as content://contacts/people/1. You can declare this only once. -t mime_type Specify the intent MIME type, such as image/png. You can declare this only once. -c category Specify an intent category, such as android.intent.category.APP_CONTACTS. -n component Specify the component name with package name pre fi x to create an explicit intent, such as com.example.app/.ExampleActivity. -f flags Add fl ags to the intent, as supported by setFlags(). @zhenleiji
43. ~$ adb shell am start [options] [intent] Start an Activity specified by intent Intent @zhenleiji
44. ~$ adb shell am start [options] [intent] Start an Activity specified by intent ~$ adb shell am startservice [options] [intent] Start a Service specified by intent Intent @zhenleiji
45. ~$ adb shell am start [options] [intent] Start an Activity specified by intent ~$ adb shell am startservice [options] [intent] Start a Service specified by intent ~$ adb shell am broadcast [options] [intent] Send a Broadcast intent Intent @zhenleiji
46. ~$ adb shell am force-stop [package] Force stop everything associated with package Kill @zhenleiji
47. ~$ adb shell am force-stop [package] Force stop everything associated with package ~$ adb shell am kill [package] Kill all process associated with package Kill @zhenleiji
48. ~$ adb shell am force-stop [package] Force stop everything associated with package ~$ adb shell am kill [package] Kill all process associated with package ~$ adb shell am kill-all Kill all background processes Kill @zhenleiji
49. ~$ adb shell wm Window Manager Call window manager @zhenleiji
50. ~$ adb shell wm Window Manager Call window manager usage: wm [subcommand] [options] wm size [reset|WxH|WdpxHdp] wm density [reset|DENSITY] wm overscan [reset|LEFT,TOP,RIGHT,BOTTOM] wm scaling [off|auto] wm screen-capture [userId] [true|false] wm size: return or override display size. width and height in pixels unless suffixed with 'dp'. wm density: override display density. wm overscan: set overscan area for display. . . .
51. Simulate other devices ~$ adb shell wm size [WxH|WdpxHdp|reset] Return or override display size @zhenleiji
52. Simulate other devices ~$ adb shell wm size [WxH|WdpxHdp|reset] Return or override display size ~$ adb shell wm density [DENSITY|reset] Return or override density size mdpi (~160) hdpi (~240) xhdpi (~320) xxhdpi (~480) xxxhdpi (~640) @zhenleiji
53. Default size and density
54. Simulate a tablet
55. Narrow screen
56. Small screen
57. System Services ~$ adb shell dumpsys Provides information about the status of all system services @zhenleiji
58. System Services ~$ adb shell dumpsys -l List of system services ~$ adb shell dumpsys Provides information about the status of all system services
59. System Services ~$ adb shell dumpsys [service] Provides information about the status of a specific system service alarm, activity, battery… ~$ adb shell dumpsys -l List of system services ~$ adb shell dumpsys Provides information about the status of all system services @zhenleiji
60. Alarm Manager
61. ~$ adb shell dumpsys activity Provides information about the Activity Manager
62. ~$ adb shell dumpsys activity top Provides information about the top activities Activity name Activity state Language Screen size
63. ~$ adb shell dumpsys activity top Provides information about the top activities Fragment name Fragment state
65. uiautomatorviewer $ANDROID_HOME/tools/bin
66. System Properties ~$ adb shell getprop List of system properties @zhenleiji
67. System Properties ~$ adb shell getprop List of system properties
68. System Properties ~$ adb shell getprop List of system properties ~$ adb shell getprop [system_property] Provides information about the specific system property @zhenleiji
69. System Properties ~$ adb shell getprop List of system properties ~$ adb shell getprop [system_property] Provides information about the specific system property
71. System Properties ~$ adb shell getprop List of system properties ~$ adb shell getprop [system_property] Provides information about the specific system property ~$ adb shell setprop [system_property] [value] Change a system property @zhenleiji
72. Enable overdraw @zhenleiji
73. https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/base/+/master/libs/hwui/Properties.h Enable profile
74. Disable animation
75. Spotlight on steroids
76. Alfred + adb https://github.com/zhenleiji/AlfredAndroidEspresso
77. ~$ adb shell input Simulate Input Call input @zhenleiji
78. ~$ adb shell input Simulate Input Call input Usage: input [<source>] <command> [<arg>...] . . . The commands and default sources are: text <string> (Default: touchscreen) keyevent [--longpress] <key code number or name> ... (Default: keyboard) tap <x> <y> (Default: touchscreen) swipe <x1> <y1> <x2> <y2> [duration(ms)] (Default: touchscreen) draganddrop <x1> <y1> <x2> <y2> [duration(ms)] (Default: touchscreen) press (Default: trackball) roll <dx> <dy> (Default: trackball) @zhenleiji
79. 4 or KEYCODE_BACK 61or KEYCODE_TAB 66 or KEYCODE_ENTER 82 or KEYCODE_MENU https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/KeyEvent Simulate Input ~$ adb shell input keyevent [keycode_number or name] Keyevent @zhenleiji
80. Simulate Input ~$ adb shell input keyevent [keycode_number or name] Keyevent 4 or KEYCODE_BACK 61or KEYCODE_TAB 66 or KEYCODE_ENTER 82 or KEYCODE_MENU https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/KeyEvent @zhenleiji ~$ adb shell input text [text] Text
81. Simulate Input
82. Alfred + adb https://github.com/zhenleiji/AlfredAdbType
83. Simulate Input Tap @zhenleiji ~$ adb shell input tap [X] [Y]
84. Simulate Input Tap ~$ adb shell input swipe [X1] [Y1] [X2] [Y2] Swipe @zhenleiji ~$ adb shell input tap [X] [Y]
85. Simulate Input
86. Just to wrap up… @zhenleiji
87. Versatile command-line tool Provides access to a Unix shell Powerful throughout development @zhenleiji
88. Some tips… @zhenleiji
89. Create alias @zhenleiji
90. Create a folder for your scripts Environment Variable @zhenleiji
91. Create scripts https://github.com/zhenleiji/AndroidScripts @zhenleiji
92. "Life is too short not to use ADB commands" @zhenleiji
93. References https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb http://developer.famoco.com/Android_development/ADB_commands/ http://adbshell.com/ https://jiafei427.wordpress.com/2016/11/21/adb-in-android/ https://gist.github.com/Pulimet/5013acf2cd5b28e55036c82c91bd56d8 https://nelenkov.blogspot.com/2012/06/unpacking-android-backups.html https://medium.com/@filipe.batista/ezadb-easy-android-debug-bridge-8cef841a7124 https://developer.android.com/studio/debug/bug-report https://source.android.com/setup/contribute/read-bug-reports https://proandroiddev.com/adb-commands-part-iii-997f97c03546 https://www.alfredapp.com/ @zhenleiji
94. @zhenleiji Zhenlei Ji