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name: android-xml-views description: Implement ViewBinding, RecyclerView, and XML layouts correctly on Android. Use when changing XML view binding or RecyclerView behavior, including its item animations and layout managers; defer standalone animation or layout-manager questions unrelated to RecyclerView. metadata: triggers: files: - 'layout/*.xml' - '/*Binding.java' - '/*Binding.kt' keywords: - ViewBinding - ConstraintLayout - RecyclerView

Android XML Views Standards

Priority: P1 (HIGH)

Implementation Guidelines

ViewBinding

• Standard: Use ViewBinding for all XML layouts.
• Synthetics: kotlin-android-extensions Dead. Remove it.
• KAPT: Avoid DataBinding unless strictly necessary (impacts build speed).

RecyclerView

• Adapter: Always inherit ListAdapter (wraps AsyncListDiffer).
• Updates: Provide proper DiffUtil.ItemCallback. NEVER call notifyDataSetChanged().

Layouts

• ConstraintLayout: Use for complex flat hierarchies.
• Performance: Avoid deep nesting (LinearLayout inside LinearLayout).

Anti-Patterns

• No findViewById: Deprecated. Use ViewBinding for all XML layouts.
• No kotlin-android-extensions: Deprecated. Remove all import kotlinx.android.synthetic.*.

References

• ViewBinding & Adapter