Vexel v0.4.0

What's new?

Kotlin support

• Added Kotlin project support.
• Added bundled Kotlin compiler.
• Added automatic Kotlin compiler setup and execution.
• Added support for Kotlin source files in src/kotlin/.
• Added support for building mixed Java/Kotlin projects.

Project templates

• Added new Kotlin-based project templates.
• Added Native Activity templates for both Java and Kotlin.
• Fixed incorrect package names in project templates.
• Improved generated project structure.

Build system

• Improved Java, Kotlin, and C/C++ source detection.
• Improved build logging and build-step reporting.
• Added clearer messages when source types are not present.
• Improved generated Java source handling.
• Improved APK signing and debug signing-key handling.
• Added persistent debug signing credentials.
• Added dedicated build/signing/ directory for signing files.
• Improved build output organization.
• APK output now uses the project/app name in the filename.

Diagnostics

• Improved build and process error reporting.
• Improved compiler error output and debugging information.

Documentation

• Added and expanded Vexel documentation.
• Added better contribution guidelines.
• Updated examples and templates.

Other

• Fixed numerous bugs discovered in project templates and the build pipeline.
• Improved overall build reliability and project generation.
• General cleanup and internal improvements.

Vexel v0.3.1

What's new?

• Fixed packaging of user-provided native libraries together with Vexel-compiled libraries.
• Updated D8 and APK Signer to Android 16 Build Tools.
• Fixed launcher failing to locate vexel-main.jar when invoked through a symbolic link.

Vexel v0.3.0

What's new?

Major changes

• Complete rewrite from Python to Kotlin
• Portable distribution for Android, Linux, and Windows
• Bundled Android build tools into vexel-main.jar
• Removed Python runtime dependency
• Removed bundled JRE
• Requires OpenJDK 17 or newer
• JAVA_HOME is now required
• Introduced consistent Vexel error reporting
• Bundled tools are extracted lazily and cached automatically.
• Large internal refactoring and code cleanup.

Platform support

• Added Android support (armeabi)
• Added Linux support (x86_64)
• Added Windows support (x86_64)
• Added support for overriding bundled build tools

Configuration

• Added config.toml support
• Added support for overriding bundled tools:
  • aapt2
  • zipalign
  • android.jar
  • Android NDK
  • JAVA_HOME
• Configuration file is searched next to vexel-main.jar or in $HOME/.vexel/

Runtime

• Build tools are extracted on demand and cached automatically
• $HOME/.vexel/ is now used only for cache files
• vexel-main.jar is installed to /usr/lib/

Other

• Removed example template
• Improved project generation
• Improved build performance
• Fixed numerous bugs
• Internal codebase cleanup and refactoring

NDK Support

• For Android (arm64) and Linux (arm64), Vexel currently relies on community-built Android NDK packages.
• Android (arm64): https://github.com/SuperAppMan/android-ndk/releases/download/r29/android-ndk-r29-aarch64-linux-android.tar.xz
• Linux (arm64): https://github.com/SnowNF/ndk-aarch64-linux/releases/download/0.0.2/android-ndk-r29-linux-aarch64.tar.gz

Notes

• Kotlin source compilation support is coming soon.

Vexel v0.2.0

What's new?

• Added more template support
• Added instant project creation with vexel new <N>
• Renamed vexel create to vexel new
• Re-structured build folder
  Final APK is now located at:
  project/build/output/Debug.apk
• Added Debian package releases
• Improved performance
• Fixed minor bugs

Installation

• Install using:
  dpkg -i vexel-base-arm64.deb
  or
  dpkg -i vexel-ndk-arm64.deb

Uninstall

• Remove Vexel using:
  dpkg -r vexel
  or
  dpkg -r vexel-ndk

Vexel v0.1.1

What's new?

• Added Dash Support in operations
• Added python3.14 dependency libz.so.1
• Fixed Version
• Now using tar.xz instead of 7z archive
• Minor Bugs Fixed

Vexel v0.1.0 Initial Release

Initial public release of Vexel.

Features:

• Java compilation (javac)
• Android resource compilation (aapt2)
• DEX generation (D8)
• APK alignment and signing
• Multi-DEX support
• Native C/C++ support via Android NDK
• Multiple native library support
• Self-contained runtime
• Runs directly on Android and Termux

Tested on Android ARM64.

(Note : Only the CPU arm64-v8a and OS Android 5.0+ are supported yet)