It is not possible to export an Android library as a jar file. It is possible, however, to export it as aar file. Aar files being the new binary format for Android libraries. There's info about them in Google I/O, the New Build System video.

First, build the library in Android Studio or from command line issuing gradle build from your library's root directory.

This will result in <yourlibroot>/libs/build/yourlib.aar file.

This aar file is a binary representation of your library and can be added to your project instead of the library as a dependency project.

To add aar file as a dependency you have to publish it to the maven central or to your local maven repository, and then refer the aar file in your project's gradle.build file.

However, this step is a bit convoluted. I've found a good explanation how to do so here:

http://www.flexlabs.org/2013/06/using-local-aar-android-library-packages-in-gradle-builds

Include the following into build.gradle:

android.libraryVariants.all { variant ->
task("generate${variant.name}Javadoc", type: Javadoc) {
description "Generates Javadoc for $variant.name."
source = variant.javaCompile.source
ext.androidJar = "${android.plugin.sdkDirectory}/platforms/${android.compileSdkVersion}/android.jar"
classpath = files(variant.javaCompile.classpath.files) + files(ext.androidJar)
}


task("javadoc${variant.name}", type: Jar) {
classifier = "javadoc"
description "Bundles Javadoc into a JAR file for $variant.name."
from tasks["generate${variant.name}Javadoc"]


}


task("jar${variant.name}", type: Jar) {
description "Bundles compiled .class files into a JAR file for $variant.name."
dependsOn variant.javaCompile
from variant.javaCompile.destinationDir
exclude '**/R.class', '**/R$*.class', '**/R.html', '**/R.*.html'
}
}

You can then execute gradle with: ./gradlew clean javadocRelease jarRelease which will build you your Jar and also a javadoc jar into the build/libs/ folder.

EDIT: With android gradle tools 1.10.+ getting the android SDK dir is different than before. You have to change the following (thanks Vishal!):

android.sdkDirectory

instead of

android.plugin.sdkDirectory

I was able to build a library source code to compiled .jar file, using approach from this solution: https://stackoverflow.com/a/19037807/1002054

Here is the breakdown of what I did:

1. Checkout library repository

In may case it was a Volley library

2. Import library in Android Studio.

I used Android Studio 0.3.7. I've encountered some issues during that step, namely I had to copy gradle folder from new android project before I was able to import Volley library source code, this may vary depending on source code you use.

3. Modify your build.gradle file

// If your module is a library project, this is needed
//to properly recognize 'android-library' plugin
buildscript {
repositories {
mavenCentral()
}
dependencies {
classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:0.6.3'
}
}


apply plugin: 'android-library'


android {
compileSdkVersion 17
buildToolsVersion = 17


sourceSets {
main  {
// Here is the path to your source code
java {
srcDir 'src'
}
}
}
}


// This is the actual solution, as in https://stackoverflow.com/a/19037807/1002054
task clearJar(type: Delete) {
delete 'build/libs/myCompiledLibrary.jar'
}


task makeJar(type: Copy) {
from('build/bundles/release/')
into('build/libs/')
include('classes.jar')
rename ('classes.jar', 'myCompiledLibrary.jar')
}


makeJar.dependsOn(clearJar, build)

4. Run gradlew makeJar command from your project root.

I my case I had to copy gradlew.bat and gradle files from new android project into my library project root. You should find your compiled library file myCompiledLibrary.jar in build\libs directory.

I hope someone finds this useful.

Edit:

Caveat

Althought this works, you will encounter duplicate library exception while compiling a project with multiple modules, where more than one module (including application module) depends on the same jar file (eg. modules have own library directory, that is referenced in build.gradle of given module).

In case where you need to use single library in more then one module, I would recommend using this approach: Android gradle build and the support library

Here's yet another, slightly different answer with a few enhancements.

This code takes the .jar right out of the .aar. Personally, that gives me a bit more confidence that the bits being shipped via .jar are the same as the ones shipped via .aar. This also means that if you're using ProGuard, the output jar will be obfuscated as desired.

I also added a super "makeJar" task, that makes jars for all build variants.

task(makeJar) << {
// Empty. We'll add dependencies for this task below
}


// Generate jar creation tasks for all build variants
android.libraryVariants.all { variant ->
String taskName = "makeJar${variant.name.capitalize()}"


// Create a jar by extracting it from the assembled .aar
// This ensures that products distributed via .aar and .jar exactly the same bits
task (taskName, type: Copy) {
String archiveName = "${project.name}-${variant.name}"
String outputDir = "${buildDir.getPath()}/outputs"


dependsOn "assemble${variant.name.capitalize()}"
from(zipTree("${outputDir}/aar/${archiveName}.aar"))
into("${outputDir}/jar/")
include('classes.jar')
rename ('classes.jar', "${archiveName}-${variant.mergedFlavor.versionName}.jar")
}


makeJar.dependsOn tasks[taskName]
}

For the curious reader, I struggled to determine the correct variables and parameters that the com.android.library plugin uses to name .aar files. I finally found them in the Android Open Source Project here.

Since Android Studio V1.0 the jar file is available inside the following project link:

debug ver: "your_app"\build\intermediates\bundles\debug\classes.jar

release ver: "your_app"\build\intermediates\bundles\release\classes.jar

The JAR file is created on the build procedure, In Android Studio GUI it's from Build->Make Project and from CMD line it's "gradlew build".

I was able to export a jar file in Android Studio using this tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i4I-Nph-Cw "How To Export Jar From Android Studio "

I updated my answer to include all the steps for exporting a JAR in Android Studio:

1) Create Android application project, go to app->build.gradle

2) Change the following in this file:

• modify apply plugin: 'com.android.application' to apply plugin: 'com.android.library'

• remove the following: applicationId, versionCode and versionName

• Add the following code:

// Task to delete old jar
task deleteOldJar(type: Delete){
delete 'release/AndroidPlugin2.jar'
}

// task to export contents as jar
task exportJar(type: Copy) {
from ('build/intermediates/bundles/release/')
into ('release/')
include ('classes.jar')
rename('classes.jar', 'AndroidPlugin2.jar')
}
exportJar.dependsOn(deleteOldJar, build)

3) Don't forget to click sync now in this file (top right or use sync button).

4) Click on Gradle tab (usually middle right) and scroll down to exportjar

5) Once you see the build successful message in the run window, using normal file explorer go to exported jar using the path: C:\Users\name\AndroidStudioProjects\ProjectName\app\release you should see in this directory your jar file.

Good Luck :)

We can export a jar file for Android library project without resource files by Android studio. It is also requirement what I met recently.

1. Config your build.gradle file

    // Task to delete old jar


task clearJar(type: Delete){
delete 'release/lunademo.jar'
}


// task to export contents as jar
task makeJar(type: Copy) {
from ('build/intermediates/bundles/release/')
into ('build/libs/')
include ('classes.jar')
rename('classes.jar', 'lunademo.jar')
}
makeJar.dependsOn(clearJar, build)

2. Run gradlew makeJar under your project root

You will see your libs under dir as build/libs/ if you are luckily.

============================================================

If you met issue as "Socket timeout exception" on command line as below,

You can follow this steps to open Gradle window in the right part and click "makeJar" on Android studio like this,

Then go to build/libs dir, you will see your jar file.

Hope that it is helpful for u.

Good Luck @.@

Luna