Android App Bundle Tool

[fsodic]

Hi iBot,
I say thanks for your tools ^_^
I was build aab from your tools.
On your tools, i just using decompile from apktool for decode codes to human read and using this https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/aapt2 for compile the resource as protobuff format. And build using https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/bundletool.

On here i see if your tools using aapt (not aapt2) and command are similar.
But i still get some bug where the music (like mp3 extension) won't mark as doNotCompress

I can tell more details if you interest my idea.
Just little help from you to solve this ^_^

Sorry my english bad.
Wish you read this

[iBotPeaches]

Not really following what you mean here. Apktool currently does not have native support for aab files.

[fsodic]

Okay, my problem solved and i can publish aab 😀 thanks for you time too take a reply here

[iBotPeaches]

Appears AAB is the future. https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2021/06/the-future-of-android-app-bundles-is.html

I don't know what this means yet. I will begin thinking. I don't think "apktool" should, but maybe a new spin up of "aabtool". I dunno. Need to research all the little parts that make up the AAB, which appear to the intermediate chunks that aapt2 spits out.

[fsodic]

Appears AAB is the future. https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2021/06/the-future-of-android-app-bundles-is.html

I don't know what this means yet. I will begin thinking. I don't think "apktool" should, but maybe a new spin up of "aabtool". I dunno. Need to research all the little parts that make up the AAB, which appear to the intermediate chunks that aapt2 spits out.

If you want to create aabtool, i can share some information for you.

Currently i need apktool for decompile the apk and recompile using bundletool. Before using bundletool for recompile, i use aapt2 for encrypt xml (in folder res and androidManifest.xml) as pro2buff.
Next just arrange the folder like:

• manifest/androidManifest.xml (pro2buff format)
• dex/classes.dex
• res/ (every res file in pro2buff)

Pro2buff (.pb)

[kuoi2502]

has "aabtool" been finished yet :D

[fsodic]

has "aabtool" been finished yet :D

Yes, i can build it 😁

[kuoi2502]

i found some way to edit an aab

• unzip the file
• using protobuf, appt2 to edit some .xml file
• update asset delivery
• zip module
• then build bundle and sign it
  i did it but the step zip and unzip takes time. is there anyway we can edit it without unzip and zip again

[Comnir]

@fsodic @iBotPeaches I'm not sure - what is the use case for "aabtool"?

The 'aab' format is basically a zip file that contains mandatory parts (base module) and other optional parts, such as dynamic features, different languages, native libs for different architectures, etc. This parts are in a protobuf format.

An aab is used for distributing an application to Play Store. It is not directly installable. To install, Bundletool can be used to convert to APKs (an APK set - a zip file with multiple apk files), The APKs can also contain a single universal apk (as described here). Bundletools has knows the protobuf definitions and could be used to manipulate aab files.

The device itself will still have apk files that can be "processed" with APKTool (universal apk files with splits are not supported yet #2514)

So how would/should aabtool used?

[MrIkso]

I don't understand why this discussion was created. This file format is essentially intermediate for uploading and application to the market. Such files are only for developers and it does not make any sense to decompile them ... The above is well written for what it is. I propose to close this discussion.

[iBotPeaches]

Discussions are created to answer questions. I don't think its fair to vote a close a discussion as more questions and comments are being placed.

[codingwatching]

@iBotPeaches The build step is documented here:

https://developer.android.com/studio/build/building-cmdline#bundletool-build

[AndnixSH]

I don't see any benifit of this. APK format is not dying, we can still use APK site like APK Combo to download single APK and work with it, and at least able to use Split APKs Packer (SAP) tool to merge split APK into one when there is no alternatives

I have been using APK Combo for 2 years without problem, the site itself is safe to use and it's not a piracy site since you can't download paid APK. APK Combo is basically a life saver for me.

[fsodic]

We don't discussion about how to download apk from playstore or any other site

[AndnixSH]

But why work with split apk when you can download single apk or merge APK? also aab is not an installable format, but apks format is.
Anyway, there is a modified apktool which allows to decompile split APK if you are interested https://github.com/kikfox/kikfox

[fsodic]

Android App Bundle or AAB is one of 2 format that you can publish your android apps in play store.
I don't know how much developer lost their original script cause virus or something else and no backup.
We can still publish and update the game and follow the google developers rule update.

[albeci]

Has anyone of you managed to decompile an apk file to compile in aab?

[asep1994]

Has anyone of you managed to decompile an apk file to compile in aab?

yes i did it,

[albeci]

would be able to explain the process and tools so that I can do it in my app?
I've been trying for a long time and I haven't had good results :(

[albeci]

can someone explain how to do this process? pleasee

[raj-paw]

Hi @fsodic @iBotPeaches @asep1994 , I have decompile the apk file and now when I am trying to compile the apk resource files(to convert resource files into pro2buff format) using aapt2 command. I am getting error "error: resource has invalid entry name ". Please help me to resolve this issue.

C:\IMS\Demo>aapt2 compile -o arg --dir res
error: resource 'drawable/$avd_hide_password__0' has invalid entry name '$avd_hide_password__0.
error: resource 'drawable/$avd_hide_password__1' has invalid entry name '$avd_hide_password__1.
error: resource 'drawable/$avd_hide_password__2' has invalid entry name '$avd_hide_password__2.
error: resource 'drawable/$avd_show_password__0' has invalid entry name '$avd_show_password__0.
error: resource 'drawable/$avd_show_password__1' has invalid entry name '$avd_show_password__1.
error: resource 'drawable/$avd_show_password__2' has invalid entry name '$avd_show_password__2.
error: resource 'drawable/$ic_launcher_foreground__0' has invalid entry name '$ic_launcher_foreground__0.
res\values\public.xml: error: file failed to compile.

[fsodic]

Has anyone of you managed to decompile an apk file to compile in aab?
Yes, i can now 😁 send me mail for more detail