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Android

Posted by John Weland
John Weland
42,478 Points

git commit without API KEYS (using Android Studio)

So I just realized while using git to backup my project (stormy weather app) that my API KEY is in main activity for everyone to see. How do I make this API KEY invisible ot git so when it pushes it will ignore it. (like a gitignore but for a string instead of a file) or whatever the best practice is....

I have to go change my API key now :(

1 Answer

Seth Kroger
Seth Kroger
56,413 Points
Seth Kroger
Seth Kroger
56,413 Points

Git works on the file level so there isn't a way to exclude a part of a file instead of a whole file. There are a couple of ways to do it: 1) Have an ApiKey class and put that into the .gitignore file. 2) Use gradle to inject the value of the API key at build time and specify the key in your ~/.gradle/gradle.properties (C:\Users\Your_User_Name.gradle\gradle.properties on Windows) file (so it will be outside of the project) or one of the already ignored .properties files in your project. http://www.rainbowbreeze.it/environmental-variables-api-key-and-secret-buildconfig-and-android-studio/

This of course only hides the key from source control.