clerk-android

SKILL.md

Clerk Android (Native)

This skill implements Clerk in native Android projects by following current clerk-android SDK and docs patterns.

Activation Rules

Activate this skill when either condition is true:

The user explicitly asks for Android, Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, or native mobile Clerk implementation on Android.

The project appears to be native Android (for example build.gradle(.kts) with Android plugins, AndroidManifest.xml, app/src/main/java, Compose UI files).

Do not activate this skill when either condition is true:

The project is Expo.

The project is React Native.

If Expo/React Native signals are present, route to the general setup skill instead.

What Do You Need?

Task
Reference

Prebuilt AuthView / UserButton (fastest)
references/prebuilt.md

Custom API-driven auth flows (full control)
references/custom.md

Quick Start

Step
Action

1
Confirm project type is native Android and not Expo/React Native

2
Determine flow type (prebuilt or custom) and load the matching reference file

3
Ensure a real Clerk publishable key exists (or ask developer)

4
Ensure correct Clerk artifacts are installed for the selected flow

5
Read official Android quickstart and verify required setup (Native API, min SDK/Java, manifest, initialization)

6
Inspect clerk-android source/sample patterns relevant to selected flow

7
Implement flow by following only the selected reference checklist

Decision Tree

User asks for Clerk in Android/Kotlin
    |
    +-- Expo/React Native project detected?
    |     |
    |     +-- YES -> Do not use this skill
    |     |
    |     +-- NO -> Continue
    |
    +-- Existing auth UI detected?
    |     |
    |     +-- Prebuilt views detected -> Load references/prebuilt.md
    |     |
    |     +-- Custom flow detected -> Load references/custom.md
    |     |
    |     +-- New implementation -> Ask developer prebuilt/custom, then load matching reference
    |
    +-- Ensure publishable key and SDK initialization path
    |
    +-- Ensure correct Android artifacts are installed
    |
    +-- Verify quickstart prerequisites in project
    |
    +-- Implement using selected flow reference

Flow References

After flow type is known, load exactly one:

Prebuilt flow: references/prebuilt.md

Custom flow: references/custom.md

Do not blend the two references in a single implementation unless the developer explicitly asks for a hybrid approach.

Interaction Contract

Before any implementation edits, the agent must have both:

flow choice: prebuilt or custom

a real Clerk publishable key

If either value is missing from the user request/context:

ask the user for the missing value(s)

pause and wait for the answer

do not edit files or install dependencies yet

Only skip asking when the user has already explicitly provided the value in this conversation.

Source-Driven Templates

Do not hardcode implementation examples in this skill. Inspect current clerk-android source/docs for the installed SDK version before implementing.

Use Case
Source of Truth

SDK artifacts and dependency split (clerk-android-api vs clerk-android-ui)
clerk-android README and Android install docs

SDK initialization and publishable key wiring
Android quickstart and source/api/.../Clerk.kt

Prebuilt auth and profile behavior
source/ui/.../AuthView.kt, source/ui/.../UserButton.kt, and prebuilt sample

Custom auth sequencing and factor handling
source/ui/auth/*, source/api/auth/*, and custom-flows sample

Capability/feature gating from instance settings
Clerk public fields (for example enabledFirstFactorAttributes, socialProviders, isGoogleOneTapEnabled, mfaIsEnabled) and environment model source

Required Android setup checklist
Official Android quickstart (/docs/android/getting-started/quickstart)

Execution Gates (Do Not Skip)

No implementation edits before prerequisites

Do not edit project files until flow type is confirmed and a valid publishable key is available.

Missing flow or key must trigger a question

If flow choice is missing, explicitly ask: prebuilt views or custom flow.

If publishable key is missing/placeholder/invalid, explicitly ask for a real key.

Do not continue until both answers are provided.

Publishable key wiring mode is mandatory

By default, wire the developer-provided key directly in Clerk.initialize(...).

Do not introduce secret-management indirection unless explicitly requested.

Artifact install policy is mandatory

Prebuilt flow: use clerk-android-ui (includes API).

Custom flow: use clerk-android-api unless prebuilt components are explicitly requested.

If Clerk artifacts are missing, add the latest stable release available.

Android quickstart compliance is mandatory

Verify Native API is enabled for the Clerk app.

Verify Android requirements from quickstart are implemented in project (minimum SDK and Java target, manifest internet permission, app-level Clerk initialization).

Verify app waits for SDK initialization (Clerk.isInitialized) before assuming auth-ready state.

Capability-driven behavior is mandatory

Use Clerk runtime capability/settings state (for example enabled factors/social providers/MFA flags) to gate flow behavior.

Do not hardcode factor assumptions that may conflict with dashboard configuration.

Reference-file discipline is mandatory

Once flow is selected, follow only that flow reference file for implementation and verification.

Custom-flow structure parity is mandatory

For custom flow, preserve multi-step auth progression and factor-specific handling (no single all-fields form by default).

Keep UI, state orchestration, and Clerk API integration in separate modules.

Prebuilt preference is mandatory when selected

For prebuilt flow, do not rebuild auth forms with custom API calls unless explicitly requested.

Use AuthView/UserButton as default building blocks.

Workflow

Detect native Android vs Expo/React Native.

If flow type is not explicitly provided, ask user for prebuilt or custom.

If publishable key is not explicitly provided, ask user for it.

Wait for both answers before changing files.

Load matching flow reference file.

Ensure Clerk.initialize(...) path and publishable key wiring are valid.

Ensure dependencies/artifacts match selected flow.

Review Android quickstart requirements and apply missing setup in project.

Implement using selected reference checklist.

Verify using selected reference checklist plus shared gates.

Common Pitfalls

Level
Issue
Prevention

CRITICAL
Not asking for missing flow choice before implementation
Ask for prebuilt vs custom and wait before edits

CRITICAL
Not asking for missing publishable key before implementation
Ask for key and wait before edits

CRITICAL
Starting implementation before flow type is confirmed
Confirm flow first and load matching reference

CRITICAL
Skipping Android quickstart prerequisites
Verify and apply required setup from official Android quickstart

CRITICAL
Missing app-level Clerk.initialize(...) call
Initialize Clerk from Application startup path

HIGH
Wrong artifact for chosen flow
Prebuilt: clerk-android-ui; custom: clerk-android-api

HIGH
Rendering auth UI before SDK initialization completes
Gate UI with Clerk.isInitialized state

HIGH
Hardcoding auth factors/social providers
Drive behavior from Clerk runtime capability fields

HIGH
Using this skill for Expo/React Native
Detect and route away before implementation

See Also

clerk skill for top-level Clerk routing

clerk-setup skill for cross-framework quickstart setup

https://github.com/clerk/clerk-android

https://clerk.com/docs/android/getting-started/quickstart