clerk-android

The clerk-android skill provides implementation guidance for integrating Clerk authentication into native Android applications built with Kotlin and Jetpack Compose. It is designed specifically for projects using the `clerk-android` SDK and helps developers follow current source-guided integration patterns instead of relying on outdated or hardcoded examples. The skill focuses on ensuring proper Android-native authentication setup, including SDK initialization, publishable key configuration, dependency installation, and compatibility verification. It explicitly excludes Expo and React Native environments, helping developers avoid applying incorrect mobile authentication workflows to unsupported project types.

The skill supports two primary authentication approaches: prebuilt UI flows using AuthView and UserButton components, and custom API-driven authentication flows for teams that require full control over the user experience. It includes activation rules to detect whether a project is a native Android application, structured decision trees to determine the correct implementation path, and source-driven guidance that references official Clerk Android documentation and SDK patterns. The skill also enforces an interaction contract requiring both a valid Clerk publishable key and a selected flow type before implementation work begins.

This skill is intended for Android developers, mobile engineers, and technical teams implementing authentication in native Android applications. It is particularly useful for projects using Android Studio, Jetpack Compose, and Kotlin-based architectures where developers want either rapid integration through prebuilt authentication UI or advanced customization through API-driven flows. Teams maintaining production-grade Android applications can use this skill to ensure Clerk integrations follow current SDK standards and recommended setup practices.