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.

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

text

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

clerk-android

NPX Install

Tags

SKILL.md Content