cometchat-android-v5

Purpose

This is the entry-point skill for CometChat Android UI Kit v5. It helps you understand what the developer is building, detects their project setup, and routes to the correct sub-skill for the task at hand.

All skills are designed to work with both Java and Kotlin projects. Code examples in each skill are provided in both languages.

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Use this skill when

• A developer asks to "add chat to my Android app"
• Starting a new CometChat integration
• Unsure which skill to use for a specific task
• Need an overview of what CometChat Android UI Kit v5 offers

Do not use this skill when

• You already know which specific skill is needed (go directly to it)

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1. Project detection

Before writing any code, detect the project setup:

Check	How	Why
Language	Look for .kt files in src/main/java/ or src/main/kotlin/	Determines Java vs Kotlin code examples
Gradle version	Check gradle-wrapper.properties for distributionUrl	Affects dependency syntax (Groovy vs Kotlin DSL)
Min SDK	Check build.gradle for minSdkVersion	Must be 24+ for CometChat
Existing CometChat	Search for com.cometchat in build.gradle	Avoid duplicate setup
Calling SDK	Search for com.cometchat:calls-sdk-android	Determines if voice/video is already available

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2. What are you building?

Ask the developer what they're building to recommend the right placement:

Intent	Recommended placement	Components
Messaging app	Dedicated Activity with bottom tabs	CometChatConversations + CometChatMessageList + CometChatMessageComposer + CometChatMessageHeader
Marketplace / platform	Chat button on product screen + inbox Activity	Single thread (button trigger) + multi-conversation (inbox)
SaaS / dashboard	Chat Fragment in existing Activity	CometChatConversations in a Fragment
Social / community	Full messenger with tabs	Conversations + Users + Groups + Calls in ViewPager/BottomNav
Support / helpdesk	BottomSheet or Dialog overlay	CometChatMessageList + CometChatMessageComposer in BottomSheet
Just exploring	Minimal single-Activity demo	CometChatConversations with pre-logged-in test user

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3. Skill routing reference

Skill	When to load
cometchat-android-v5-core	Always — before any integration code. Init, login, builder, dependencies.
cometchat-android-v5-components	Always — before writing component code. Full catalog of all CometChat views.
cometchat-android-v5-placement	When integrating — Activity, Fragment, BottomSheet, Dialog, Tab patterns.
cometchat-android-v5-theming	When customizing look and feel — colors, fonts, dark mode, style classes.
cometchat-android-v5-features	When adding features — calls, reactions, polls, AI, extensions.
cometchat-android-v5-customization	When writing custom templates, events, DataSource decorators.
cometchat-android-v5-production	When setting up production auth or user management.
cometchat-android-v5-troubleshooting	When diagnosing problems — Gradle errors, crashes, rendering issues.
cometchat-android-v5-extensions	When working with extensions (polls, stickers, collaborative, etc.).
cometchat-android-v5-push	When setting up push notifications (FCM, token lifecycle, deep-link).
cometchat-android-v5-testing	When adding tests (unit, UI, instrumented, E2E, CI).

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4. Integration order

Every integration follows this sequence:

1. Dependencies (Gradle)          → cometchat-android-v5-core §1
2. Manifest permissions            → cometchat-android-v5-core §5
3. App theme setup                 → cometchat-android-v5-core §5b (must inherit CometChatTheme.DayNight — Material 2 parent)
4. Init + Login                    → cometchat-android-v5-core §2-3
5. Place components in your app    → cometchat-android-v5-placement
6. Customize appearance            → cometchat-android-v5-theming
7. Add features                    → cometchat-android-v5-features
8. Production hardening            → cometchat-android-v5-production

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5. Iteration menu

After the initial integration, the developer can:

1. Customize look and feel — Theme presets, brand colors, dark mode
2. Add a feature — Calls, reactions, polls, AI smart replies, file sharing
3. Customize a component — Custom message bubbles, headers, composer actions
4. Set up production auth — Replace dev Auth Key with server-side tokens
5. Set up push notifications — FCM setup, token lifecycle, deep-link on tap
6. Add tests — Unit tests, UI tests, E2E with Maestro
7. Troubleshoot an issue — Gradle errors, runtime crashes, rendering problems

Route each choice to the appropriate skill.

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Hard rules

• Always read cometchat-android-v5-core first. It covers init, login, and dependencies — prerequisites for everything else.
• Always read cometchat-android-v5-components before writing component code. Never invent component names or method signatures from memory.
• Provide both Java and Kotlin examples. The v5 UIKit is written in Java but is fully interoperable with Kotlin. Client devs use both.
• Ask, don't assume. Every integration decision (placement, features, auth mode) should be confirmed with the developer.
• Always read existing files before modifying them. Never blindly overwrite project files.