Android Storage Pro

Android Storage Pro

Android's storage model has undergone three major paradigm shifts since Android 10, leaving developers confused about which API to use, when, and why. The old `java.io.File` approach is deprecated. Scoped Storage restricts direct file access. The Storage Access Framework adds complexity. MediaStore has evolved. And getting it wrong means crashes, data loss, rejected Play Store updates, or privacy violations. Most developers waste days reading fragmented documentation and still end up with brittle storage code. This skill consolidates every Android storage pattern into one authoritative reference with working code, decision trees, and edge-case handling.

What It Does

• Generates correct storage code for any Android API level (21-36+)
• Provides decision trees for choosing internal vs external vs SAF vs MediaStore
• Generates Kotlin code for file read/write operations with proper permission handling
• Implements Scoped Storage patterns for Android 10+ with full backward compatibility
• Generates SAF integration code (ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT, ACTION_CREATE_DOCUMENT, ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT_TREE)
• Implements MediaStore query patterns for images, videos, audio, and downloads
• Generates ContentResolver-based file operations with proper URI handling
• Provides cache management strategies with size limits and LRU eviction
• Implements file type detection, MIME type mapping, and security validation
• Generates Room database + file storage hybrid patterns
• Provides backup and restore patterns for app-specific data
• Implements download manager integration for large file downloads
• Generates proguard rules and security hardening for stored data

Use Cases

• Photo Gallery App: Save user photos via MediaStore with proper content URIs, query with pagination, support batch delete on Android 11+
• Document Scanner: Use SAF ACTION_CREATE_DOCUMENT to save scanned PDFs, persist URI permissions for re-access
• Offline-First App: Store downloaded content in app-specific external storage, manage cache with LRU eviction
• File Manager App: Use SAF ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT_TREE for directory browsing, DocumentFile for recursive operations
• Secure Messaging App: Encrypt attachments with EncryptedFile, store in internal storage, manage cleanup
• Backup Utility: Export app data to user-selected location via SAF, restore via ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT