How to dynamically load so library on Android?

To dynamically load a .so (shared object) library on Android, you can use the System.loadLibrary() or System.load() methods. These allow your app to load native code at runtime, which is useful for modular architecture or reducing the initial APK size.

Key Methods:

1. System.loadLibrary(String libname)
   Loads a library from the default locations (e.g., libs/armeabi-v7a/ or jniLibs/). The library name should not include the "lib" prefix or ".so" suffix.
   Example:

   System.loadLibrary("mylibrary"); // Loads libmylibrary.so
   

2. System.load(String path)
   Loads a library from an absolute path. This is useful for dynamic loading from external storage or downloaded files.
   Example:

   System.load("/data/data/com.example.app/files/libmylibrary.so");
   

Steps to Dynamically Load .so:

1. Place the .so file:

   • For System.loadLibrary(), place the .so in jniLibs/<ABI>/ (e.g., jniLibs/armeabi-v7a/libmylibrary.so).
   • For System.load(), download or place the .so in a writable directory (e.g., app's internal storage).

2. Load the library in Java/Kotlin:
   Call System.loadLibrary() or System.load() before using any native methods.

3. Declare native methods:
   Use native keyword in Java/Kotlin to declare methods implemented in the .so.
   Example:

   public class NativeHelper {
       static {
           System.loadLibrary("mylibrary"); // Load the library
       }
       public native void doSomething();
   }
   

Example Scenario:

If you have a large .so file and want to download it only when needed (e.g., for a feature toggle), you can:

1. Download the .so to a directory like /data/data/com.example.app/files/.
2. Use System.load() to load it dynamically.
3. Call native methods after loading.

Recommended Tencent Cloud Services:

For secure and scalable storage of .so files (e.g., if downloaded dynamically), use Tencent Cloud COS (Cloud Object Storage). It provides high availability and security for storing binary files. For managing app updates or feature flags, consider Tencent Cloud TCB (Tencent Cloud Base) or Tencent Cloud CLS (Log Service) for logging and monitoring.

Example workflow:

1. Store .so files in COS.
2. Download the required .so to the app's local storage.
3. Use System.load() to load it at runtime.