Jetpack Compose for Android TV is a modern, declarative UI toolkit that helps developers create attractive and scalable TV apps using Kotlin. It provides the same advantages of Jetpack Compose from mobile, including faster development, less repetitive code, and more expressive UIs. This toolkit works well on large screen devices like smart TVs, set-top boxes, and streaming devices that run Android TV or Google TV.
Why Use Jetpack Compose for Android TV?
- Simplified UI development: No XML required; everything is created with Kotlin code.
- Responsive and flexible layouts: Easily adjust to different screen sizes.
- Reusable Composables: Build once and use across screens and platforms.
- Built-in support for TV-specific components:
- TvLazyColumn, TvLazyRow
- Focus management for D-pad remote navigation
- Scale and glow effects for focused items
🎯 Key Differences: Jetpack Compose (TV) vs Mobile
A quick comparison between mobile (phone/tablet) and TV (Android TV / Google TV) UX considerations and Compose support.
| Feature | Mobile (Phone/Tablet) | TV (Android TV / Google TV) |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation Input | Touch / gesture / keyboard | Remote control (D-pad), game controller |
| Focus-based UI | Rarely used | Essential (focus movement using D-pad) |
| Layout scale | Small screen (handheld) | Large screen (10ft UI) with high contrast, big cards |
| User attention | Close-range, detailed | Far-viewing, big fonts, simple layouts |
| TV Components | Not included by default | ✅ TvLazyColumn, TvLazyRow, Carousel, ImmersiveList from androidx.tv |
| Animations on Focus | Not critical | Crucial for UX (glow, scale, highlight focused item) |
| Use of Compose TV Libraries | Not required | ✅ Must use tv-material, tv-foundation for true TV UX |
| Recommendations (Home Screen) | N/A | Supports Content Recommendations via Leanback |
What Can You Build for Android TV Using Jetpack Compose?
Here are some great ideas and use cases for Android TV apps made with Jetpack Compose:
1. Video Streaming App (like YouTube or Netflix)
- UI with TV-optimized carousels using TvLazyRow
- Categories: Trending, Recommended, New Releases
- Video player controls with Play/Pause/Seek
- Remote/D-pad navigation
2. TV Game UI
- Use Compose to design the main menu, scoreboards, and in-game overlays
- Input handling from remote or controller
- High-performance UI with animations
3. Photo Gallery Viewer
- Large thumbnail previews
- Fullscreen slideshow mode
- Smooth scrolling and zoom controls
4. Music or Radio Streaming App
- Display album art and track info
- Background playback
- Easy navigation using the D-pad
5. News App for TV
- Cards for headlines and video news
- Categories: World, Politics, Tech, etc.
- Text-to-speech integration
6. Workout / Yoga App
- Play workout videos
- Show timer, progress bar, and pose info
- Schedule feature
7. Event Countdown / Festival Greeting App
- Show upcoming events with an attractive UI
- Screensaver-style mode for ambient display
8. Recipe / Cooking App
- Step-by-step recipe viewer
- Display ingredients, images, and video tutorials
9. Educational App for Kids
- Fun UI with colors and animations
- Video lessons and interactive activities
10. E-Commerce TV App
- Shop from home
- Large product cards with images and prices
- Checkout experience optimized for remote navigation
Key TV Features You Should Handle in Jetpack Compose:
| Feature | How Jetpack Compose Supports It |
|---|---|
| D-Pad navigation | Built-in focus management |
| Focus animations | Use scale, glow, and border on focused elements |
| Lazy Lists | TvLazyRow, TvLazyColumn for scrolling |
| Media control | Integrate ExoPlayer for video/audio |
| Resolution handling | Compose adapts to different screen sizes |
Jetpack Compose TV Libraries
Google provides:
- androidx.tv:tv-foundation
- androidx.tv:tv-material These libraries include ready-made components like:
- ImmersiveList
- Carousel
- TvLazyColumn
- Focus-aware elements with scale and glow