Configuring Test Dependencies

Configuring Test Dependencies — Get the Gradle Matrix Right

Compose UI tests fail at the dependency layer in three predictable ways: the JUnit4 surface is on the wrong source set, the ui-test-manifest artifact is missing or on the wrong configuration, or the host-test trio is incomplete. This skill encodes the exact matrix and the lint warning that polices it. Subsequent skills (choosing-test-rule-vs-runtest/SKILL.md, setting-up-host-vs-device-tests/SKILL.md) assume the dependencies are correct.

When to use this skill

• The user reports java.lang.RuntimeException: Could not launch activity within 45 seconds. Examined activities: ... androidx.activity.ComponentActivity or ActivityNotFoundException.
• The IDE flags createComposeRule as unresolved or import androidx.compose.ui.test.junit4.createComposeRule as red.
• Lint surfaces TestManifestGradleConfiguration (severity WARNING) on a build.gradle.kts line.
• The user wants to add Robolectric / host (JVM) tests for Compose and asks which artifacts to depend on.
• The user wants to opt into enableAccessibilityChecks(...) and is unsure which artifact owns it.

When NOT to use this skill

• Dependencies are already correct and the user is choosing between createComposeRule() and runComposeUiTest { } — use ./choosing-test-rule-vs-runtest/SKILL.md.
• Dependencies compile but the test runs in the wrong source set (test/ vs androidTest/) — use ./setting-up-host-vs-device-tests/SKILL.md.
• The test compiles and runs but is flaky/timing-out — start with ../../synchronization/synchronizing-with-idle/SKILL.md.

Prerequisites

• Android Gradle Plugin with the com.android.application or com.android.library plugin applied.
• A Compose-enabled module (the org.jetbrains.kotlin.plugin.compose plugin or buildFeatures.compose = true).
• A JUnit4 dependency on the test classpath (Compose's ui-test-junit4 artifact still uses JUnit4; JUnit5 requires a third-party Vintage engine bridge and is out of scope).

Workflow

• 1. Decide which test surfaces the module needs. A typical Compose feature module wants three: instrumentation tests for screenshot/RenderThread/full-stack coverage, host (Robolectric) tests for fast logic checks, and the manifest helper for createComposeRule(). Pick from the matrix in step 2.

• 2. Add dependencies on the correct configurations. Copy this into the module's build.gradle.kts:

dependencies {
    // --- Instrumentation tests (src/androidTest/) ---
    androidTestImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-junit4")
    // MUST be debugImplementation (see Pattern: WRONG vs RIGHT for ui-test-manifest below)
    debugImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-manifest")

    // --- Host tests with Robolectric (src/test/) ---
    testImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test")            // common test API
    testImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-junit4")     // ComposeTestRule + createComposeRule
    testImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-manifest")   // ComponentActivity manifest entry
    testImplementation("org.robolectric:robolectric:4.13")       // pin a version

    // --- Optional: accessibility validation (API 34+) ---
    androidTestImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-junit4-accessibility")
    // Or, when using runComposeUiTest { } (no Rule):
    androidTestImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-accessibility")
}

The exact GA versions come from the Compose UI BOM or the developer's chosen composeVersion. Pin Robolectric independently — it does not ship in the Compose BOM.

• 3. If the test fails with ActivityNotFoundException for androidx.activity.ComponentActivity, the manifest artifact is the cause 99 percent of the time. That artifact is a single-file library that merges this <activity> entry into the test APK manifest, taken from compose/ui/ui-test-manifest/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml:

<activity android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Material.Light.NoActionBar"
    android:name="androidx.activity.ComponentActivity" android:exported="true" />

Without that entry, createComposeRule() and runComposeUiTest { } (which both default to launching androidx.activity.ComponentActivity via ActivityScenario.launch) crash at launch time. Diagnosis:

• Confirm ui-test-manifest is in the dependency list at all.

• Confirm it is on debugImplementation (or testImplementation for host tests). If it is on androidTestImplementation, lint flags it and Gradle still wires it in — but the AGP variant model intentionally separates debug and androidTest manifest merging, and putting it on androidTestImplementation does NOT merge the <activity> into the host APK that the instrumentation runs against. The lint check exists precisely to catch this.

• 4. Address the TestManifestGradleConfiguration lint warning by moving the dependency to debugImplementation. The lint check lives in compose/ui/ui-test-manifest-lint/src/main/java/androidx/compose/ui/test/manifest/lint/GradleDebugConfigurationDetector.kt. Severity is Severity.WARNING and the quick fix replaces the configuration name with debugImplementation. The check fires when the artifact appears on implementation, api, compileOnly, runtimeOnly, androidTestImplementation, testImplementation, or any custom configuration whose name starts with android / test / one of the supported config names.

• 5. Decide whether the manifest artifact is needed at all. It is required when:

  • The test uses createComposeRule() (no type parameter — defaults to androidx.activity.ComponentActivity).
  • The test uses runComposeUiTest { } (no type parameter — same default).

  It is NOT required when:

  • The test uses createAndroidComposeRule<MyActivity>() AND the developer declares <activity android:name=".MyActivity" .../> themselves in src/androidTest/AndroidManifest.xml (or src/debug/AndroidManifest.xml).
  • The test uses createEmptyComposeRule() and launches its own ActivityScenario against an Activity already declared in the production manifest.

• 6. For host tests, ensure all three artifacts are on testImplementation. Robolectric drives the JVM Looper, but Compose's idling/clock implementations require ui-test (common) plus ui-test-junit4 (ComposeTestRule interface and createComposeRule actual). Without ui-test-manifest on testImplementation, Robolectric throws the same ActivityNotFoundException because it parses the same manifest. The host source set in androidx itself uses this configuration — see compose/ui/ui-test/src/androidHostTest/kotlin/androidx/compose/ui/test/RobolectricComposeTest.kt.

• 7. Add accessibility artifacts only if the developer plans to call enableAccessibilityChecks. They are independent of the JUnit4 surface:

  • ui-test-accessibility extends ComposeUiTest (the receiver of runComposeUiTest { }).
  • ui-test-junit4-accessibility extends ComposeTestRule / AndroidComposeTestRule. Both are @RequiresApi(34), both are no-op on Robolectric (Build.FINGERPRINT == "robolectric" triggers a logged warning) — see the accessibility skill in this repo for follow-up.

• 8. Sync Gradle and re-run the test. A clean ./gradlew :app:connectedDebugAndroidTest (instrumentation) or ./gradlew :app:testDebugUnitTest (host) should compile and locate ComponentActivity.

Patterns

Pattern: WRONG vs RIGHT — ui-test-manifest configuration

// WRONG
dependencies {
    androidTestImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-junit4")
    androidTestImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-manifest")
}
// WRONG because: lint emits TestManifestGradleConfiguration (WARNING) and the manifest
// merger does not pull the <activity> entry into the merged APK manifest from the
// androidTest source set. createComposeRule() crashes with ActivityNotFoundException.

// RIGHT
dependencies {
    androidTestImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-junit4")
    debugImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-manifest")
}

The lint check explicitly allows debugImplementation and warns on every other configuration. From GradleDebugConfigurationDetector.kt:

"The androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-manifest dependency is needed for launching a
 Compose host, such as with createComposeRule. However, it only needs to be present
 in testing configurations therefore use this dependency with the debugImplementation
 configuration"

Pattern: WRONG vs RIGHT — host-test dependencies

// WRONG
dependencies {
    testImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-junit4")
    testImplementation("org.robolectric:robolectric:4.13")
    // Missing ui-test-manifest -> ActivityNotFoundException at runComposeUiTest launch
    // Missing ui-test          -> linker errors on common test API symbols
}

// RIGHT
dependencies {
    testImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test")
    testImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-junit4")
    testImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-manifest")
    testImplementation("org.robolectric:robolectric:4.13")
}

Pattern: WRONG vs RIGHT — custom Activity without its own manifest entry

// WRONG
@get:Rule val rule = createAndroidComposeRule<MyHostActivity>()
// build.gradle.kts has only debugImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-manifest")
// and src/androidTest/AndroidManifest.xml does NOT declare MyHostActivity.
// WRONG because: ui-test-manifest only declares ComponentActivity. Custom activities
// must be declared in the test APK manifest by the developer. Result: ActivityNotFoundException.

<!-- RIGHT — src/androidTest/AndroidManifest.xml -->
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <application>
        <activity android:name=".MyHostActivity" android:exported="true" />
    </application>
</manifest>

Pattern: complete sample build.gradle.kts

plugins {
    id("com.android.library")
    id("org.jetbrains.kotlin.android")
    id("org.jetbrains.kotlin.plugin.compose")
}

android {
    namespace = "com.example.feature"
    compileSdk = 35
    defaultConfig {
        minSdk = 23
        testInstrumentationRunner = "androidx.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
    }
    buildFeatures { compose = true }
    testOptions {
        unitTests.isIncludeAndroidResources = true   // required for Robolectric + Compose
    }
}

dependencies {
    val composeBom = platform("androidx.compose:compose-bom:2025.06.00")
    implementation(composeBom)
    androidTestImplementation(composeBom)
    testImplementation(composeBom)

    // Production
    implementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui")
    implementation("androidx.activity:activity-compose")

    // Instrumentation
    androidTestImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-junit4")
    debugImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-manifest")
    androidTestImplementation("androidx.test.ext:junit:1.2.1")
    androidTestImplementation("androidx.test.espresso:espresso-core:3.6.1")

    // Host (Robolectric)
    testImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test")
    testImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-junit4")
    testImplementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-manifest")
    testImplementation("org.robolectric:robolectric:4.13")
    testImplementation("junit:junit:4.13.2")
}

testOptions.unitTests.isIncludeAndroidResources = true is required so Robolectric can read merged resources during host tests of Compose content.

Mandatory rules

• MUST put androidx.compose.ui:ui-test-manifest on debugImplementation for instrumentation tests, and on testImplementation for host tests. Never on androidTestImplementation, implementation, or api.
• MUST keep ui-test-junit4 on the same source set as the test that imports createComposeRule / ComposeTestRule. Mixing androidTestImplementation (instrumentation) and testImplementation (host) in the same module is fine; mixing them on the wrong test class is a compile error.
• MUST declare any non-ComponentActivity test host (custom Activity) in the test APK manifest at src/androidTest/AndroidManifest.xml or src/debug/AndroidManifest.xml. The ui-test-manifest artifact only declares androidx.activity.ComponentActivity.
• MUST NOT remove the TestManifestGradleConfiguration lint check via lintOptions { disable("TestManifestGradleConfiguration") }. Apply the quick fix instead — the check exists to prevent silent test failures.
• MUST NOT put ui-test-manifest on a release configuration (releaseImplementation, implementation). The artifact is purely a test scaffold and bloats production APKs with an unwanted <activity> entry.
• PREFERRED: rely on the Compose BOM (androidx.compose:compose-bom) so all ui-test-* artifacts share a coherent version. Robolectric is independent and pins separately.
• PREFERRED: when in doubt about which artifact owns a symbol, search androidx/compose/ui/ui-test* paths from the corpus rather than guessing — see References.

Verification

• ./gradlew :<module>:connectedDebugAndroidTest compiles and runs without ActivityNotFoundException for androidx.activity.ComponentActivity.
• ./gradlew :<module>:lint does NOT report TestManifestGradleConfiguration.
• ./gradlew :<module>:testDebugUnitTest compiles when host tests use runComposeUiTest { } or createComposeRule().
• The dependency block visibly separates androidTestImplementation (instrumentation), debugImplementation (manifest), testImplementation (host trio).
• If the developer added accessibility artifacts, enableAccessibilityChecks(...) resolves at compile time inside an instrumentation test.
• The test APK manifest contains exactly one <activity android:name="androidx.activity.ComponentActivity"/> entry (run ./gradlew :app:processDebugAndroidTestManifest and inspect build/intermediates/.../AndroidManifest.xml).

References

• Compose testing setup (Android Developers): https://developer.android.com/develop/ui/compose/testing#setup
• Compose testing overview: https://developer.android.com/develop/ui/compose/testing
• Compose UI release notes: https://developer.android.com/jetpack/androidx/releases/compose-ui
• Compose Multiplatform testing: https://www.jetbrains.com/help/kotlin-multiplatform-dev/compose-test.html
• compose/ui/ui-test-manifest-lint/src/main/java/androidx/compose/ui/test/manifest/lint/GradleDebugConfigurationDetector.kt — TestManifestGradleConfiguration issue definition (severity WARNING, quick-fix to debugImplementation).
• compose/ui/ui-test-manifest/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml — the merged <activity android:name="androidx.activity.ComponentActivity"> entry that createComposeRule() depends on.
• compose/ui/ui-test/src/androidMain/kotlin/androidx/compose/ui/test/ComposeUiTest.android.kt — runComposeUiTest launches ComponentActivity::class.java by default (lines 184-197).
• compose/ui/ui-test/src/androidHostTest/kotlin/androidx/compose/ui/test/RobolectricComposeTest.kt — canonical host-test class skeleton with Robolectric (@RunWith(AndroidJUnit4::class) @Config(minSdk = RobolectricMinSdk)).
• compose/ui/ui-test/src/androidHostTest/kotlin/androidx/compose/ui/test/Constants.kt — internal const val RobolectricMinSdk = 23.