# XML To Compose Migration

> Convert Android XML layouts to Jetpack Compose. Use when asked to migrate Views to Compose, convert XML to Composables, or modernize UI from View system to Compose. Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/xml-to-compose-migration` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/xml-to-compose-migration`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/xml-to-compose-migration/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector CAUTION)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/xml-to-compose-migration

---


# XML to Compose Migration

## Overview

Systematically convert Android XML layouts to idiomatic Jetpack Compose, preserving functionality while embracing Compose patterns. This skill covers layout mapping, state migration, and incremental adoption strategies.

## Workflow

### 1. Analyze the XML Layout

- Identify the root layout type (`ConstraintLayout`, `LinearLayout`, `FrameLayout`, etc.).
- List all View widgets and their key attributes.
- Map data binding expressions (`@{}`) or view binding references.
- Identify custom views that need special handling.
- Note any `include`, `merge`, or `ViewStub` usage.

### 2. Plan the Migration

- Decide: **Full rewrite** or **incremental migration** (using `ComposeView`/`AndroidView`).
- Identify state sources (ViewModel, LiveData, savedInstanceState).
- List reusable components to extract as separate Composables.
- Plan navigation integration if using Navigation component.

### 3. Convert Layouts

Apply the layout mapping table below to convert each View to its Compose equivalent.

### 4. Migrate State

- Convert `LiveData` observation to `StateFlow` collection or `observeAsState()`.
- Replace `findViewById` / ViewBinding with Compose state.
- Convert click listeners to lambda parameters.

### 5. Test and Verify

- Compare visual output between XML and Compose versions.
- Test accessibility (content descriptions, touch targets).
- Verify state preservation across configuration changes.

---

## Layout Mapping Reference

### Container Layouts

| XML Layout | Compose Equivalent | Notes |
|------------|-------------------|-------|
| `LinearLayout (vertical)` | `Column` | Use `Arrangement` and `Alignment` |
| `LinearLayout (horizontal)` | `Row` | Use `Arrangement` and `Alignment` |
| `FrameLayout` | `Box` | Children stack on top of each other |
| `ConstraintLayout` | `ConstraintLayout` (Compose) | Use `createRefs()` and `constrainAs` |
| `RelativeLayout` | `Box` or `ConstraintLayout` | Prefer Box for simple overlap |
| `ScrollView` | `Column` + `Modifier.verticalScroll()` | Or use `LazyColumn` for lists |
| `HorizontalScrollView` | `Row` + `Modifier.horizontalScroll()` | Or use `LazyRow` for lists |
| `RecyclerView` | `LazyColumn` / `LazyRow` / `LazyGrid` | Most common migration |
| `ViewPager2` | `HorizontalPager` | From accompanist or Compose Foundation |
| `CoordinatorLayout` | Custom + `Scaffold` | Use `TopAppBar` with scroll behavior |
| `NestedScrollView` | `Column` + `Modifier.verticalScroll()` | Prefer Lazy variants |

### Common Widgets

| XML Widget | Compose Equivalent | Notes |
|------------|-------------------|-------|
| `TextView` | `Text` | Use `style` → `TextStyle` |
| `EditText` | `TextField` / `OutlinedTextField` | Requires state hoisting |
| `Button` | `Button` | Use `onClick` lambda |
| `ImageView` | `Image` | Use `painterResource()` or Coil |
| `ImageButton` | `IconButton` | Use `Icon` inside |
| `CheckBox` | `Checkbox` | Requires `checked` + `onCheckedChange` |
| `RadioButton` | `RadioButton` | Use with `Row` for groups |
| `Switch` | `Switch` | Requires state hoisting |
| `ProgressBar (circular)` | `CircularProgressIndicator` | |
| `ProgressBar (horizontal)` | `LinearProgressIndicator` | |
| `SeekBar` | `Slider` | Requires state hoisting |
| `Spinner` | `DropdownMenu` + `ExposedDropdownMenuBox` | More complex pattern |
| `CardView` | `Card` | From Material 3 |
| `Toolbar` | `TopAppBar` | Use inside `Scaffold` |
| `BottomNavigationView` | `NavigationBar` | Material 3 |
| `FloatingActionButton` | `FloatingActionButton` | Use inside `Scaffold` |
| `Divider` | `HorizontalDivider` / `VerticalDivider` | |
| `Space` | `Spacer` | Use `Modifier.size()` |

### Attribute Mapping

| XML Attribute | Compose Modifier/Property |
|---------------|--------------------------|
| `android:layout_width="match_parent"` | `Modifier.fillMaxWidth()` |
| `android:layout_height="match_parent"` | `Modifier.fillMaxHeight()` |
| `android:layout_width="wrap_content"` | `Modifier.wrapContentWidth()` (usually implicit) |
| `android:layout_weight` | `Modifier.weight(1f)` |
| `android:padding` | `Modifier.padding()` |
| `android:layout_margin` | `Modifier.padding()` on parent, or use `Arrangement.spacedBy()` |
| `android:background` | `Modifier.background()` |
| `android:visibility="gone"` | Conditional composition (don't emit) |
| `android:visibility="invisible"` | `Modifier.alpha(0f)` (keeps space) |
| `android:clickable` | `Modifier.clickable { }` |
| `android:contentDescription` | `Modifier.semantics { contentDescription = "" }` |
| `android:elevation` | `Modifier.shadow()` or component's `elevation` param |
| `android:alpha` | `Modifier.alpha()` |
| `android:rotation` | `Modifier.rotate()` |
| `android:scaleX/Y` | `Modifier.scale()` |
| `android:gravity` | `Alignment` parameter or `Arrangement` |
| `android:layout_gravity` | `Modifier.align()` |

---

## Common Patterns

### LinearLayout with Weights

```xml
<!-- XML -->
<LinearLayout android:orientation="horizontal">
    <View android:layout_weight="1" />
    <View android:layout_weight="2" />
</LinearLayout>
```

```kotlin
// Compose
Row(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()) {
    Box(modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
    Box(modifier = Modifier.weight(2f))
}
```

### RecyclerView to LazyColumn

```xml
<!-- XML -->
<androidx.recyclerview.widget.RecyclerView
    android:id="@+id/recyclerView"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent" />
```

```kotlin
// Compose
LazyColumn(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
    items(items, key = { it.id }) { item ->
        ItemRow(item = item, onClick = { onItemClick(item) })
    }
}
```

### EditText with Two-Way Binding

```xml
<!-- XML with Data Binding -->
<EditText
    android:text="@={viewModel.username}"
    android:hint="@string/username_hint" />
```

```kotlin
// Compose
val username by viewModel.username.collectAsState()

OutlinedTextField(
    value = username,
    onValueChange = { viewModel.updateUsername(it) },
    label = { Text(stringResource(R.string.username_hint)) },
    modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()
)
```

### ConstraintLayout Migration

```xml
<!-- XML -->
<androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>
    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/title"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent" />
    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/subtitle"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@id/title"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="@id/title" />
</androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>
```

```kotlin
// Compose
ConstraintLayout(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()) {
    val (title, subtitle) = createRefs()
    
    Text(
        text = "Title",
        modifier = Modifier.constrainAs(title) {
            top.linkTo(parent.top)
            start.linkTo(parent.start)
        }
    )
    Text(
        text = "Subtitle", 
        modifier = Modifier.constrainAs(subtitle) {
            top.linkTo(title.bottom)
            start.linkTo(title.start)
        }
    )
}
```

### Include / Merge → Extract Composable

```xml
<!-- XML: layout_header.xml -->
<merge>
    <ImageView android:id="@+id/avatar" />
    <TextView android:id="@+id/name" />
</merge>

<!-- Usage -->
<include layout="@layout/layout_header" />
```

```kotlin
// Compose: Extract as a reusable Composable
@Composable
fun HeaderSection(
    avatarUrl: String,
    name: String,
    modifier: Modifier = Modifier
) {
    Row(modifier = modifier) {
        AsyncImage(model = avatarUrl, contentDescription = null)
        Text(text = name)
    }
}

// Usage
HeaderSection(avatarUrl = user.avatar, name = user.name)
```

---

## Incremental Migration (Interop)

### Embedding Compose in XML

```xml
<!-- In your XML layout -->
<androidx.compose.ui.platform.ComposeView
    android:id="@+id/compose_view"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
```

```kotlin
// In Fragment/Activity
binding.composeView.setContent {
    MaterialTheme {
        MyComposable()
    }
}
```

### Embedding XML Views in Compose

```kotlin
// Use AndroidView for Views that don't have Compose equivalents
@Composable
fun MapViewComposable(modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
    AndroidView(
        factory = { context ->
            MapView(context).apply {
                // Initialize the view
            }
        },
        update = { mapView ->
            // Update the view when state changes
        },
        modifier = modifier
    )
}
```

---

## State Migration

### LiveData to Compose

```kotlin
// Before: Observing in Fragment
viewModel.uiState.observe(viewLifecycleOwner) { state ->
    binding.title.text = state.title
}

// After: Collecting in Compose
@Composable
fun MyScreen(viewModel: MyViewModel = koinViewModel()) {
    val uiState by viewModel.uiState.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
    
    Text(text = uiState.title)
}
```

### Click Listeners

```kotlin
// Before: XML + setOnClickListener
binding.submitButton.setOnClickListener {
    viewModel.submit()
}

// After: Lambda in Compose
Button(onClick = { viewModel.submit() }) {
    Text("Submit")
}
```

---

## Checklist

- [ ] All layouts converted (no `include` or `merge` left)
- [ ] State hoisted properly (no internal mutable state for user input)
- [ ] Click handlers converted to lambdas
- [ ] RecyclerView adapters removed (using LazyColumn/LazyRow)
- [ ] ViewBinding/DataBinding removed
- [ ] Navigation integrated (NavHost or interop)
- [ ] Theming applied (MaterialTheme)
- [ ] Accessibility preserved (content descriptions, touch targets)
- [ ] Preview annotations added for development
- [ ] Old XML files deleted

## References

- [Interoperability APIs](https://developer.android.com/develop/ui/compose/migrate/interoperability-apis)
- [Migration Strategy](https://developer.android.com/develop/ui/compose/migrate/strategy)
- [Compose and Views side by side](https://developer.android.com/develop/ui/compose/migrate)

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-11 -->