Google is seeking help from developers to address power management and compatibility issues on Android. The company has announced a Developer-powered Compatibility Test Suite (CTS-D) that will allow developers to build test cases for the Android Compatibility Program.

Google’s CTS already boasts more than two million test cases for Android. It enables developers to run various compatibility tests for their Android apps to ensure consistent performance and user experience across all usage scenarios. Device makers also run CTS on their devices during the development process to identify bugs and fix them early.

According to the company, it regularly adds new test cases to Android CTS. Its engineers constantly evaluate potential issues and create additional tests as Android evolves. However, there’s always room for more, with new areas to cover and gaps to fill. The new CTS-D program will enable Google to fill those gaps faster.

“We know that app developers have a unique perspective on actual device compatibility issues. So to enhance CTS with better input from app developers, we are adding a new test suite called CTS-D that is built and run by developers like you,” the Android maker said in a blog post.

The idea is to allow developers to write test cases for potential compatibility issues that aren’t already covered by Google’s CTS and add them to AOSP (Android Open Source Project). The company says many developers already create their own tests to verify compatibility on various devices. It wants to bring these tests to other developers via AOSP. This will help Android app developers and device manufacturers identify, share, and mitigate compatibility issues more effectively.

Google wants developer help in addressing power management issues on Android

Google says it is currently more interested in new test cases in the area of Power Management. It has provided templates for developers to contribute to the CTS-D program. The Android team will evaluate any new test proposal for eligibility before adding it to AOSP. There are also templates for device makers to report to Google if a device does not pass a CTS-D test. The company will verify the reported issue and work out a resolution for it with partners.

If you’re an Android developer and want to know more about CTS-D, you can check out tutorials here. Google’s blog post announcing the new developer-powered program also lists the eligibility requirements and contains links to real CTS-D commits as well as the aforementioned templates.