APK Analyzer

An APK is an Android Application package file. Gradle, by default, builds a single APK, no matter what libraries you include. This compiled and packaged file includes all of the application's code (.dex files), manifest files, resources, and assets.

The library, within itself, comprises multiple copies of the same native code, optimized for the different architecture. This means that the library is a native binary with multiple architecture such as x86, x86_64, armeabi, and so on, all packed together. A developer can easily run the command unzip <your_APK_name>.APK to understand the content of an APK:

When your app, and the libraries it references, reaches a specific threshold, you encounter build errors that point to the app's limit of the Android App Build Architecture. The most recent Android build system displays an error, trouble writing output:

Too many field references: 152000; max is 65536.

You may try using --multi-dex option.

Looking closely at the log, the number 65536 has a significant reason for appearing. This number represents the total number of references that can be invoked by the code within a single Dalvik Executable (dex) bytecode file.

Both these error conditions display a common number: 65536. This number is significant in that it represents the total number of references that can be invoked by the code within a single dex bytecode file. If you have built an Android app and received this error, then congratulations, you have a lot of code!