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Guide · Open source

How to use BaseRecyclerViewAdapterHelper in an Android app

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

BaseRecyclerViewAdapterHelper, usually shortened to BRVAH, is an open-source Android library that wraps RecyclerView with a reusable base adapter. It is aimed at Android developers who build list screens and want less repetitive adapter code. After this guide you will know what the library is for, how to add it to a Gradle-based project, and where to find the detailed usage documentation.

BaseRecyclerViewAdapterHelperCymChad/BaseRecyclerViewAdapterHelper · ★ 24.6k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Confirm your project setup. Make sure you have a Gradle-based Android project with a minimum API level of 16 or higher.
  2. 2Open your module build file. Edit the build file of the module that contains your list screens.
  3. 3Add the dependency. Add the README's implementation line for BaseRecyclerViewAdapterHelper4 to the dependencies block.
  4. 4Sync the project. Let Gradle download the library from Maven Central.
  5. 5Read the wiki and demo. Use the project wiki and the demo folder to learn the adapter API before writing your own list.
  6. 6Build a list screen. Create your RecyclerView adapter using the library's base adapter, following the wiki examples.

What BRVAH does for RecyclerView lists

RecyclerView is the standard Android component for scrollable lists. BRVAH sits on top of it and provides a base adapter that handles common list tasks.

According to the project's analysis, the library covers multiple item layout types, item animations, and loading more data as the user scrolls.

  • Multiple item layout types in one list
  • Item animations
  • Loading more data when the user scrolls
  • Support for ConcatAdapter, according to the README
  • Features split into modules, according to the README

Check the requirements before you start

You need Android Studio or another Gradle-based Android project. The README's API badge shows a minimum Android API level of 16.

The library is written in Kotlin and is intended for Android RecyclerView work. It is not a general-purpose tool for other platforms.

  • Android Studio or a Gradle-based Android project
  • Minimum Android API level 16, per the README badge
  • Basic familiarity with Gradle and RecyclerView

Add the BRVAH dependency with Gradle

The README gives one dependency line for the current release line. Add it to your module's Gradle build file, then sync the project.

The library is published to Maven Central, so the README notes that you no longer need to add a third-party repository configuration.

implementation("io.github.cymchad:BaseRecyclerViewAdapterHelper4:4.4.2")

Find the usage documentation

The README links to a project wiki for usage details. Much of the wiki for the current release is in Chinese, and the README notes that English writing is in progress, so expect some pages to be unavailable in English.

The repository also contains a demo folder. Reading the demo code is a practical way to see how the library is used in a working app.

Older release lines are still linked from the README: 2.x and 3.x, if your project depends on them.

  • Wiki: https://github.com/CymChad/BaseRecyclerViewAdapterHelper/wiki
  • Demo: https://github.com/CymChad/BaseRecyclerViewAdapterHelper/tree/master/demo

Proguard and release builds

The README says the library ships its own Proguard rules and imports them automatically, so under normal conditions you do not need to add them yourself.

If you want to inspect them, the README links to the library's proguard-rules.pro file.

  • Rules file: library/proguard-rules.pro in the repository

What people use it for

  • Showing a list with several different row layouts, such as headers and content rows
  • Paging through a long data set and loading more items as the user scrolls
  • Adding item animations to a list without writing all the animation code yourself
  • Reducing boilerplate in apps with many repetitive list adapters

Frequently asked questions

Is BaseRecyclerViewAdapterHelper free to use?

Yes. The project is licensed under the MIT License, and the repository includes a LICENSE file. Check that file for the full terms before shipping an app.

What Android version does BaseRecyclerViewAdapterHelper support?

The README's API badge lists a minimum of API level 16. Check the README for the current badge, since requirements can change between releases.

How do I install BaseRecyclerViewAdapterHelper?

Add the implementation line for BaseRecyclerViewAdapterHelper4 to your Gradle build file and sync the project. The README says the library is on Maven Central, so no extra repository is needed.

Where is the BRVAH documentation?

The README links to a wiki for usage. Much of the current wiki is in Chinese, and the README says English writing is still in progress. The demo folder in the repository is also a useful reference.

What are the alternatives to BaseRecyclerViewAdapterHelper?

The project's analysis lists Groupie, FlexibleAdapter and Epoxy as comparable projects. This guide does not compare their features, so review each one's documentation against your needs.

Do I need to add Proguard rules for BRVAH?

Usually not. The README says the library comes with proguard-rules.pro rules and imports them automatically, so manual setup is normally unnecessary.

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Our verdict

BRVAH suits Android developers who build RecyclerView lists and want less adapter boilerplate, multiple row types, or load-more behavior. It is a poor fit for non-Android developers or beginners without Gradle and RecyclerView experience, since the README gives only a dependency line and points to a mostly Chinese wiki for usage.

Install options & downloads