How to compile a module as an AAR and include it in the project in one build? - android-studio

Question

I have an app module and a module that I'm using as a library -- I'm still making changes to the library, so it isn't precompiled. The library module has its own res folder, which I'd like to keep separate from the main app's res folder. I believe the only way to do this is to package the library as an aar before including it in the main app. It would be convenient if I could run a single Gradle build to package the library and include it. Is this possible?
gradle.build for app (which compiles "my-library"):
apply plugin: 'com.android.application'
android {
compileSdkVersion 25
buildToolsVersion "25.0.3"
defaultConfig {
applicationId "com.app.id"
minSdkVersion 18
targetSdkVersion 25
versionCode 5
versionName "1.4"
}
sourceSets {
main {
assets.srcDirs = [project.ext.ASSET_DIR]
}
}
buildTypes {
release {
minifyEnabled false
proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
}
}
}
dependencies {
compile fileTree(include: ['*.jar'], dir: 'libs')
testCompile 'junit:junit:4.12'
compile project(':my-library')
}
gradle.build for my-library:
apply plugin: 'com.android.library'
android {
compileSdkVersion 25
buildToolsVersion "25.0.3"
defaultConfig {
minSdkVersion 18
targetSdkVersion 25
}
buildTypes {
release {
minifyEnabled false
proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.txt'
}
}
}

Answer 1

It turns out that Android Studio is smart enough handle a library module with a res folder. My error was coming from a conflict in the Manifest files.