clawtank
login create
cloud android compiler api

Send Android Code. Get a running app in cloud. No SDK. No setup.

send · build · run · grab

clawtank is a cloud Android compiler API. POST your Kotlin and XML source. It compiles the APK on managed infrastructure, installs it on a pooled Android emulator, and returns the running app, three screenshots, logcat, and a live WebSocket stream — all in a single HTTP request. No local toolchain. No device farm.

Open the studio → Read the API →
clawtank — one request, one running app 
# send source to the cloud
$ curl -X POST https://clawtank.app/v1/build \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{"files":{"MainActivity.kt":"…"}}'
# → compiled · installed · launched
{
  "status":       "ok",
  "device":       "emulator-5554",
  "platform":     "android-34",
  "build_ms":     41203,
  "screenshots": [
    "…/s1.png", "…/s2.png", "…/s3.png"
  ],
  "logcat":      "…",
  "stream":      "wss://clawtank.app/ws/stream"
}
Step 01
→
SEND
POST /v1/build
kotlin + xml → cloud
Step 02
BUILD
compiling APK…
gradle · kotlin 2.0
Step 03
✓
RUN
live on emulator
shots · logcat · stream

01 /How it works

Four steps from a folder of source files to a running app you can see and touch.

SEND
POST a JSON bundle of Kotlin sources and XML resources. Every file is validated, then written into a fresh Gradle project. No prior workspace, no session state.
BUILD
clawtank compiles the APK on managed infrastructure. Kotlin 2.0.21, Gradle 8.9, Android API 34. Your machine only sends files — the heavy lifting happens in the cloud.
RUN
The APK is installed on a pooled Android emulator and launched. A virtual device is spun up on demand, the app is installed, and the emulator waits for it to reach a stable state.
GRAB
You get back a live screen stream, three screenshots, logcat, and timing. Everything you need to see what the app did — in a single response, ready for a pipeline or an agent to read.

02 /What you pull out

Every successful run returns the same structured payload — designed for machines to read and humans to skim.

live screen
A WebSocket stream of the running emulator. Tap, swipe, type — drive the app from your browser exactly like a real device. Sessions are time-boxed and pooled fairly.
screenshots
Three PNGs captured at t+2s, t+3s, and t+4s after launch. Signed, short-lived URLs at native emulator resolution. Perfect for visual diffs, agent feedback loops, or just proving the app rendered.
logcat
The app process's full log stream, capped at 200 lines. Enough to catch crashes, intent filters, ANRs, and your own debug prints. Attributed to the correct PID.
timing
Total wall-clock for the whole pipeline, in milliseconds. Returned as build_ms so pipelines and agents can budget, retry, or escalate on slow runs.

03 /Who grabs from clawtank

Anywhere you need a real Android app running somewhere you don't want to own.

  • Developers prototyping

    Write Kotlin in your browser, hit BUILD & RUN, and watch your idea come to life on an emulator. No SDK install, no Gradle bootstrap, no AVD image download.

  • AI agents & autonomous workflows

    Let agents write source, ship it to clawtank, and read screenshots + logcat back as part of a closed feedback loop. Fully machine-readable responses.

  • CI/CD pipelines

    Replace dedicated Android build runners and self-hosted emulator farms with a single HTTP endpoint that returns artifacts and logs.

  • Mobile QA automation

    Trigger real Android builds from test frameworks and assert on real screenshots and logcat — instead of mocking a device or faking a renderer.

04 /Pricing

Pay only for successful runs. No subscription, no seats, no minimum commit.

per run
$0.05 · only when the build succeeds Failed compiles are refunded automatically. You never pay for a build that didn't return artifacts.
included
Cloud build · pooled emulator · install · launch · live stream · 3 screenshots · logcat · timing
access
No API key. No signup. No rate limit. Humans use the same pipeline through the browser studio at /studio.

05 /FAQ

Quick answers to the questions we get most.

How do I compile an Android app in the cloud without installing an SDK?
Send your Kotlin and XML source to clawtank's POST /v1/build endpoint. The service compiles the APK on managed infrastructure, installs it on a pooled Android emulator, launches it, and returns screenshots, logcat, and a live WebSocket stream. No Android SDK, no Gradle, and no local emulator are required on your machine.
Is there an API for compiling and running Android apps programmatically?
Yes. clawtank exposes a single HTTP endpoint, POST /v1/build, that accepts a JSON bundle of Kotlin and XML source files and returns a compiled, running Android app with screenshots and logcat. It is designed for CI pipelines, autonomous agents, and test automation.
Can I run Android builds in CI/CD without a device farm?
Yes. clawtank replaces dedicated Android build runners and self-hosted emulator farms with one HTTPS endpoint. Your pipeline POSTs source files and receives a running app, screenshots, and logcat back in a single response — no shared runners, no AVD images, no maintenance.
How do I get screenshots and logcat from a remote Android emulator?
clawtank returns three PNG screenshots taken at t+2s, t+3s, and t+4s after launch, plus up to 200 lines of logcat attributed to the app process. Both are included in the JSON response from POST /v1/build, so no extra calls are needed.
Can AI agents use clawtank to compile and test Android apps?
Yes. clawtank's API is designed for machine consumption. Agents can POST source files, receive screenshots and logcat as structured data, and iterate in a closed feedback loop. Every response is deterministic JSON with no browser or UI requirement.
Is clawtank free to use?
The clawtank studio is free to use in a browser with no signup. Programmatic API access costs $0.05 per successful build, and failed compiles are refunded automatically. There is no subscription and no minimum commit.

Try it in your browser.

The studio is a full editor with a live emulator, build log, and screenshot loot. No install, no account.

Open the studio → Read the API →