Question 1

How to load images in a RecyclerView with Glide?

Accepted Answer

Use Glide.with(context).load(url).into(imageView) in your adapter's onBindViewHolder. Glide automatically cancels unused requests and caches images to ensure smooth scrolling, but always pass the correct context from the fragment or activity.

Question 2

Glide vs Picasso: which is better for Android?

Accepted Answer

Glide is superior for scrolling performance and GIF support, with more advanced caching. Picasso has a simpler API for basic use cases but lacks built-in GIF handling and may not scale as well in list-heavy apps.

Question 3

How to handle animated GIFs in Glide?

Accepted Answer

Glide natively supports GIFs—just load the GIF URL normally. You can control playback with .asGif() for full animation or .asBitmap() for static frames, and use .dontAnimate() to fix compatibility issues with certain views.

Question 4

Does Glide work with Proguard or R8?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Glide includes bundled Proguard rules in its AAR, so R8 automatically applies them. No extra configuration is needed for basic use, but check the documentation for custom modules or transformations.

Question 5

How to implement custom image transformations in Glide?

Accepted Answer

Extend the BitmapTransformation class and override the transform() method, then apply it using .transform(new YourTransformation()) in the request chain. Community libraries like glide-transformations offer pre-built options for effects.

Question 6

Glide or Coil for Kotlin projects?

Accepted Answer

Coil is Kotlin-first with coroutine support and is lighter, ideal for modern Kotlin apps. Glide is more mature with broader caching and network flexibility, but Coil may be better for Kotlin-centric teams wanting seamless integration.

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