[android] How to add Apache HTTP API (legacy) as compile-time dependency to build.grade for Android M?

As mentioned here, Android M will not support the Apache HTTP API. The docs state to:

use the HttpURLConnection class instead.

or

To continue using the Apache HTTP APIs, you must first declare the following compile-time dependency in your build.gradle file:

android { useLibrary 'org.apache.http.legacy' }

I have converted much of my project's usage of HttpClient to HttpURLConnection, however, I still need to use the HttpClient in a few areas. Hence, I am trying to declare 'org.apache.http.legacy' as a compile-time dependency but am getting an error in build.gradle:

Gradle DSL method not found: 'useLibrary()'

My question is: how do I declare 'org.apache.http.legacy' as a compile-time dependency in my project?

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks

it should help:

android {
    ...
    useLibrary 'org.apache.http.legacy'
    ...
}

To avoid missing link errors add to dependencies

dependencies {
    provided 'org.jbundle.util.osgi.wrapped:org.jbundle.util.osgi.wrapped.org.apache.http.client:4.1.2'
}

or

dependencies {
    compileOnly 'org.jbundle.util.osgi.wrapped:org.jbundle.util.osgi.wrapped.org.apache.http.client:4.1.2'
}

because

Warning: Configuration 'provided' is obsolete and has been replaced with 'compileOnly'.

Another alternative is to just add jbundle dependency. This is more Android Studio friendly as Android Studio doesn't give the message "cannot resolve symbol..."

 dependencies {
    compile 'org.jbundle.util.osgi.wrapped:org.jbundle.util.osgi.wrapped.org.apache.http.client:4.1.2'
 }

Note for Android 9 (Pie).

Additionally to useLibrary 'org.apache.http.legacy' you have to add in AndroidManifest.xml:

<uses-library android:name="org.apache.http.legacy" android:required="false"/>

Source: https://developer.android.com/about/versions/pie/android-9.0-changes-28

In your build.gradle file add useLibrary 'org.apache.http.legacy' as per Android 6.0 Changes > Apache HTTP Client Removal notes.

android {
    ...
    useLibrary 'org.apache.http.legacy'
    ...
}

To avoid missing link errors add to dependencies

dependencies {
    provided 'org.jbundle.util.osgi.wrapped:org.jbundle.util.osgi.wrapped.org.apache.http.client:4.1.2'
}

using 'provided' the dependency will be not included in the apk

I solved this problem like so:

1.) Set classpath in top-level build file as GUG mentioned:

buildscript {
    repositories {
        jcenter()
    }
    dependencies {
        classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:1.3.0-beta2'
    }
    allprojects {
        repositories {
           jcenter()
        }
    }
}

2.) In build file of specific module:

android {
   useLibrary 'org.apache.http.legacy'
   compileSdkVersion 'android-MNC'
   buildToolsVersion '23.0.0 rc3'
}

Just copied file: org.apache.http.legacy.jar from Android/Sdk/platforms/android-23/optional folder into project folder app/libs.

Worked like charm for 23.1.1.

FWIW the removal of Apache library was foreshadowed a while ago. Our good friend Jesse Wilson gave us a clue back in 2011: http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2011/09/androids-http-clients.html

Google stopped working on ApacheHTTPClient a while ago, so any library that is still relying upon that should be put onto the list of deprecated libraries unless the maintainers update their code.

<rant> I can't tell you how many technical arguments I've had with people who insisted on sticking with Apache HTTP client. There are some major apps that are going to break because management at my not-to-be-named previous employers didn't listen to their top engineers or knew what they were talking about when they ignored the warning ... but, water under the bridge.

I win.

</rant>

As the answers are a bit old, I will put my solution (what worked for me), it can be helpful for somebody else... I took my solution from the official documentation of Apache, no work-around.

1/ in gradle:

dependencies {
...
// This is the maintained version from apache.
compile group: 'cz.msebera.android', name: 'httpclient', version: '4.4.1.1'
}

2/ in the rest of the app replace the org.apache.http by cz.msebera.android.httpclient and all your imports (dependencies) will be fixed. you can just do ctrl+shift+R and replace it in the whole project.

To resolve the issues make sure you are using build tools version "23.0.0 rc2" with the following tools build gradle dependency:

classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:1.3.0-beta2'