Java Module doesn't have `api`, and have to use `compile`?

Question

As stated in https://developer.android.com/studio/build/gradle-plugin-3-0-0-migration.html#new_configurations, we now have api and implementation.

In Android Module i.e. apply plugin: 'com.android.application', we do have both.

However in a plain Java Module i.e. apply plugin: 'java' (Used by my Android App Module), I could only find implementation, but not api.

Hence in one of the dependent, I need to use compile, and can't use api.
Is api inaccessible at Java Module?

Answer 1

You have to use:

apply plugin: 'java-library'

The key difference between the standard Java plugin and the Java Library plugin is that the latter introduces the concept of an API exposed to consumers.

The plugin exposes two configurations that can be used to declare dependencies: api and implementation.

More info here.