Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes when you build your app in Android Studio? This talk takes you on a journey beyond the IDE to explore the processes that transform your source code into a functional Android app. Instead of relying on pressing "build", by manually piecing together how Android Studio builds your app, you'll gain an in-depth understanding of Kotlin compilation, resource processing, DEX generation, APK packaging, and signing. We'll walk through every step—compiling code, linking resources, and signing the APK—using command-line tools instead of gradle. You’ll walk away having uncovered the inner workings of the Android build pipeline allowing you to optimize your own build process and better debug build issues. This session will equip you with a deeper appreciation for what happens when you build an app—and why it matters.