cometchat-android-v5-features

Ground truth: com.cometchat:chat-uikit-android:5.x (legacy/maintenance-only; +calls-sdk-android:5.x) — resolved AAR (javap) + ui-kit/android. Official docs: https://www.cometchat.com/docs/fundamentals/extensions-overview · Docs MCP: claude mcp add --transport http cometchat-docs https://www.cometchat.com/docs/mcp (or fetch the URL directly without MCP). Verify symbols against the installed package/source before relying on them.

Companion skills: cometchat-android-v5-core covers initialization; cometchat-android-v5-customization covers deeper component customization; cometchat-android-v5-extensions covers the extension architecture.

Purpose

This skill teaches how CometChat features are structured and what work is required to enable each one. Most features require zero code — they are either already built into the UI Kit, toggled via the cometchat apply-feature CLI (extensions + AI features), or activated by adding a dependency (calls).

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Use this skill when

• "Add reactions to my chat"
• "Add video calling"
• "Enable polls"
• "Add file sharing"
• "Enable smart replies"

Do not use this skill when

• Customizing how a feature looks → use cometchat-android-v5-customization
• Setting up the initial integration → use cometchat-android-v5-core

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1. Feature types

Type	What it means	Action required
Type 1 — Default	Built into the UI Kit at compile time	None — already there
Type 2a — Extension	Backend extension, pure boolean toggle	cometchat apply-feature <id> --app-id <X> (CLI hits dashboard API)
Type 2b — AI feature	Backend AI feature requiring an OpenAI key	cometchat apply-feature <id> --app-id <X> --openai-key sk-...
Type 2c — Dashboard-only	Third-party API key / multi-field config (Giphy, Stipop, Tenor, Chatwoot, Intercom)	Open https://app.cometchat.com → Chat & Messaging → Features → configure
Type 3 — Package-install	Requires a separate SDK dependency	Add Gradle dependency
Type 4 — Component-toggle	Hide/show via setHide* / disable* methods on the relevant component	Call the setter on the component instance (see catalog)

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2. Type 1 — Default features (already enabled)

Feature	Component	Notes
Text messaging	CometChatMessageComposer + CometChatMessageList	Core feature
Media sharing (image/video/audio/file)	CometChatMessageComposer	Attachment button
Read receipts	CometChatMessageList	setReceiptsVisibility()
Typing indicators	CometChatMessageList + CometChatConversations	Auto-enabled
User presence (online/offline)	CometChatConversations, CometChatUsers	Requires subscribePresenceForAllUsers() in init
Reactions	CometChatMessageList	Long-press message → react
Mentions (@user, @all)	CometChatMessageComposer	Type @ to trigger
Threaded conversations	CometChatMessageList	setReplyInThreadOptionVisibility()
Quoted replies	CometChatMessageList	Swipe to reply
Edit/delete messages	CometChatMessageList	Long-press options
Group chat	All components	Use setGroup() instead of setUser()
Report message	CometChatMessageList	Long-press → Report
Search	CometChatSearch	Standalone component

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3. Type 2 — Backend toggle features (no code needed)

Android projects don't run cometchat apply, so call the CLI in stateless mode with --app-id:

# Pure boolean extensions:
cometchat apply-feature polls --app-id <your-app-id>
cometchat apply-feature stickers --app-id <your-app-id>

# AI features (require OpenAI key):
cometchat apply-feature smart-replies --app-id <your-app-id> --openai-key sk-...
cometchat apply-feature conversation-summary --app-id <your-app-id>
cometchat apply-feature conversation-starter --app-id <your-app-id>

Requires cometchat auth login once per machine.

Extensions (CLI-toggleable — pure boolean):

• User Engagement: Polls, Message Translation, Reminders
• Collaboration: Collaborative Document, Collaborative Whiteboard
• Security: Disappearing Messages, E2E Encryption (Enterprise)
• Moderation: Profanity Filter, Image Moderation, Data Masking, Sentiment Analysis, XSS Filter

AI Features (CLI-toggleable — needs --openai-key): Conversation Starter, Conversation Summary, Smart Reply

Dashboard-only (third-party config — open https://app.cometchat.com → Chat & Messaging → Features): Stickers (Stipop), Giphy, Tenor, Chatwoot, Intercom — these require API keys / webhooks the user must enter manually.

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4. Type 3 — Package-install features

Voice/Video Calling

Add the calling SDK:

implementation 'com.cometchat:calls-sdk-android:5.+'

The UI Kit auto-detects the calling SDK and enables call buttons in CometChatMessageHeader. No additional code needed — CometChatIncomingCall, CometChatOutgoingCall, and CometChatOngoingCall activate automatically.

Configure call buttons visibility:

CometChatMessageHeader header = findViewById(R.id.header);
header.setVoiceCallButtonVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
header.setVideoCallButtonVisibility(View.VISIBLE);

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Hard rules

• Don't write code for Type 1 features. They're already there. Tell the user where to find them.
• Don't write code for Type 2a/2b features. Run cometchat apply-feature <id> --app-id <X> (extension) or ... --openai-key sk-... (ai-feature). The CLI flips the dashboard toggle via API. Never tell the user to "open the dashboard and toggle X" for an extension or ai-feature — that's what the CLI does.
• For Type 2c (dashboard-only) features, the CLI cannot automate (third-party keys / multi-field config). Walk the user through the dashboard path returned by cometchat apply-feature <id>'s manual-action-required response.
• For Type 3 (calls), just add the Gradle dependency. The UI Kit handles the rest.
• Always run cometchat apply-feature <id> first for extensions and AI features. If the user reports a "missing feature," it's almost always an unflipped toggle the CLI can fix in one call.