How to debug and troubleshoot R8 optimizer | Spotlight Week

R8 is Android's code optimizer that removes unused code, optimizes runtime performance, and minifies apps. This guide covers debugging R8-enabled builds, writing effective keep rules to prevent false positives from reflection, and avoiding common pitfalls like overly broad rules that disable optimization. Key topics include automated stack trace deobfuscation in Android Studio, using configuration files and metadata for troubleshooting, and best practices for scoping keep rules narrowly using interfaces, annotations, or base classes to maximize optimization benefits.