How to easily "Show Layout bounds" for Android debugging?

Question

I want to watch the layout of App without boring tap and tap.

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I tried adb shell setprop debug.layout true but didn't work unless reboot or open setting.
This may caused by setting haven't update.

I tried to writing a little App with code SystemProperties.set("debug.layout", "true") , no use too.
Maybe the app's authority…

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Sorry for my poor English and appreciation for help :p

Answer 1

This works for me:

adb shell setprop debug.layout true
adb shell service call activity 1599295570

After we have enabled Show layout bounds using adb shell setprop debug.layout true, we have to poke the SystemProperties to see the changes as Show layout bounds QS Tiles does:

@Override
public void onClick() {
    setIsEnabled(getQsTile().getState() == Tile.STATE_INACTIVE);
    new DevelopmentSettings.SystemPropPoker().execute(); // Settings app magic
    refresh();
}

Here's the original method from AOSP source:

public static class SystemPropPoker extends AsyncTask<Void, Void, Void> {
    @Override
    protected Void doInBackground(Void... params) {
        String[] services = ServiceManager.listServices();
        for (String service : services) {
            IBinder obj = ServiceManager.checkService(service);
            if (obj != null) {
                Parcel data = Parcel.obtain();
                try {
                    obj.transact(IBinder.SYSPROPS_TRANSACTION, data, null, 0);
                } catch (RemoteException e) {
                } catch (Exception e) {
                    Log.i(TAG, "Someone wrote a bad service '" + service
                            + "' that doesn't like to be poked: " + e);
                }
                data.recycle();
            }
        }
        return null;
    }
}

The number 1599295570 is called SYSPROPS_TRANSACTION

Reference: https://github.com/dhelleberg/android-scripts/blob/master/src/devtools.groovy

UPDATED: I created this app to add many developer toggle to the quick settings for Android 7.0+