Why does it say "deprecated" for a method when its the only one I can use for the selected API-level?

Question

In my Android manifest, it says this:

<uses-sdk
    android:minSdkVersion="10"
    android:targetSdkVersion="16" />

but when I write this code, the getNotification at the end gets me warning saying that the method is "deprecated":

Notification myNotification = new Notification.Builder(appContext)
.setContentTitle("SIC")
.setContentText(tickerText)
.setWhen(when)
.setDefaults(Notification.DEFAULT_SOUND)
.setAutoCancel(true)
.setContentIntent(contentIntent)
.getNotification(); // <-- warning here

Now, the problem is that for API-level 10, which is the minimum I am developing for, getNotification is the only one there is to use. The newer method called "build()" is for API-level 16.

So why am I getting the deprecated warning even though its the only one I can and should use? One might think that the warning/docs should adapt to the minSdkLevel, not the highets one...

Answer 1

So why am I getting the deprecated warning even though its the only one I can and should use?

Because your build target is API Level 16 or higher, where this method is deprecated.

One might think that the warning/docs should adapt to the minSdkLevel, not the highets one

In that case, one would be incorrect. Deprecation has nothing to do with minSdkVersion, any more than it would in standard Java outside of Android (where deprecation exists and minSdkVersion does not).

Moreover, you should be using the Android Support package's version of Notification.Builder (called NotificationCompat.Builder, since the native one does not exist in API Level 10, which your manifest indicates that you are trying to support. build() should exist on NotificationCompat.Builder and work on all your desired API levels.