you can include just one component of the entire Play Service library (e.g. cloud messaging) in an Android Studio project with a line like this in build.gradle:

you can include just one component of the entire Play Service library (e.g. cloud messaging) in an Android Studio project with a line like this in build.gradle: compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-gcm:10.0.1' but, i get the impression that's not quite what you mean when you say "install the whole blob." i guess you're talking about the Google Play Services library, which is updated independently of my app. or something like that. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.gms&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and... not quite sure. trying to clarify this for my own understanding.