Android Studio Gradle DSL method not found: 'android()' -- Error(17,0)

I went ahead and downloaded the project from the link you provided: http://javapapers.com/android/android-chat-bubble/

Since this is an old tutorial, you simply need to upgrade the software, gradle, the android build tools and plugin.

Make sure you have the latest Gradle and Android Studio:

• https://www.gradle.org/
• http://tools.android.com/tech-docs/new-build-system/version-compatibility

build.gradle:

buildscript {
    repositories {
        jcenter()
    }

    dependencies {
        classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:2.1.2'
    }
}

allprojects {
    repositories {
        jcenter()
    }
}

app/build.gradle:

apply plugin: 'com.android.application'

android {
    compileSdkVersion 23
    buildToolsVersion '23.0.3'

    defaultConfig {
        minSdkVersion 9
        targetSdkVersion 23
        versionCode 1
        versionName '1.0'
    }
}

dependencies {
    compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:23.2.1'
}

Then run gradle:

gradle installDebug

In your top level build.gradle you seem to have the code

android {
   compileSdkVersion 19
   buildToolsVersion "19.1" 
}

You can't have this code at the top level build.gradle because the android build plugin isn't loaded just yet. You can define the compile version and build tools version in the app level build.gradle.

For some unknown reason, Android Studio incorrectly adds the android() method in the top-level build.gradle file.

Just delete the method and it works for me.

android {
    compileSdkVersion 21
    buildToolsVersion '21.1.2'
}