Practical overview
When it fits
Consider Kõnele when an Android workflow needs a speech keyboard or voice-search interface, especially for a project involving Estonian recognition or grammar-based commands. For recognition-server connectivity, the README recommends the separate Kõnele service rather than Kõnele’s deprecated in-app SpeechRecognizer implementations.
Who it is for
- Android users who want to enter speech through a speech keyboard or voice-search interface.
- Developers building Android applications with speech input or grammar-based voice commands.
Documented uses
- Provide speech input to other apps through Android’s input-method editor interface.
- Open a voice-search panel using Android’s RecognizerIntent interface.
- Support Android workflows targeting Estonian speech recognition or grammar-based voice commands.
Requirements & limits
- The project is an Android application, not a standalone speech-recognition server.
- The README marks its in-app SpeechRecognizer implementations as deprecated and recommends Kõnele service for connection to kaldi-gstreamer-server.
- The repository documents an Apache-2.0 license and a Java codebase.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Build the Android APK from source
Prepare and build Kõnele’s APK using the repository’s documented Gradle process.
Before you start
- Android SDK, with its directory provided through ANDROID_HOME.
- Repository source cloned with the speechutils submodule.
- For a signed release APK, access to a release keystore, its key alias, and the required password settings.
Steps
Clone the repository recursively so the speechutils submodule is included.
Set ANDROID_HOME to the Android SDK directory.
If changing build-environment settings, create gradle.properties in the location specified by GRADLE_USER_HOME.
Run ./gradlew assemble from the repository.
Expected outcome
The README says signed and unsigned APKs are generated in app/build/outputs/apk/.
Guide limitations
- The instructions describe building the APK, not installing or running it.
- Signing requires a release keystore and the associated configuration.
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 14 October 2026
- Original website title
- Kaljurand/K6nele · Official homepage title · retained in its source language

