BindingRecyclerAdapter.java

public class BindingRecyclerAdapter extends RecyclerView.Adapter {
    private List<Item> items;

    public static class BindingHolder extends RecyclerView.ViewHolder {
        private ViewDataBinding binding;

        public BindingHolder(View rowView) {
            super(rowView);
            binding = DataBindingUtil.bind(rowView);
        }

        public ViewDataBinding getBinding() {
            return binding;
        }
    }

    public BindingRecyclerAdapter(List<Item> items) {
        this.items = items;
    }

    @Override
    public BindingHolder onCreateViewHolder(ViewGroup parent, int type) {
        View v = LayoutInflater.from(parent.getContext())
                .inflate(R.layout.list_item, parent, false);
        BindingHolder holder = new BindingHolder(v);
        return holder;
    }

    @Override
    public void onBindViewHolder(RecyclerView.ViewHolder GenericHolder, int position) {
        final Item item = items.get(position);
        BindingHolder holder = (BindingHolder) GenericHolder;

        holder.getBinding().setVariable(BR.item, book);
        holder.getBinding().executePendingBindings();
    }

    @Override
    public int getItemCount() {
        return items.size();
    }
}

CustomBindingAdapter.java

public class CustomBindingAdapter { 
   @BindingAdapter("bind:imageUrl") 
   public static void loadImage(ImageView imageView, String url) { 
      Picasso.with(imageView.getContext()).load(url).into(imageView); 
   } 
} 

list_item.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> 
<layout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" 
   xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"> 
   <data> 
      <variable 
         name="item" 
         type="com.example.databinding.objects.Item" /> 
      </data> 

      <LinearLayout xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools" 
         android:layout_width="match_parent" 
         android:layout_height="wrap_content" 
         android:orientation="horizontal"> 

         <ImageView 
            android:id="@+id/item_thumbnail" 
            android:layout_width="80dp" 
            android:layout_height="100dp" 
            app:imageUrl="@{item.thumbnail}" 
            tools:src="@android:drawable/sym_def_app_icon" /> 

         <LinearLayout 
            android:layout_width="match_parent" 
            android:layout_height="wrap_content" 
            android:layout_gravity="center_vertical" 
            android:orientation="vertical"> 

            <TextView 
               android:id="@+id/item_title" 
               android:layout_width="match_parent" 
               android:layout_height="wrap_content" 
               android:text="@{item.title}" 
               tools:text="Title" /> 

            <TextView 
               android:id="@+id/item_about" 
               android:layout_width="match_parent" 
               android:layout_height="wrap_content" 
               android:text="@{item.about}" 
               tools:text="About" /> 
      </LinearLayout> 
   </LinearLayout> 
</layout>