Setting Up Your Android Tablet Programming Environment
You’re nearly at the fun part, but first you must make sure your computer is properly set up. You must download and install three packages for your work:
• Java Development Kit (JDK)
• Eclipse, which is the integrated development environment (IDE)
• Android Java SDK
If you’re a Java developer, then you likely have a recent version of the JDK and probably even have Eclipse installed. In that case, skip to the Android SDK portion of the following instructions.
Look over the first two sections if you experience problems, though, because you may be using the wrong versionof the JDK or Eclipse.
In the following sections, you work through installing each of these packages. When you’re done, you’ll be ready to create your first Android tablet program. This entire process shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes before you’re ready to go.
In the following sections, you work through installing each of these packages. When you’re done, you’ll be ready to create your first Android tablet program. This entire process shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes before you’re ready to go.
Installing the Java JDK
The first step is to download and install the latest version of the JDK for your machine. Here’s how:
1. To find the JDK you need for your system, go to
www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html.
You need the JDK to let you use the Java language on your computer.
Look for the large Java icon at upper left on the page, and select the JDK link, as labeled in Figure Below . This link takes you to the JDK SE downloads page.
2. On the Downloads tab of the Java SE Downloads page, shown in Figure Below , accept the license agreement, choose the package that fits your operating system, and click the link to download it.
3. When the file downloads, run the installer. On some computers, the installer starts automatically. If this doesn’t happen, locate the folder where the files were downloaded, and sort the folder by the Date Modified. The last file is this installer. Double-click it, and you’re ready to go.
4. When the welcome dialog page for Installation for Java wizard appears, as
shown in Figure Below, click the Next button and follow the instructions provided by the wizard to finish the installation.
Now you’re ready to set up Eclipse, the development environment you use throughout this book to build your games. Without Eclipse, you would be forced to compile your code using a command line. A development environment saves you a lot of time.
