Android Programming and development

Android Programming and development

Installing the Software

•Java 6

•Eclipse

•Android SDK base

•Eclipse ADT Plugin

•Updated SDK components

•AVD (Android Virtual Device).

Java SE 6

  •Use Java 6 (aka JDK 1.6)

–Java 5 supported only by older Android versions

–Java 7 can technically be used, but new Java 7 features not supported

•For Windows \ Linux, follow directions at http://adf.ly/aA0I0

–Get JDK, not just JRE

–Get SE (Standard Edition), not EE nor ME editions

–Don’t get version with the Net Beans IDE 

   Eclipse

–Eclipse is a free open source IDE (Integrated Development Environment). Support for Java, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, C++, PHP, and more. 

–Google has free Eclipse plugin to integrate with the Android SDK.

 •Features 

    –General 

              •Checks your syntax as you type 

              •Automatically compiles every time you save file 

               •Refactoring, debugging, templates for common tasks, etc. 

   –Android-specific 

             •Deploy apps to Android emulator 
             •Configure virtual environments 

             •Drag-and-drop GUI builder  
             •  Go to http://adf.ly/aA0dY

       
  •  use “for Java”

 – Latest version (3.7 –INDIGO ) recommended.

 – No installer, just Unzip the downloaded file

The Android SDK

• Overview

–Android-specific libraries

–Dalvik (Android Virtual Machine) compiler

–Android emulator (to run without physical device)

–DDMS (Dalvik Debug Monitor Server ) debugging environment

The Android SDK Documentation

• Installation

–http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing/index.html

• Developer’s Guide

–http://developer.android.com/guide/components/index.html

• JavaDoc(API Reference)

–http://developer.android.com/reference/classes.html

• Tutorials and articles

–http://developer.android.com/resources/index.html

• Download and run  installer

– From http://developer.android.com/sdk/

•E.g. install in C:\android-sdk

– Sets up basic SDK, but omits many components

•Detailed instructions

– http://adf.ly/aA0uM

•Postponed step

–After installing Eclipse plugin, we will run the Android  SDK Manager to get important missing components

•Easiest to do from Eclipse. See upcoming slide after Eclipse ADT installation.

Eclipse ADT Plugin

•Overview

–ADT (Android Development Tools) provides many useful features accessible directly in Eclipse

•Integration between Eclipse & Android command-line tools

•Drag-and-drop GUI builder

•Many development and debugging aids

•Detailed installation instructions

– http://adf.ly/aA15e

•More details

– http://adf.ly/aA17V

Installing Eclipse ADT

•Steps

–Start Eclipse

–Help – Install New Software …

–Click “Add” in upper-right

–In Add Repository, for Name

   enter “ADT Plugin” and for 

   Location enter
 https://dl-ssl.google.com/android/eclipse/

• Steps …

–Click OK, select checkbox next to Developer Tools, 

Next, see packages to be installed

–Accept license, Finish.

•Restart Eclipse if asked.

–Run Android SDK Manager

•Should be prompted; if not, Windows - Android SDK Manager

   Updating SDK Components

   •Run Android SDK manager

–Window - Android SDK Manager

    •Probably prompted automatically after installing ADT plugin and restarting Eclipse

–Select all entries, except that you can omit Android versions older than 2.2

•Click “Install n packages”

•Runs for a longtime   

•Detailed instructions

– http://adf.ly/aA1he

 

Android Virtual Devices (AVDs)

•An AVD (Android Virtual Device) is an Android Emulator  configuration that lets you model an actual device by defining hardware and software options.

•Idea

 –Define several AVDs at different Android API levels to test against.

–At least two:

•Newest version (e.g., 4.1 –Jelly Bean)

•Most common version (2.3.3 as of 2012)

•To see statistics for versions of currently used Android devices, see

–http://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html

•Detailed instructions

–http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/devices/managing-avds.html  

 Defining an AVD

   •Defining

–Window -> AVD Manager

–Click on “New” at top. Choose name (arbitrary) and options. You can (should!) create multiple AVDs.

   •Options

–Target (i.e., target API version)

•4.1 to test tablet and new features

•2.3.3 to test most common phones

–SD Card size

•Can be omitted. Or, choose middle

of the road value, e.g., 4 GB

–Skin

•Use default for the target you chose

Configuring Eclipse ADT

•Set SDK Location

–Window –> Preferences -> Android -> Click Browse and point at place you installed the SDK

–Optional: disable sending stats to Google

•Window -> Preferences -> Android -> Usage Stats

 

Running Apps

•Ways to run

–On the Android Emulator. Deploy directly from Eclipse.

•During development, do your normal testing here

–On an Android device. Deploy from your PC via USB.

•Other options covered online

–On an Android device. Deploy from a Web site.

–On an Android device. Deploy via email.

–On and Android device. Deploy from the Android Market

Running Apps on Android Emulator