Android development components include:. Java Development Kit (JDK). Android Studio with Gradle. Android SDKYou install the JDK and Android Studio, and then you install the Android SDK from withinAndroid Studio. The Android Studio installer also installs the Gradle command line buildtool.The minimum versions Mobile SDK 8.1 requires are:. JDK 8 (reported as version 1.8.x at the command line).
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More about Android Studio for Mac: Built on IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition, the popular Java IDE by JetBrains. Flexible Gradle-based build system. Build variants and multiple APK generation. Expanded template support for Google Services and various device types. Rich layout editor with support for theme editing.
Android Studio 3.5.3 with Gradle 4.6. Android SDK level 23 (minimum API) through 29 (target API). Now that you’ve installed the SDK, create an emulator for testing anddebugging your apps. It’s a good idea to test your Mobile SDK apps against theminimum supported API target. Let’s choose a system image that supports API 23. To get into Android Studio, create a throwaway project from the Welcomescreen.
From the Android Studio Welcome screen, select Start a New Android StudioProject. In the wizard, click Next as prompted to accept all defaults, then clickFinish. If prompted, click Allow to accept incoming networkconnections. In Android Studio, click the AVD Manager tool. To create Android apps that are compatible with Mobile SDK, you use a node.jscommand-line utility named forcedroid.
Forcedroid is the quickest and easiest way tocreate all types of Mobile SDK apps for Android. You just enter some metadata asprompted, and a few minutes later you have a fully configured Gradle project thatyou can open in Android Studio.To install forcedroid, you use the npm install command.
Open the Terminal app on Mac, or the command prompt on Windows. Definean ANDROIDHOME system variable that points to your installed Android SDK.
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Forexample, on a Mac, the path is typically/Users//Library/Android/sdk. Besure to store the variable in your persistent environment settings so that youdon’t have to keep retyping it. To install forcedroid, run the npm installcommand. On Windows, type npm install -g forcedroid andpress Return.
On a Mac, type sudo npm install -g forcedroidand press Return. If prompted on a Mac, enter your system password. To test your installation, type forcedroid version andpress Return.
AdvertisementYou might need a Mac in order to, but if you’re more of a green alien sort of guy, the Android IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is also available on OS X.If you’re ready to move on from, or you’re itching to create the next big thing for Android, installing the IDE is step one of the journey. Or, if we’re moving too fast, why don’t you? Why Bother With Android?If you’re versed in OS X and iOS development, you might be asking yourself why even bother with Android?Many iOS developers shy away from Android due to device fragmentation and the need to further patch/re-create apps for different version of the OS — of which there are many. I’m not going to attempt to sell you on which of the two is better, as they both offer numerous benefits for developers, but I will say that for app creators who are looking to make a living from their apps, finding some sort of balance between devices is never a bad idea.Additionally, you’ll find that the overall experience is far less restrictive with Android. For one, Google Play (Android’s App Store) doesn’t have many of the same restrictions as Apple, nor does it require the $99 annual fee for developers (it’s $25 on Google).
Google provides you access to Android’s inner workings (by means of an open source model) which allows you to create things like emulators, boot loaders, and customized docks, icons, start screens — you name it — that just aren’t possible with iOS. If you’re strictly looking at revenue numbers, Apple’s App Store is still going to be your primary target.
While Google Play has 60-percent more annual downloads than the App Store, Apple’s App Store actually accounts for 70-percent more yearly app revenue. That’s not to say you can’t be profitable on Android, or that you should avoid the platform altogether, quite the contrary actually.While Apps might have higher revenue numbers in the Apple App Store, the download numbers are significantly higher with Google Play, making it an intriguing platform for testing and tuning a free app before launching a premium or freemium version.
Eclipse with ADT or Android Studio?In days past, you had the ever-confusing choice between a bundled package featuring Eclipse and the ADT (Android Developer Tools) plugin, or the official, which was based on the IntelliJ platform – a Java-based IDE.Luckily, recent iterations have seen the process streamlined a bit with just one release, called Android Studio.In fact, while the option to use Eclipse still exists, Google is officially recommending you start the migration process to Android Studio as support for ADT is ending. If you need help migrating your projects, this should help you out.Now, if you’re just looking for the emulators that come bundled with Android Studio, it’s important to note that there are other, more to do this on your Windows, OS X, or Linux-based PC without the need for the bulky Android Studio download and install.
On a Mac, try, or you can just download. If you’re looking for ultra-lightweight Android emulation, try this. Open Android Studio and follow the steps laid out by the setup wizard. Occasionally, you’ll run into an error saying the file is “damaged” or untrustworthy and should be moved to the trash. If this happens, you’ll just need to adjust your security and privacy settings to allow the application to run by going to System Preferences Security & Privacy General and then selecting Anywhere where it says “Allow apps downloaded from:”If you need to use Android SDK tools from the command line, you can access them by opening up Terminal ( Applications Utilities Terminal) and using the following.
/Users/username/Library/Android/sdk/Just remember to add your username in place of username. The main benefits of Apportable are in faster cross-compiling without the need for emulators, virtual machines or a Java-programmed alternative. While Java makes for great cross-compatibility in mobile apps, it leaves both the iOS and Android versions feeling, well, not native. In fact, most feel like cheap ports from the other OS.Again, this isn’t a perfect solution, but it should significantly lighten your workload if you must move back and forth between Android and iOS.Happy developing, and be sure to share what you come up with us here at Make Use Of.Have you developed an iOS or Android app? Which platform do you believe offers the best tools for developers?Explore more about:,.Affiliate Disclosure: By buying the products we recommend, you help keep the site alive.
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