Android Development Tools Part1

IDE( Integrated Development Environment)

You must have written JAVA programs , what you typically do is to use an editor like notepad to write  the code, compile it with javac command and run it with java command using command prompt. An integrated development environment (IDE) is a programming environment which facilitates a code editor, a built in compiler, a debugger, and a graphical user interface (GUI) builder and many other tools. Some other features of IDE includes auto correction od code, auto completion code, giving suggestion, drag and drop etc.

For Android Development we can use IDEs like Eclipse, Android Studio etc.

In this book all the sample examples have been developed in Eclipse

Eclipse

Eclipse is an integrated development environment (IDE). It contains a base workspace and an plug-in system for customizing the environment. Eclipse is packed with many powerful features which makes it an idea IDE, besides these features Eclipse also has a plug in system with which we can customize it for  creating and developing vast variety of application including Android applications, Web Applications etc.

Downloading  and configuring the  Eclipse

1: You can download Eclipse from  http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/ . Select Eclipse IDE for Java Developers  and download the zip file.

2: Extract the zip file into your preferred folder.

3:To start Eclipse double click on the Eclipse icon, you can also create a shortcut icon for Eclipse on your desktop.

Setting up the Workspace

When Eclipse starts for the first time, it shows a dialog asking to set up the workspace, as shown in Figure. All your projects will be saved in this workspace. You can give any name to your workspace and check the checkbox at bottom left, other it will ask to choose workspace every time you run Eclipse.

Note: You can have multiple workspaces and switch between one workspace to other. If you have multiple projects keep them in different workspaces because managing all them in a single workspace becomes difficult. Also keeping projects in their own workspaces makes it easier to find the project when you have to go back to open it and  to fix bugs.

Configuring Eclipse for Android Development

Now you have installed Eclipse, the next step is to configure it  to setup the environment for Android Development. You need to install the ADT(Android Development tools)plugin

Note:  Android Development Tools (ADT) is custom plugin for the Eclipse IDE. This plugin is designed to give you a powerful, integrated environment  to design, develop and debug Android apps, we have discussed it briefly in previous chapter. ADT plugin extends the capabilities of Eclipse to let you quickly set up and create new Android projects, design and build  user interfaces , debug your application, manage resources of your application and other various significant features.

Installing the ADT plugin

To Install ADT plugin follow  below steps :

1: Open/Run the Eclipse (If it is not already running)
2. Go to Help > Install New Software.

Install window opens, you always use this window to install new pluging or software for Eclipse
3. Click Add, in the top-right corner

   A dialog window  will appear with title “add repository”
4. In the Add Repository dialog that appears, enter "ADT Plugin" for the Name field and the following URL for the Location field:

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

the Location is the  name of the web address on Internet where software is hosted on the. Using this location you can  location  update the software/plugin when a new version is released.

Note: If you have problem in  acquiring the ADT plugin, try using "http" in the Location URL, instead of "https" (https is used only for security reasons).