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| + | ==Set up your machine== | ||
| + | Before you can start coding, you have to download and install a few programs. First of all there is [http://www.eclipse.org/ Eclipse]. If you are used to Java, you will probably know how to use Eclipse. Furthermore you need to download the [http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html Android SDK and ADT]. The [http://developer.android.com/sdk/ndk/index.html NDK] is just needed if you are planing to use native code. That means to write a part of your program in C or C++ or to use C-libraries. Then you also have to install the C/C++ Development tool for eclipse. You do this via "help/install new software" in eclise. Follow the instructions on [http://eclipse.org/cdt/downloads.php this site]. To compile C code in eclipse, you need another tool called [http://cygwin.com/ Cygwin]. With Cygwin you can emulate some kind of a Linux console. This is the only way I know to compile C-Code in Eclipse on a Windows machine. Some really common standard C++ libraries cannot be used when compiling with the NDK. But there is a modified version of it called [http://www.crystax.net/de/android/ndk Crystax] that allows you to use these libraries. | ||
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| + | ==Create a virtual device== | ||
| + | If you do not have an Android phone on your own or if you do not want to upload your apps on your phone everytime to check if your code is working, you can create a virtual device. A virtual device is an emulator of an Android phone. It is very easy to create it. I assume you have already installed the Android SDK. Start Eclipse and click on "Window/Android SDK and AVD Manager". Install the packages you need. That means, download the package with the correct plattform version you want to code for. Then, click "virtual device/new". Choose a name and a target and if you want to, you can also create a virtual SD Card. This is very helpful if you are planing to use the SD Card on your real phone as well. Eclipse will create a file "sdcard.img" that is as big as you have chosen it to be. To mount it as a virtual hard disk, you need a program like [http://www.ltr-data.se/opencode.html/#ImDisk ImDisk Virtual Disk Driver]. You can create folders on your virtual SD card and use it as any other SD Card. | ||
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| + | ==Hello World on Android== | ||
| + | As usual, your first program on Android can/should be a Hello World. It is just as easy as it is when not coding for Android. | ||
Revision as of 07:13, 18 November 2011
Contents
PAGE IN PROGRESS
Coding for Android on Windows
This page shall help you to get started to write applications for an Android phone, using Eclipse with the Android SDK and NDK.
About me
| My name is Christian Tendyck. I am an exchange student from Germany and I am at Purdue for one year, fall 2011 to spring 2012. In Germany I have finished my Bachelor in June 2011 and now I am a Master student. I am working as a research assistant for Professor Mireille “Mimi” Boutin in the field of Image Processing and my job is to code an application for an Android phone within these two semesters. In Germany I took undergraduate courses in Java and C Programming. But as it was already three years ago, I first of all had to get used to everything again when started my research here at Purdue. So if you are not the best software engineer but want to learn how to get started with coding for Android, just keep on reading. |
 |
Set up your machine
Before you can start coding, you have to download and install a few programs. First of all there is Eclipse. If you are used to Java, you will probably know how to use Eclipse. Furthermore you need to download the Android SDK and ADT. The NDK is just needed if you are planing to use native code. That means to write a part of your program in C or C++ or to use C-libraries. Then you also have to install the C/C++ Development tool for eclipse. You do this via "help/install new software" in eclise. Follow the instructions on this site. To compile C code in eclipse, you need another tool called Cygwin. With Cygwin you can emulate some kind of a Linux console. This is the only way I know to compile C-Code in Eclipse on a Windows machine. Some really common standard C++ libraries cannot be used when compiling with the NDK. But there is a modified version of it called Crystax that allows you to use these libraries.
Create a virtual device
If you do not have an Android phone on your own or if you do not want to upload your apps on your phone everytime to check if your code is working, you can create a virtual device. A virtual device is an emulator of an Android phone. It is very easy to create it. I assume you have already installed the Android SDK. Start Eclipse and click on "Window/Android SDK and AVD Manager". Install the packages you need. That means, download the package with the correct plattform version you want to code for. Then, click "virtual device/new". Choose a name and a target and if you want to, you can also create a virtual SD Card. This is very helpful if you are planing to use the SD Card on your real phone as well. Eclipse will create a file "sdcard.img" that is as big as you have chosen it to be. To mount it as a virtual hard disk, you need a program like ImDisk Virtual Disk Driver. You can create folders on your virtual SD card and use it as any other SD Card.
Hello World on Android
As usual, your first program on Android can/should be a Hello World. It is just as easy as it is when not coding for Android.
