What is Android?
Basically android is an operating system which generally runs on smartphone and other mobile devices.
Android is a Linux based operating system developed by Google. Android is Unique as Google developed it as a free Operating system and manufactures used them on their devices without any cost. Even anyone can develop android and also the Google play application helps to host your app on Google play and android users will download it from there.
Nowadays Google also developing Android Wear devices which are very portable like Android glasses and watches.
Now let’s come to the topic which is to be discussed here, i.e. Android application development.
For Android application development we need a package which is easily downloadable from the Google Android developer website. The link is given below.
Android Studio package contains:
But even after downloading and installing this package, you need to download other platforms, build tools, images etc.
Make a new folder in other than your root directory of operating system and rename it to android studio (Use lowercase letters).
[As in case your computer Operating system crashed and it needed to be formatted, then also the files were still safe with a huge contents on any other directory]
Before we start the process let me know you that Android SDK is something like a download manager which collects all the required tools and platforms direct from the Google and make the downloading procedure with an ease. You did not have to download each and every files shown in that sdk manager as it depends on the app development motive of the developer. For example if you want to test your app on the older version of android to improve the platform compatibility then you can download the older platform packages. So it depends on you. So, it solely depends on you, but still I made a checklist of downloads which you really needed for a basic app development process.
Packages needed to be downloaded:
Steps to be followed:
As we know that we change the directory path during Android Studio installation. So make sure that the sdk path is also to that directory of android studio.
And your Android studio is ready for app development. So enjoy developing new apps and for more detailed instructions on app development.
Basically android is an operating system which generally runs on smartphone and other mobile devices.
Android is a Linux based operating system developed by Google. Android is Unique as Google developed it as a free Operating system and manufactures used them on their devices without any cost. Even anyone can develop android and also the Google play application helps to host your app on Google play and android users will download it from there.
- Every day more than 1 million new Android devices are activated worldwide.
- Easily optimize a single binary for phones, tablets, and other devices.
- 5 billion Downloads a month and growing.
Nowadays Google also developing Android Wear devices which are very portable like Android glasses and watches.
Now let’s come to the topic which is to be discussed here, i.e. Android application development.
- First of all to install Android studio, you need to install the latest version of Java Development Kit.
For Android application development we need a package which is easily downloadable from the Google Android developer website. The link is given below.
Android Studio package contains:
- Android Studio IDE
- Android SDK tools
- Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) Platform or the latest version which android updated later.
- Android 6.0 emulator system image with Google APIs and many other system image which you need to run the Android virtual device on your PC.
But even after downloading and installing this package, you need to download other platforms, build tools, images etc.
Installing Android studio IDE
- First of all you need to unzip the Android studio downloaded package.
- Following files are to be there inside the package, check them out.
- Open the Android Studio folder and double click on android-studio-bundle-(version) setup file.
- Then follow the setup instructions.
- Changing the destination directory instructions:
Make a new folder in other than your root directory of operating system and rename it to android studio (Use lowercase letters).
[As in case your computer Operating system crashed and it needed to be formatted, then also the files were still safe with a huge contents on any other directory]
- Choose that folder during destination folder selection in setup wizard and Click Next.
- Click Install and setup will start to extract the bundle files.
- Uncheck the Start Android Studio box and Click Finish
Downloading and Installing the Android SDK tools and Platforms
Before we start the process let me know you that Android SDK is something like a download manager which collects all the required tools and platforms direct from the Google and make the downloading procedure with an ease. You did not have to download each and every files shown in that sdk manager as it depends on the app development motive of the developer. For example if you want to test your app on the older version of android to improve the platform compatibility then you can download the older platform packages. So it depends on you. So, it solely depends on you, but still I made a checklist of downloads which you really needed for a basic app development process.
Packages needed to be downloaded:
- Download the latest version of Android SDK tools along with build tools and platform tools.
- Download Android 4.2.2 – Android 6.0
- On Extras – Download Android Play services, Google USB Driver, Google Web Driver and Intel x86 Emulator Accelerator, Google Repository, Google Play services.
Steps to be followed:
As we know that we change the directory path during Android Studio installation. So make sure that the sdk path is also to that directory of android studio.
- Launch the Android studio IDE and Click on Configure and then Click on SDK manager to open it.
- Check the files which you need for your Android development package as per above suggestions.
- For emulator it is advisable to download the Intel Atom System image. Intel atom System Image emulator is faster than the ARM based emulator.
- In case of platforms, there is no need to download the Android TV and Android Wear system image, if you are not going to develop apps for TV and wearable Bands supported by Android OS.
- In case of build tools, latest version is recommended to install.
- Click on install Packages after the selection. Accept the license agreement and click Install.
- One by one the packages were downloaded to their respective directory. This process may take some time, depending upon your Internet speed.
- After the completion of the download task close the SDK Manager window.
- Restart the Android studio IDE.
And your Android studio is ready for app development. So enjoy developing new apps and for more detailed instructions on app development.