Setting Up Android Development Environment

So you are interested in developing mobile application for Android, but do not know how to set up the environment? One of the easiest way is to use Eclipse, an open-source IDE. Accompanied with Android Plugin for Eclipse, worry less about the messy details and you could start programming your first mobile application in Android right away.

Notes: In this post, I assumed you have had previous experience programming with Java, therefore you have installed JDK (Java Development Kit) in your desktop/laptop.

Here are the things you need to download:

1. Eclipse IDE. Download: http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/. I recommend downloading Eclipse Classic Indigo (3.6) or Eclipse Classic Galileo (3.5). From my own experience (I’m using a Mac), Indigo always works fine. Galileo has a little bit problem in which I need to close and re-open my Eclipse to run the application again.
2. Android SDK. Download: http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html. Choose the one that suits your machine.

Here are the steps:

1. Install the Eclipse Classic you have downloaded before.
2. Unzip the Android SDK. Place the unzipped folder to any place you like. In my example, I put it inside the Eclipse folder.

   

3. Open your Eclipse. Choose “Help > Install New Software”.

   

4. Click “Add”. In the “Location:” textfield, type: “https://dl-ssl.google.com/android/eclipse/” and give the name anything you like, for example “Android Plugin”. Click “OK” and wait.

   

5. Tick the “Developer Tools”. Ensure all software under Developer Tools were ticked as well. Click “Next”.

   

   If you are asked about the license agreement, choose “I accept”. Click “Finish”. Once everything have been installed, restart your Eclipse.

   
   

6. Eclipse will ask your Android SDK location. Choose “Use existing SDKs” and set the location where you copy paste your Android SDK folder. In my example, it is inside my Eclipse folder. Click “Next”. A warning will appear, just click “OK”.

   

7. In your Eclipse, choose “Window > Android SDK Manager”.

   

   Choose the platform you want to develop on. For example, I’m choosing “Android 2.2″. Click “Install 6 Packages”.

   

   Then, choose “Accept all” to save your time and click “Install”. Wait until finished.

   

8. The last step, you have to create the AVD (Android Virtual Device). In your Eclipse, choose “Window > Android AVD Manager”.

   

   Click “New”. Give your AVD a name, for example: “AVD 2.2″. Select the target. Because I am developing for Android 2.2, I choose the target: “Android 2.2 – API Level 8″. Click “Create AVD”.

   

Your Android environment is ready now. To test it, we can create a simple HelloWorld Android application.

1. Click “File > New > Android Project”.

   

   Give the project name anything you like, for example “HelloWorldApp”. Click “Next”.

   

2. Select the build target. In our example, it would be “Android 2.2″. Click “Next”.

   

3. Give name to the package, for example “com.fionaangelina.helloworldapp”. Click “Finish”.

   

4. Run your project. If successful, AVD will be launched and the message “Hello World, HelloWorldActivity” will be shown”.

   

Have fun developing Android application!

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