Mastering the Android Development Tools
- Using the Android Documentation
- Debugging Applications with DDMS
- Working with the Android Emulator
- Using Other Android Tools
- Summary
- Q&A
- Workshop
Android developers are lucky to have more than a dozen development tools at their disposal to help facilitate the design of quality applications. Understanding what tools are available and what they can be used for is a task best done early in the Android learning process, so that when you are faced with a problem, you have some clue as to which utility might be able to help you find a solution. The Android development tools are found in the /tools subdirectory of the Android SDK installation. During this hour, we walk through a number of the most important tools available for use with Android. This information will help you develop Android applications faster and with fewer roadblocks.
Using the Android Documentation
Although it is not a tool, per se, the Android documentation is a key resource for Android developers. An HTML version of the Android documentation is provided in the /docs subfolder of the Android SDK documentation, and this should always be your first stop when you encounter a problem. You can also access the latest help documentation online at the Android Developer website, http://developer.android.com.
The Android documentation is divided into six sections (see Figure 2.1):
- SDK—This tab provides important information about the SDK version installed on your machine. One of the most important features of this tab is the release notes, which describe any known issues for the specific installation. This information is also useful if the online help has been upgraded but you want to develop to an older version of the SDK.
- Dev Guide—This tab links to the Android Developer's Guide, which includes a number of FAQs for developers, as well as step-by-step examples and a useful glossary of Android terminology for those new to the platform.
- Reference—This tab includes a searchable package and class index of all Android APIs provided as part of the Android SDK.
- Blog—This tab links to the official Android developer blog. Check here for the latest news and announcements about the Android platform. This is a great place to find how-to examples, learn how to optimize Android applications, and hear about new SDK releases and Android Developer Challenges.
- Videos—This tab, which is available online only, is your resource for Android training videos. Here, you'll find videos about the Android platform, developer tips, and the Google I/O conference sessions.
- Community—This tab is your gateway to the Android developer forums. There are a number of Google groups you can join, depending on your interests.
Figure 2.1 Android developer documentation (online version).
Now is a good time to get to know your way around the Android SDK documentation. First, try the local documentation and then check out the online documentation.