The concept of running Android apps on Desktops circulated for a couple of years. First, there were Android emulators, then Chrome ARChon project. Now we have native support for Android apps on Chromebooks. It's time to learn how to optimize your apps for new form factors and markets....

1. O p t i m i z i n g A n d r o i d A p p s f o r
C h r o m e b o o k s
October 9, 2018
Ba r t o s z Ko s a r z y c k i
@bkosarzycki

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ChromeOS
#SPEED #SIMPLICITY #SECURITY
_ChromeOS was designed for...

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http://chromebook.com

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http://chromebook.com

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It's not about ChromeOS
optimization – it's about
desktop optimization

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DESKTOP APPS

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DESKTOP APPS

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Native apps
- through Linux namespaces
- no virtual machine and no emulation
- full native performance with additional security
features in place
- binary translation is also available
(ARM NDK -> x86 NDK)

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Chromebook apps

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Chromebook apps

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Chromebook apps

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Chromebook apps

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Apps already optimized

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Apps which are NOT optimised
Link to screencast

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COMMON ISSUES
with application adaptation

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Window management

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Root activity rule
Link to screencast

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Use unspecified orientation
- prefer: unspecified
- prepare layouts for both
orientations
- Prefer ’sensorLandscape’ to
’landscape’
- Do not use
setRequestedOrientation()

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Set activity’s preferred size

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Add keyboard shortcuts

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Sensors
Check sensors you’re
using:
- which are essential?
- is coarse location
enough?
- is accelerometer
needed?

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Input

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Keyboard navigation
Use:
- ’nextFocusForward’ for
tab navigation
- ’nextFocusLeft/Right/
Up/Down’ for directional
navigation

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Keyboard actions
Use:
- arrow key actions
- make use of shift/ctrl etc

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What is not supported?

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Use drag&drop
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Use drag&drop

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Check backup from
GooglePlay 2 types:
- auto-backup
- Key-value pair

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Link to screencast

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What types of apps can we
write for Chromebooks?
APP: SQUID

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What types of apps can we
write for Chromebooks?
APP: GIMP & ADOBE
ILLUSTRATOR

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What types of apps can we
write for Chromebooks?
APP: SLACK

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Recent ChromeOS features

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Recent ChromeOS features

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Recent ChromeOS features
Link to screencast

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Recent ChromeOS features

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Recent ChromeOS features

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Recent ChromeOS features

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Recent ChromeOS features

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Recent ChromeOS features

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ARChon Runtime for Chrome
- discontinued

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ADB debugging over USB
+ ADB over WiFi:
ssh –v –NR 5555:100.115.92.2:5555 myuser@10.1.2.3

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LINUX subsystem on ChromeOS
- enable
chrome://flags/#enable-
experimental-crostini-ui
- turn on Linux(Beta) in
settings

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LINUX subsystem on ChromeOS
- install Linux subsystem
- launch terminal from the app
drawer

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LINUX subsystem on ChromeOS
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get
upgrade
sudo apt-get install gimp
sudo apt-get install mc
top
etc.

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LINUX subsystem on ChromeOS
- alternative: chromebrew
crew install nano
- compatible devices

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LINUX subsystem on ChromeOS
Link to screencast

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LINUX subsystem on ChromeOS
Link to screencast

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Chromebook emulator

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Chromebook emulator

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ChromeOS app debugging
Link to screencast

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Chromebook emulator

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Chromebook emulator + ADB

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Optimise apps for Chromebooks
- Flexbox layout
- FlexboxLayoutManager
inside of RecyclerView
- ConstraintLayout

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FlexboxLayoutManager +
ConstraintLayout + RecyclerView

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FlexboxLayoutManager +
ConstraintLayout + RecyclerView

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FlexboxLayoutManager +
ConstraintLayout + RecyclerView

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FlexboxLayoutManager +
ConstraintLayout + RecyclerView
Link to screencast

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Summary
- Keyboard/mouse suport
- Landscape mode
- Responsive design
- Tune AndroidManifest.xml &
onConfigurationChanges()
- Target at least Android N (7.0)

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_ Install-linux-applications-chrome-os - link
_ run-linux-apps-pixelbook-container-crostini - link
_ Bring Your Android App to Chrome OS - Google I/O 2016 (YT)
_ Android authority - chromeos - link
_ ConstraintsChangedListener example – link
_ Codelab – link
_ Neverware ChromeOS installer - link
_ Start building apps for Chrome OS – link
_ Screen size comp – link
_ ChromeOS can now run Android Apps – link
_ Android Apps for Chromebooks and Large Screen Devices (Google I/O ‚17) – link
_ What’s new in Android apps for Chrome OS (Google I/O ‚18) - link
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REFERENCE

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THANKS!
Questions?