Android is an open-source operating system based on a modified Linux kernel. It has over 12 million lines of code written primarily in Java, C/C++ and XML. Google purchased Android Inc. in 2005 and has since released several versions of Android including Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread and Honeycomb. Android is popular due to its open nature, extensive app marketplace, integration with Google services, and reasonable device prices. Developers can create Android apps using Java in Eclipse with the Android SDK which includes tools like the emulator.