One of the basic things taught at an Android training class would be the creation of an Android project. The aim of this article is to help the novice readers or Android learners get knowhow of how actually are the Android projects are created by the developers in actual work environment using the Eclipse plug-in or the command line tools.. By TOPS Technologies. http://www.tops-int.com
2. ANDROID TRAINING – 7 EASY STEPS
TO CREATE AN ANDROID
APPLICATION PROJECT USING
ECLIPSE IDE
3. INTRODUCTION
Android is a software
stack for mobile
devices that includes
an operating system,
middleware and key
applications.
4. IN DETAILS
• One of the basic things taught at an Android training class would be the
creation of an Android project. The aim of this article is to help the novice
readers or Android learners get knowhow of how actually are the Android
projects are created by the developers in actual work environment using the
Eclipse plug-in or the command line tools.
• So before we start creating an Android Project, let us first learn what actually
it is. An android project is like a container that stores application source code,
directories and files such as AndroidManifest.xml, build.xml,
project.properties, ant.properties etc. These projects can be created using the
Eclipse tool and ADT or can also be generated using the SDK tools from
command line. Once this project is developed, it gets eventually stored in .apk
file format which can be installed on the device.
• However there are some pre-requisite tools or software that your PC should
contain in order to support this development of Android applications project.
Hence you should install the following software before actually starting the
development process.
• Complete Android SDK environment along with packages
• Eclipse IDE with ADT Plugin
5. 5
The Android™ was built upon the open Linux kernel, and
developed by Android, Inc., which is owned by Google.
Understand the structure of Android
development
Open Handset Alliance - to develop open standards for
mobile devices
7. 7
APPLICATIONS
Android provides a set of core applications:
Email
SMS Program
Calendar
Maps
Browser
Contacts
Etc
All applications are written using the Java language.
10. 10
APPLICATION FRAMEWORK
Enabling and simplifying the reuse of components
Developers have full access to the same framework
APIs used by the core applications.
Users are allowed to replace components.
Each application can publish its capabilities which
other apps can use
11. 11
LIBRARIES
Including a set of C/C++ libraries used by
components of the Android system
Exposed to developers through the Android
application framework
12. 12
RUNTIME
Core Libraries
Providing most of the functionality available in the core
libraries of the Java language
APIs
Data Structures
Utilities
File Access
Network Access
Graphics etc.
13. 13
RUNTIME
Software Development kit (Dalvik Virtual Machine )
Providing environment on which every Android application runs
Each Android application runs in its own process, with its own
instance of the Dalvik VM.
Dalvik has been written such that a device can run multiple
VMs efficiently.
.dex format is optimized for minimal memory footprint.
14. Steps to Create an Android Project using Eclipse
IDE
•In order to create a new Android project in Eclipse IDE, one would
need to start up with selection of New option in the tool bar.
•This action will open up a window containing an Android folder.
Double-click on this folder to open it and then select the option
“Android Application Project” followed by “Next”. This will open
up a form in window titled as “New Android Application”
•The form will prompt the user to enter the details like the
application name, project name and package name. The user will
have to select an option for the minimum required SDK, target
SDK, compile with and theme boxes in the form
15. NEXT STEP
• In the application name, you can enter any name
which you want to give and is relevant to your
application. The project name you enter besides the
project name text will be the name of the project
directory you are creating and hence will be visible
in Eclipse. Package name text box field will take a
namespace as its value and hence you need to
enter the namespace for the app you are creating.
The name should be unique adhering to the rules
that are usually followed in naming the packages
created in Java.
16. THEN…
• The minimum required SDK indicates the lowest android version that
the application created can support. Set this value to the lowest
android version, in order to support as many devices as possible for
your application project.
• Find out the highest Android version your application project and can
support and hence enter the value of this version in the field opposite
to the target SDK. Update this option, after testing your application
whenever the newer Android versions are introduced. This will give
you benefit of being able to use the latest features of the new
platform.
• “Compile with” as the name suggests is the Android version or
platform with which you want to compile your application. Be default
this value will be set to the latest version of Android supported by
your SDK installed in your PC.
• Theme is the style you want to apply for your application.
17. AFTER ENTERING THE VALUES IN THE FORM, CLICK
ON NEXT BUTTON TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
PROJECT CREATION PROCESS.
The next button will lead you to a screen that will contain your project
configuration details. A better option to handle this would be to keep
the default selections as it is and just click on the Next button.
The next screen will prompt you to create an icon for your
application. Just customize your icon in such a way that it is
appropriate for your application. Once you are done with icon
creation, just click on Next.
You can now start building your app by selecting an activity template.
Select the option Blank Activity in the project and click Next.
The next screen will be the configuration or details of the activity
template which can be left as it is. Finally click on finish and you
have accomplished the activity of creating an Android application
project.
18. NOTE
• Hence you have successfully created an Android
application project which by default will have a few
files in it. You can start building your own app in
order to add on to this project.
• To learn this process in detail or under the guidance
of experts, take up the Android training course
offered at a reputed Android training institute in your
city like TOPS. TOPS Technologies is a leading IT
training institute in India with over 18 branches
across different cities. Hence you can easily find a
TOPS training branch for your Android learning
needs.
Android is a complete operating environment based upon the Linux® V2.6 kernel. Initially, the deployment target for Android was the mobile-phone arena, including smart phones and lower-cost flip-phone devices. However, Android's full range of computing services and rich functional support have the potential to extend beyond the mobile-phone market. Android can be useful for other platforms and applications. In this article, get an introduction to the Android platform and learn how to code a basic Android application.
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