Android Developer Essentials 10 Tools Introduction _android

The Android SDK has a powerful set of tools to help developers design, develop, test, and release high-quality Android apps. In this article, 10 of the most common tools are discussed, and Android developers should understand and learn to use them.

Android Tools #1:eclipse's W/adt

Although Eclipse is not the only Java development environment that can be used to develop an Android application, it is currently the most popular. This is not only because of its free, but also because of the powerful Android tools that are integrated with eclipse. This integration is an Android development tool (ADT) plug-in for Eclipse, which can be downloaded from the Android Web site.

Android Tools #2:sdk and AvD Manager

This tool provides a number of important features. It manages different versions of the Android software Development Kit (build targets), and you can develop and load third-party tools, device drivers, and files. The function of AVD Manager is to manage the Android virtual device configuration that you use to configure the emulator instance.

Android Tools #3:adb

The ADB is a tool for connecting to emulators and devices. In addition to the key features in the Eclipseadt plug-in, you can use it at the command line to upload and download files, install and uninstall packages, or through the shell and access many other features on a device or emulator.

Android Tools #4:dalvik Debug Monitor Server

The Dalvik Debug Monitor server (DDMS), which can be accessed either through stand-alone applications or through an eclipse perspective with the same name, provides convenient feature checking, debugging, and interaction with emulators and device instances. You can use DDMS to check running processes and threads, file system retrievals, collect heaps and other memory information, attach debuggers, and even take screenshots. As far as the simulator is concerned, it can simulate the position data of the simulator, send the text message, and simulate the phone to call in.

Android Tools #5:android simulators and real-world devices

Once you have started developing an application, it is important to test it on the appropriate target device. The simulator is combined with the AVD system to simulate the target device. But complete testing on real physical devices is essential, and the simulator is powerful, but it cannot emulate the characteristics of a single device. Therefore, a solid test plan must include simulators and real-world devices. After all, your users will not be able to run your app emulator, right?

Android Tools #6:logcat

Logcat is the name of the Android log system. The LOGCAT provides useful diagnostic information through the ADB in eclipse. As a developer, you can easily use Logcat to debug and diagnose information as simple as using a printf () statement in a program.

Android Tools #7: Hierarchy Viewer

The hierarchy Viewer is used to view the layout and screen resolution of an application at run time, whether through a stand-alone application or a relatively new eclipse perspective. It provides a graphical representation of an application's layout and view hierarchy, which is used to diagnose problems with the layout.

Android Tools #8:draw 9-patch

When it comes to graphic design, the tool is useful. This tool allows you to transform traditional PNG files onto mobile devices to use more flexible and efficient stretch graphics. This tool simplifies image generation and display.

Android Tools #9:monkey Testing Tools

Monkey test tools, including the Monkey Exerciser tool and the Monkey Runner tool, which can be used for automated testing. Monkey Exerciser can randomly send events to application events to achieve the purpose of stress testing. The Monkey Runner tool is a Python based script library that can be used to automate tests and check the results with screenshots.

Android Tools #10:proguard

Proguard is now part of a typical Android build process, offering an easy way to enhance intellectual property protection. The Proguard tool can confuse the resulting binary code, making it difficult for others to reverse engineer. Proguard tools can also be used to optimize the size of the generated binaries, reducing the overall size of the application and expediting delivery to the user.

Conclusions

The Android SDK comes with a number of other tools, many of which are for special development situations. However, the tools listed above are involved in almost every project development. For more information on these tools and other available tools, refer to the Android Tools section of the Android website. In addition, various tools are constantly being updated and upgraded, so be sure to keep all the AVD and SDK manager synchronized updates.

Finally, it should be emphasized that your best resource is the Android developer website. There are the latest SDK downloads, source files, tutorials, technical articles, and the latest Android news blog, which provides key knowledge about Android development and technical support for developers.

What is your most useful Android development tool?