Introduction to concepts and tools in the Android development environment

Recently learned Android development, used to use a few more C + +, now a bit more Java knowledge, no matter what language, is just a tool, really learn, similar, meaningless. Learning Android programming must start from the environment, whether in Windows, Linux, Mac environment can be, before setting up the environment, some concepts of a comprehensive understanding of the need, this article is for Android beginners article, As an introductory chapter in Android.

Android is a Google-led development based on the Linux open source Intelligent Mobile terminal operating system, of course, it is said that the open source, it is not said that Google will all the interface library source is shared with you, or some of the key parts we do not see at the moment, but in terms of application developers, Already enough, "almost all open-source." The Android architecture is as follows (this image is from Google official):

What is an Android development environment? The Android development environment is, of course, used to design systems and software for mobile devices, and since Android itself is open source, the job we have to do is to customize, modify, work with Android phone manufacturers, customize their own drivers (or BSP, bottom) and applications (upper layer) , the hardware part needs to design itself this does not need to say more.

The development language can also be used in Java or the C + + language, the former Android development we call the JDK (Java Development Kit) development, the latter developed what we call the NDK (Native Development Kit) Development so it seems, Android itself is a mix of C, C-java and Java, so to learn Android programming, C language is a foundation, Java even if you can not guess one or two, do a demo certainly no problem (to do well or to study the Java of various data types, Call method and so on, this is something).

The Android development environment can be built on any of the current mainstream systems (MAC, Windows, Linux), just because of the cross-platform nature of the Android-related development tools.

1. Java Development Kit (JDK)

Java Development (JDK) is used to develop, compile, and test applications, applets, and components written in the Java language, with the following parts of the JDK:

Development tools-refers to tools and utilities that help you develop, execute, debug, and save programs written in the Java programming language.

Runtime environment-The implementation of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) used by the JDK. The JRE includes a Java Virtual machine (JVM), a class library, and other files that support the execution of programs written in the Java programming language.

Additional libraries-other class libraries and supporting files required by the development tool.

Demonstrates programming sample source for applets and application--java platforms.

Sample code--some examples of Java API programming sample source.

C Header File--a header file that supports native code programming using the Java native interface, the JVM tool interface, and other features of the JAVATM platform.

Source code--Java source files for all classes that make up the Java core API.

Related reference URL:

http://java.sun.com/--includes Java technology, product information, news, and software features.
Http://java.sun.com/docs--JavaT platform documentation, including white papers, tutorials, and related documentation.
http://developer.java.sun.com--Developer Services website, technical information, news, forums, etc.
Http://java.sun.com/products/--Java technology products and APIs.

2. Eclipse

Eclipse was originally developed by IBM across the Platform integrated development Environment (IDE) and later contributed to the Apache Open Source Software Foundation. Originally used primarily for Java language development, currently available through the C + +, Python, PHP and other language plug-in support for the corresponding language development, so, Eclipse looks more like a framework, more work is given to the plug-in or the above JDK to complete, modular design, Let eclipse's positioning be clearer.

Official website: http://www.eclipse.org/

3. Android Development Tools (ADT)

Android development tool (ADT), as an Eclipse tool plug-in that supports Android QuickStart and easy development, can be installed via the Eclipse boot menu (choose Help->install New software after launching Eclipse). As shown in.

ADT Development tools, including Android Dalvik Debug Moniter Server (Android DDMS) and Android development tools (ADT), the illustrations above, and hierarchy Viewer and TraceView two viewers, see the name to know the function. DDMS can be used to screen the device when debugging a device, view thread and memory information, LOGCAT, broadcast information, analog call, receive short message, file Viewer and other functions (after the ADT is installed, click the Small window icon with the arrow in the upper right corner of the Eclipse toolbar to open in the pop-up menu). The Android Development tools (ADT) tool should be a quick program for developing and debugging plug-ins (or perhaps not quite) for Eclipse support for Android projects.

4. Android Software Development Kit (SDK)

In general, the SDK will think: API interface Library, help documents and sample source code, the Android SDK seems to be no exception, it provides developers with the relevant Packaging API interface library files, documentation resources and some toolkit integration. Of course, if you use eclipse as a development tool, you just need to install the SDK, and Eclipse and ADT are omitted as well. is the ADK and AVD Manager interface, which can be seen from the SDK installation directory executing SDK Manager.exe or executing window->android SDK and AVD Manager in Eclipse.

The help documentation for the post-Installation SDK directory is quite complete, with everything (located in the Docs directory of the SDK). In addition, the Android SDK also contains a mobile phone simulator (Virtual Devices), we can be developed using the simulator to simulate the simulation, when the time is ripe to download to the real machine for testing.

After the SDK has just downloaded the decompression, it is generally necessary to choose to install some of the necessary API interface library and platform tools, the following are recommended to download the installation (as to which version to choose, need to interface your development prototype support Android version):

Android SDK Tools, revision x

Android SDK Platform-tools, revision x

Documentation for Android SDK, API xx, revision x

SDK Platform Android x.x, API x, revision x

Samples for SDK API x, revision x

Android compatibility Package, revision X

5. Dalvik Virtual Machine

Dalvik virtual machines are one of the important components of the Andriod platform component and are somewhat different from traditional Java virtual machines, see:

HTTP://WWW.OPHONESDN.COM/ARTICLE/SHOW/15, this article is very well written.

6. Android Native Development Kit (NDK)

Android native Development Kit, where the native seems to refer to the development of native language, we know that the Android platform is based on the Linux kernel, so here is the C, C + + language, this is a lot of programmers like C + +, it may be good news, Android can be developed with the same NDK.

Since the development of the NDK requires a GCC compilation environment, if it is a Windows environment, you should also install the Cygwin simulation environment, which will be devoted to the NDK installation process. Let's look at what the NDK contains:

Used to create a native code base based on C + + source files;

Provides a way to integrate a native library into an application package and deploy it to an Android device;

A range of native system header and library files that will be supported by future Android platforms;

documentation, examples, and tutorials.