Disclaimer: I am new to
MAC OS X. I have recently got a MacBook Pro with MAC OS X 10.6.4. So
whatever write will be specific to my environment. But I will try to give
enough pointers wherever needed.
For Android development you need to have a hands-on experience in Java
development, because Android SDK is only available in java. The Monodoid
which is an SDK to build Android App in .net is actually a wrapper on the
top of Java SDK and has a mapping of SDK APIs in .net.
Downloading the software:
- Getting jdk
If you are working on MAC OS X then you probably don't need this because
the MAC OS X comes with jdk. So you can skip this step.
If your OS does not have jdk then feel free to download it from the Sun
(Now Oracle) website. Also add it to the PATH settings.
Make sure that your Jdk is set by creating and executing a sample Java
program.
- Downloading the Android SDK
Go to http://developer.android.com/ and
download the latest version of Android SDK. The SDK is a package that
include the libraries, sample code, Documentations and the Emulator
which is actually a simulator of an Android Phone to test your
applications without having an Actual phone.
Download the SDK and install it to a folder. Say you have downloaded it
in /android Folder.
- Installing Android
Go to the folder where you have installed the SDK in previous step and
go to the tools folder inside it “/android/tools”. You will find
a fewer files and folders in it than shown below (because I have already
installed it).
Double-Click on the file named android inside the tools folder and it
will open the “Android SDK and AVD Manager”.
Select the “Available Packages” Tab and check both the options
and click on Install Selected. It will have lot of options, for the
first time I will recommend to install all the packages.
The download and installation of all these packages will begin. Click on
the Next buttons as they ask you. You
need to be patient because installation of all the packages may take
20-30 minutes. In case your window is hang just cancel it and start all
over again.
Once all the packages are installed, they will be shown under the “Installed
packages” heading.
Now your Android SDK is installed.
- Downloading Eclipse
Go to http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/ and
or search for “Download Eclipse” in Google and go to the first link that
pops up. There will be lot of options to download from.
Don't download the Eclipse 3.6 version because it apparently has some
issues with the Android SDK. I have downloaded the 3.5.2 version.
Go to the “Older Versions”
Click Galileo SR2 Packages (v 3.5.2) on the screen which comes and you
will reach the download screen of Eclipse. Select the Eclipse IDE for
Java Developers
- Installing Eclipse
Install the Eclipse on your MAC Machine (probably in the Applications
folder). Open Eclipse and create a sample java “Hello World” rogram to
see that your jdk/Eclipse are working fine.
- Installing ADT Plugin for Eclipse
Android Development Tools (ADT) is an Eclipse plugin that allows
building of Android Application from within the Eclipse IDE.
- Launch Eclipse.
- Goto Help > Install New Software: It will open the “Available
Software” window.
Type https://dl-ssl.google.com/android/eclipse in
the text box and click add. Check the Check-box which comes in the
central area and then follow the instructions to install it.
Note: There can be several reasons why you may get error in this step.
You may be behind a proxy and your Proxy settings of Eclipse are not
set, or you may not be able to download the plugin. A very nice
trouble-shooting document is available at the below link
http://developer.android.com/sdk/eclipse-adt.html#troubleshooting
I was not able to install it anyway. So I have to manually download it
from the net and then install it from the preference window.
- Telling Eclipse where Android SDK is
Remember we installed the Android SDK in kfirst step. Now we need to
tell that path to eclipse.
- Launch Eclipse
- Go to Eclipse > Preferences and select the Android Tab. Type the
path of Android SDK in the text box (or browse to the folder)
Now you are ready to build your first Android Project on MAC. I will write
another article for “Hello World” program in Android Development.