Android studio

Liban Shire ... If you are new to Android development you better stick with Eclipse. A major problem you will face is you will not know if your code is buggy or the IDE you are using.

Just because Google said they are going to use it don't jump on it right away. When learning something you new you are better off working with time tested tools.

The other problem is if everyone here is using eclipse and you run into a error that is not code related ... you will have a problem getting help in the forum.

I can tell you I have downloaded Android studio and its definitely not ready for prime time. I get an error that my SDK is not current and my SDK is current.

Definitely never seen that error in Eclipse. In any event that is my 2 cents.

Wising you the best my friend.

Creating AVD seems more stressful than creating Apps,

http://i.minus.com/iFHwATwakXy1g.png

as you can see on this screenshot I can't create AVD emulator because the ok is grayed out for some reason I think it has to do with not picking a device but I don't have any device.

The Android OS comes on many different devices, with varying resolution and screen sizes. The AVD Manager needs you to choose a device to be able to simulate the OS. I personally have a Galaxy Nexus, it happens to be a choice on the device list, so I select it. The Nexus S, or any of the choices available in the list will work fine. It's not asking you to actually physically have a device, just to model you would like to emulate on.

I don't see why I have to, a lot of Android tutorials don't show them doing it.

for example Ben Jakuben made a video Getting Started with Android Development | Treehouse Quick Tip

I tried to follow it but couldn't because hes create AVD didn't look exactly like mine.

Is this because i have the new version? what if I don't have any Android but want to make Android apps using the emulator?

The device selection is just for emulation purposes. Anything you develop will be the same on any android device, as long as the physical device operates on your chosen API Level to develop on.

If you're more comfortable with the IntelliJ Android IDE, then I would suggest using it. It seems the only thing you'd be missing out on is the Android Emulator. Though, if you have a device you could always push the app over to it for testing.

Thanks a lot you're helpful, I will be using the IntelliJ Android Studio by Google, But I've just been confused about the whole Android Emulator thing creating the AVD has been confusing for me.

Too correct myself, the new IntelliJ IDEA Android Studio by google , I was unaware of, will have emulator support. It was just announced @ Google I/O 2013. Though the Android Studio is still in Early Access Preview. So it may not be the most stable/reliable android dev environment yet.

I see, when I create new AVD does it matter what device I pick for the emulator since I'm starting out in Android not to familiar with it. Some people pick Nexus 7 or Nexus S does it matter?

Liban, the problem with the Android is the fragmentation. Some devices uses variations of the Android 2.2 to 4.2 (this includes 95% of all Android devices, according with Google).

And in the case of the difference with Nexus 7 and Nexus S, is the Android version and resolution of the screen. Nexus S is 480x800 Nexus 7 is 800x1280

While you developing you may chose develop for mobile and tablet, or only one of them. And for test purpose you may chose what device you want emulate in AVD.

Regards, Marco Aurélio

Thanks. That helps a little is just that the emulate AVD thing is not the same in my computer as in other tutorials I've watched here and youtube. My avd asks for device if not given one it won't even create the AVD emulator.

Hi everyone,

Liban Shire, definitely go ahead with Android Studio if you feel comfortable with it! :) You should be able to follow along without any trouble at all.

As for setting up the emulator, check out this video by Android developer Donn Felker: Android Studio - Setting up an Emulator I haven't watched it but Donn creates really cool things, so it should be good.

We will switch to Android Studio at Treehouse at some point before too long. We don't have an exact plan yet for how to update our current content, but it will be something from helper guides to re-recording it. I also plan on doing a Quick Tip for Getting Started with Android Studio, but I haven't written it yet and don't know exactly when I'll get to it.

Great points Devon Artis! Thanks for chiming in. I hadn't thought about the bugginess from a newcomer's perspective.

Eclipse has many of its own bugs, and though I am fond of it, I look forward to the future of Android Studio and we will be moving to that at Treehouse sooner than later. I still need to figure how I can best fit in updating the existing Eclipse-based courses, but going forward we will stick with the official tools from Google.

Thanks looking forward to future tutorials with Intellij or even more Java courses on here since Java is the number one in demand for job market I think that would be lucrative to learn on here.