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Android

Posted by Max Reinsch
Max Reinsch
5,740 Points

The very basics, for different OS's

This may sound laughable, but I'm really struggling to get the very basics down with the Android platform and I'm unclear if it's to do with the Operating systems I'm using or whether the tools used in the video are slightly outdated.

I think I've downloaded, installed and run the tools for building Android apps, but I'm getting weird results.

Here's a list of some of the things confusing me:

Windows version:

*I double click on Eclipse.exe and a window appears- Workspace Launcher "Select a Workspace", what should I do?

  • The program is called Java - ADT (is this right). *In new Android Application "Compile with" has one option (API 19 android 4.4 (kit kat)). *Also only 3 options in "create" activity. *In create new Android AVD you have to choose a device, and Android 4.1 isn't included. Amongst other options there is "front camera" "back camera", memory options, internal storage, sd card, emulation options etc etc.

There are some similar and other variations with the Linux OS I'm using too.

To try and put this mess of a discussion into some sort of perspective, I'm having issues with starting on the Android Track. I haven't got access to a MAC so I use Linux-Ubuntu 12.04 and windows XP/7. I don't know if the issues mainly lie in the OS's I use or on how up-date the tools that are being used (or whether it's just my own incompetence).

I'm overwhelmed and feeling slightly pessimistic but I really want to make a real start on Android app development!

Ben Jakuben - any help would be massively helpful. Nick Pettit - On the off-chance you have Android experience; I find your teaching style very easy to follow.

New video tutorials, advice or anything.

Thank you and apologies for the disjointed nature of this discussion.

1 Answer

Ben Jakuben
STAFF
Ben Jakuben
Treehouse Teacher
Ben Jakuben
Ben Jakuben
Treehouse Teacher

Max Reinsch, so sorry for your troubles! This course is due for a refresh, but things weren't too bad until a recent update to the tools really made creating a project different. As an emergency stop-gap I've added notes below the video...check out the section at the top of "Teachers Notes": http://teamtreehouse.com/library/build-a-simple-android-app/getting-started-with-android/android-setup-and-the-crystal-ball-project-2

I'll also be recording a video fix soon, and then after a few other priorities I'll be completely refreshing this course.

And just for easy reference, here are the screenshots linked in the Teacher Notes.

Max Reinsch
Max Reinsch
5,740 Points

Thank you very much for getting back to me and apologies for being slightly dramatic; I'm such an eager learner. =P

I feel that once the issues regarding the OS and how up-to-date the basic tutorials are, I'll be on track. I usually find that it's easier to absorb and psychologically satisfying to learn a subject in detail and from the ground-up (I'm a fussy learner!).

I'll check the notes and keep an eye out for the video.

Thanks Ben Jakuben =)

Ben Jakuben
Ben Jakuben
Treehouse Teacher
Ben Jakuben
Ben Jakuben
Treehouse Teacher

Totally understand! It's hard staying on top of the tools, but things were pretty consistent for a while. We are talking about ways we can stay even more current in the future, like being more modular about certain aspects of our videos and courses. Anyhow, let us know with more forum posts if you get stuck going forward. Once you get it all setup the rest of the material is pretty consistent and current, save for the publishing stage which is also due for a refresh.

As a side note, if you have any trouble with the emulator, check out Genymotion as an awesome 3rd party alternative. I recorded a [short workshop about it](teamtreehouse.com/library/android-tools/getting-started-with-genymotion). It's my main emulator.