Database Info

[Q] Best Machine Build for Development

I want to start development of roms and apps for android phones and tablets. But I'm in the market for a new computer considering the one I have is issued to me through work and I don't want to run it down with extra drivers and such. What kind of machine do I want/need? Will a laptop suffice? Desktop preferred? And then after that point, what programs are out there to kick start the dev process? Thank you ahead of time for your responses. XDA forever!

Well, if you get a laptop, you're not chained to a desk, and Linux is basically the father of Android, so I would recommend a laptop with a disc drive, and installing a GNOME-based distro of Linux (such as Ubuntu or Linux Mint). If you need to, you can always dual-boot with Windows.
Swyped from my HTC Desire running Oxygen 1.0.4 with Tapatalk.

The Android SDK can be downloaded here
http://developer.android.com/index.html
Versions exist for Windows, Mac and Linux, but as mentioned above it will probably be a little less hassle under a Linux distro, and also it is gratis! There are loads of samples and tutorials on the above site.

Thanks guys. I didn't think anyone would ever reply to this after awhile. I've wiped my old Toshiba and installed Windows 7 Ultimate for now. But I've been toying with the idea of running Ubuntu.

[Q] Android C compiler, offline webserver with PHP

Hi!
I'm looking for an offline C compiler, and an offline webserver with PHP. The best would be a whole IDE, but I don't think it's exist for android 'cause it's for phones for first. I'm doing the C compiling on a chrooted debian, but it's not so comfortable. And the apache in there doesn't work. So any suggestions?
Thx:RiseR

It is possible to do something like this I just wouldnt know where to start. They have been able to get Ubuntu working on it and I am thinking about buying a second one to do that but its still buggy. I did however turn my rooted G1 into a server controller.

I already did it. I'm dual booting it. And on ubuntu it's fine, I can compile my programs but apache doesn't work there as well. I'm using IceWM, the only problem is the following:There're not as good keyboard as android has, so it's a bit slow to use. I'm using xvkbd, tried matchbox-keyboard, and onboard as well, but none of them are tablet ready, I think.
(I still don't have keyboard dock)

Give virtualbox a try ?

Have you tried using something other than Apache? nginx and lighttpd have worked for me under the debian chroot.

Try paw server for android then install the PHP plugin. Works for me so far.

[Project] Linux on Android

Hello gents and ladies,
Since the announcement that Canonical made on making Ubuntu on Android a release for OEMs to put on their devices, there has been quite a stir and interest on when we are getting to get this on our phones. Sadly, while the distro of Ubuntu is open-sourced, the programs that were created to achieve this method are not available to the public due to Canonical outsourcing the work to a 3rd party company.
Some users here may already say that we have Ubuntu on our phones but the method that is most commonly used by the community is to load up a virtual environment or Chroot inside of Android then remote into the interface via a VNC connection app. While this does work, it is a pretty sloppy method that is resource intensive and does not benefit from any hardware acceleration for the Linux desktop environment that is used. Plus, there is no way to pipe audio thru a VNC connection so using any audio/video programs in VNC is pointless.
Lastly, Ubuntu on Android is actually nothing new to the world of Android, as its been around for about a year and a half. It came in the form called Webtop that Motorola had launched on their Atrix/Bionic/RAZR lineup of phones. Webtop is essentially a stripped down version of Ubuntu with a lot of Linux tools taken out along with a very limited desktop environment. Webtop does everything that Ubuntu on Android does but in a neutered manner but there are different groups on each phone that have accomplished bringing back many of the linux tools that were taken out. Check out the thread below to see what I mean.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1397583
It is believed that the same methods and tools that are present in Webtop are the same ones being used by Ubuntu on Android and possibly made by the same company. This can be seen in the demo video of Ubuntu on Android where the demonstrator had replaced the Webtop distro with a full Ubuntu 12.04 distro on a Motorola Atrix 2. So to debunk the myth that Ubuntu on Android can be easily loaded up on a phone as shown on video, no cause it was initially was setup with the required framework and partition space to load Ubuntu on Android even before Canonical announced Ubuntu on Android.
With all that is said, Canonical is targeted OEMs and Carriers to launch their Ubuntu on Android on select model phones and probably will not release the necessary tools as open-source code so the development community can compile their own working Ubuntu on Android. Now, all hope is not lost because some of the work has already been done but needs to come together into a package that can be ported from one phone to another.
Here are different parts that are needed:
1) Ubuntu image
There are many working images out there that run in a chroot environment but there is one universal image that is being implemented that is made by zacthespack that works on a variety of different devices - See attached thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1467811
2) X Server Port
Instead of using a VNC client and server model which is very resource intensive and does not benefit from GPU acceleration/Framebuffer. Using a X Server windows management system like they do on home PCs and laptop will greatly increase speed and functionality of a Linux distro opposed to VNC. This is how Webtop on the Motorola phones work is by using a port of X Server which pipes the display out to the HDMI port to be used with the Laptop dock or home dock. There is a group at AndroiX.org that is working on a port of X Server for Android that is looking very promising so hopefully anybody that can contribute to project to speed it up as it is the most crucial part for Linux in Android.
3) Sound
The biggest drawback of VNC is the lack of any sound processing which can be very annoying when trying to watch any videos or listen to sound clips on the web. What they are using on Webtop and Ubuntu on Android is a custom compiled version of PulseAudio module to pipe audio thru Android's audio manager system. No projects have yet been started on this so if anybody knows of one, feel free to post a link.
4) Android in Window
As demo'ed in the video and on Webtop, you have the ability to see whats on your Android display but in a window within Ubuntu when Webtop/Ubuntu on Android is engaged. This is a cool feature that maybe a X client app within android that pipes the display to a window in Ubuntu or maybe VNC client/server scenario. This is not really necessary to Linux in Android but non the less a cool feature to have.
5) Contacts/Text messages/Call logs
This is more shown in Ubuntu on Android opposed to Webtop where in Ubuntu mode, you can look at your Contacts or call logs in a program as opposed a Android view in a window. They also demo'ed a special program in Ubuntu to where you can send/receive text messages in a interface designed for Unity. They accomplished this by using a server application in Android, more commonly known as Motorola Phone Portal, that can relay information from the phone to applets inside of Webtop/Ubuntu on Android using a web interface API on localhost:8080 or on a remote computer on the same network. Like I said before, not really necessary but another cool function to have.
All and all, this pretty much sums up all the different parts for a project like this to take place. I am in no way a seasoned developer, just a person throwing out concepts that I have learned and done myself on the Bionic Webtop phone which hopefully some skilled individuals can run with as I am no Linux expert by any means. Anywho, let me know what you guys think about this and what can be improved.

Ubuntu on arm.
I've been looking into the development of something like this and have found a few resources that may prove beneficial:
Linux 4 Tegra (nVidia)
System Requirements
Host PC running Ubuntu Linux version 9.04 or higher.
Tegra Linux Driver Package providing a kernel image, bootloader, NVIDIA drivers, and flashing utilities. For more information, see the Release Notes.
Sample filesystem (example provided derived from Ubuntu 12.04)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please note that nVidia currently provides driver packages for each model of the Tegra (Tegra 2 and 3).
As well as:
Ubuntu on Smartphones
Now. I've been playing with both an Ubuntu and Debian chroot and have ran into the issues you speak about (in a chroot with only vnc support is very limited, no sound, no camera, etc.) and would like the ability to dual boot at least.
[Q&A] Ubuntu on the Transformer (eMMC install) (xda-developers)
Basically, the creator of this thread is working from another dev's work to get ubuntu running on an Asus eeePad.

Android Dev: Linux vs. Mac vs. Windows

Experts, Developers, Fellow Gentlemen (& perhaps, some Lassey?),
PURPOSE:
To request, collect, organize, and clearly present 3 types of information related to BOTH android application development (for sale on the market) and ROM cooking (using scripts, kitchens, etc.).
INFO REQUESTED:
(1) Compare the relative the PROs and CONs of Android Dev. using:
Windows with Cygwin and Eclipse
Windows with a Linux VM (Eclipse installed on the VM)
Mac with Eclipse
Mac with a Linux VM (Eclipse installed on the VM)
Linux on bare metal (using Eclipse, of course, or the NDK)
(2) If you have used two or more of the above for Android Dev., please describe your experiences and insights, the primary differences, similarities, tips and pitfalls, etc.
(3) Given a fairly large budget to buy your own laptop for use in Android application development and ROM cooking, please RANK the above 5 choices in order from your 1st (best and most desirable) choice to your 5th (last and least desirable) configuration.
Best Regards,
Paul

Honestly your best bet if you want to do android ROM development, and not developing apks, then your best bet is to dual boot your laptop with widows and ubuntu. I thouhgt that you were wanting to develop apks, since you mentioned the SDK and eclipse, that is really more for app development, rather than ROMS and android open source it self.
The reason for ubuntu is that all the of utilities all work with ubuntu, they can work with other distros, but ubuntu seems to be the one most flock to.
The reason not to use a VM is because it can have issues connecting to the USB connection with your phone attached.
Mac will work, if you really want to go down that path, but it is more cumbersome to get things to work "well" as BSD is the underlying kernel, but you have to install an Xwindows environment to use most of the Android utilities, and that can be a pain to get working for someone not really experienced with linux AND OS X.
Windows with cygwin is a possibility, but again, more of a pain that just dual booting ubuntu.

+1 for dualboot
I'm definitely not a developer but I do know PC's. Jim's right you won't get any odd b.s. if you partition and install Ubuntu.

For the small amount of rom tweaking/developing I have done I use windows with cygwin. With baksmali and smali for decompiling dex files.
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium

Me too. I get by with Windows7 and Cygwin...
I know that I will eventually have to at least set up dual-boot with Ubuntu if I want to get involved in "real" development (even that would freak out my wife though - having options at boot on our shared family computer... gonna need a separate dev machine I guess)
Sent from my mind using XDA

I have worked through both windows and linux (ubuntu mostly), and I can give you some info about macs too, but I don't have actual experience there.
Windows
Pros:
More software for things other than android development, so if you want just one OS it may be the way to go.
If you are familiar with it already, it will make your life easier as you won't have to learn about a new OS.
Not much more really.
Cons:
most developers use linux, so you will be a bit alone i the android dev world meaning possible less support.
Not as well supported officially or not.
Overall:
Windows will probably be just fine for app development, as the sdk and eclipse both run fine.
You will have trouble with rom development. Android is based on the linux kernel, so it does not play well with windows.
You can use Cygwin, but you will have mixed results. It is not perfect. Some things just won't work unless you have linux, and quite honestly it is probably easier to get ubuntu working right.
Ubuntu
Pros:
It's FREE!!!!!
most official support
It's what most devs use, so unofficial support is good
Most utilities are built for it.
Cons:
Can be tough to learn if you are used to windows
not as many apps for other things, but that is getting better.
Over all:
By far the best for development. you are just gonna be better off in general. your best bet is to dual boot, which is really easy, and you can always use windows when you want. A virtual machine is an option, but you will have issues with certain things, like usb support. A VM will also require more cpu power to do everything so it is not a good idea on low power machines.
Hardware
Linux is much lighter than windows, so a low power computer will be better off with it.
You should be fine with anything that is not total crap for app development. Basic rom development should be fine in the mid to low end. If you are getting into more serious stuff like building up android source you will want some serious power. I have 4GB or ram and an intel i3 processor (2.13 gHZ dual core 4 thread) and that barely cuts it. compiling cm7 takes a couple hours and it runs at 100% cpu usage the whole time and gets hotter than hell.
You will need a pretty big hard drive for some stuff. The AOSP source is huge. all my android stuff takes about 28GB.
Over all
your best bet is to dual boot windows and Ubuntu Linux on at least a decent PC. you will be happier with something with a slightly higher end CPU.

I use 64-bit Ubuntu, it's just so much better and everything just runs natively! I mean some of those kitchens and tools are only for windows, but it doesn't really bother me because I dont use them
If you want to learn to write code, get ubuntu and jump head first into it.

[Q] Exe files

Hi I'm farely new to xda (over on the Rezound forums mostly). Just recently I've been looking into tablets since my laptop died. My friend has this tablet and from what I've seen and read it's a good buy. Since im replacing my laptop with this I'd need to be able to run exe files. Is it possible to root and mod this to be able to run exe files? Or not since this a an android device? Sorry if this is a basic question again I'm new here. Thanks for help in advance

hmmmm, i dont think thats possible. Unless you install a different OS on it. But with pure android OS, i dont think so. EXE is kind of windows specific. But, what app are you trying to install using an EXE file? Im pretty sure there is an android equivelant for the app.

May have problems with it as exe is a program compiled for x86/x64, not ARM. Same reason why Windows RT & Pro aren't the same. Pro runs on x64 and can run normal exe's. RT runs on ARM and can't run native windows programs.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

NickS VR4 said:
May have problems with it as exe is a program compiled for x86/x64, not ARM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And even if it was compiled for ARM, it won't run on Android. EXE is an Windows executable and depends on the Windows runtime libraries.

It would be nice to see someone developer a full blown version of Wine for Android, or if companies like Codeweavers can make CrossOver for Android to allow the use of .exe Windows applications.
I know this is not impossible and very possible if Android is really just a Google controlled version of Linux.
My first and only paid $ purchase of Linux was Xandros 2.0 desktop OS, and one of that OS main selling features was that it had Crossover integrated into it. I could download .exe's and install them on Xandros and run Windows apps. :laugh:

You're looking at two different processor architectures on two different operating systems. You would need a whole lot more than just a crossover/wine for Android. Consider purchasing the Asus Vivo Tab (not the Vivo Tab RT) if you have to run .NET/win32/WinRT executables. Also consider if android has equivalent apps that suit your needs. What kind of Windows programs do you use?
Update:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.max2idea.android.limbo.main&hl=en
If you ran this, installed Trinux on it and ran wine/crossover (provided they even support Trinux) you MIGHT have a chance at running windows apps. But it will likely be insanely slow.
The other option is to buy a new server, install Windows Server 2008/Server 2008 R2, buy a router that supports VPN, get a really good internet service (preferably with symmetrical data rates), buy the XTraLogic RDP app for android, tunnel into your VPN from your android device, set up terminal services on Windows Server, buy one Terminal Services Client Access License, configure RemoteApp in terminal services and run the apps using XTraLogic RDP on your android from your windows server. You would have to keep the server running 24/7.
My point being, even if you could pull this off, it would be incredibly impractical. Consider alternatives, like equivalent apps for Android or an X86 tablet.

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