Getting Started with Android

Video Tutorials:

  1. Requirements

  • Eclipse 3.4+

There is also a Terminal of this tutorial that doesn't use Eclipse.

  1. Install SDK + PhoneGap

  1. Setup New Project

  • Launch Eclipse, then under the menu select New > Android Project

  • In the root directory of the project, create two new directories:
    • /libs
    • assets/www
  • Copy cordova-1.5.0.js from your PhoneGap download earlier to assets/www
  • Copy cordova-1.5.0.jar from your PhoneGap download earlier to /libs
  • Copy xml folder from your PhoneGap download earlier to /res
  • Make a few adjustments too the project's main Java file found in the src folder in Eclipse: (view image below)
    • Change the class's extend from Activity to DroidGap
    • Replace the setContentView() line with super.loadUrl("file:///android_asset/www/index.html");
    • Add import com.phonegap.*;
    • Remove import android.app.Activity;

  • You might experience an error here, where Eclipse can't find cordova-1.5.0.jar. In this case, right click on the /libs folder and go to Build Paths/ > Configure Build Paths. Then, in the Libraries tab, add cordova-1.5.0.jar to the Project. If Eclipse is being temperamental, you might need to refresh (F5) the project once again.
  • Right click on AndroidManifest.xml and select Open With > Text Editor

  • Paste the following permissions under versionName: (view image below)

      <supports-screens android:largeScreens="true" android:normalScreens="true" android:smallScreens="true" android:resizeable="true" android:anyDensity="true" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.VIBRATE" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_LOCATION_EXTRA_COMMANDS" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_CONTACTS" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" /> <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.GET_ACCOUNTS" />
  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BROADCAST_STICKY" />
  • Add android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden" to the activity tag in AndroidManifest. (view image below)

  • Add a second activity under you application tag in AndroidManifest. (view image below)

      <activity android:name="com.phonegap.DroidGap" android:label="@string/app_name" android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"> <intent-filter> </intent-filter> </activity>

  1. Hello World

Now create and open a new file named index.html in the assets/www directory. Paste the following code:

    <!DOCTYPE HTML>
    <html>
    <head>
    <title>PhoneGap</title>
    <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="cordova-1.5.0.js"></script>
    </head>
    <body>
    <h1>Hello World</h1>
    </body>
    </html>

5A. Deploy to Simulator

  • Right click the project and go to Run As and click Android Application
  • Eclipse will ask you to select an appropriate AVD. If there isn't one, then you'll need to create it.

5B. Deploy to Device

  • Make sure USB debugging is enabled on your device and plug it into your system. (Settings > Applications > Development)
  • Right click the project and go to Run As and click Android Application

Done!

You can also checkout more detailed version of this guide here.