Android SDK Installation Guide

This guide walks you through the steps needed to install and configure all the appropriate tools you need to get started developing Android applications:

Step1. Supported Operating Systems

           Android applications can be written on the following operating systems:

•    Windows XP or later
•    Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later (x86 only)
•    Linux

Step2.  Space Requirement

       You need around 2GB of space to safely install all the tools you need to
       develop Android applications. This includes installing the JDK, the
       Eclipse IDE, the Android SDK, and the tools and plug-ins.

Step3. Installing the Java Development Kit

       Android applications can be developed using Sun’s JDK 5 or JDK 6. 

       You can read the license agreement and download the latest version 

       of the Java Standard Edition JDK at Sun’s 

       website, http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/. For specific installation for
       your operating system, see the documentation available with the installation 

       package  you choose.

Step4. Installing the Eclipse IDE

       Most developers use the popular Eclipse IDE for Android development; 

       this IDE is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.

      You can develop Android applications using either Eclipse 3.4 (Ganymede) 

       or Eclipse 3.5 (Galileo).You can read the license agreement and download 

      the Eclipse IDE for Java EE  Developers at www.eclipse.org/downloads/.

      The Eclipse package comes as a compressed zip file. There is no installer.

      You unzip the package into the desired folder and then follow the specific

      instructions in the following sections for your target operating system.

Step5.  Installing the Android SDK

      You need to install the Android SDK to develop Android applications.

      The Android SDK includes the Android JAR file (Android application 

      framework classes) as well as Android documentation, tools, and

      sample code.

      The Android SDK is available from the Android Developer website, at

      http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html. You need to agree to the

     Android license agreement prior to installing the developer package.

Step6.  Installing and Configuring the AndroidPlug-in for Eclipse (ADT)

      The Android Plug-in for Eclipse allows seamless integration with many 

      of the Android development tools. If you’re using Eclipse, it’s highly 

      recommended that you install the in, as it will make your life much easier.

     The Plug-in includes various wizards for creating and debugging Android

     projects.

     To install the Android Plug-in for Eclipse (ADT), you must launch Eclipse

     and install a custom software update. The steps required depend on 

     the version of Eclipse you use. For complete instructions, see the Android 

     developer website,http://developer.android.com/sdk/eclipse-adt.html.

    To install Android Plug-in on Eclipse 3.5 (Galileo), follow these steps:
        1. Launch Eclipse.
        2. Select Help, Install New Software.
        3. Select the Available Software tab.
        4. Click the Add button.
        5. Add the remote site https://dl-ssl.google.com/android/eclipse/. If this

             site fails,try http://dl-ssl.google.com/android/eclipse/.
       6. On the Available Software tab, check the box next to Developer Tools box.
           (Also check the boxes for Android DDMS and Android Development Tools.)
       7. Click the Next button and follow the wizard for installing the tools. Accept

           the terms of the license agreement and click the Finish button.
       8. After the software update completes, restart Eclipse.

       After you install the Android SDK Eclipse plug-in, update your Eclipse 

       preferences to point at the Android SDK you previously downloaded. 

       To do this, launch Eclipse and choose Window, Preferences 

       (or Eclipse, Preferences in Mac OS X). Select the Android preferences 

       and set the path to where you installed the Android SDK.

       Once you have set the path appropriately, you will see a number of

        target SDK versions (Android 1.0, 1.5, 1.6, 2.0, 2.01, 2.1, and so on) 

        listed below SDK Location in the Android Preferences dialog in Eclipse.

Now your computer is ready to develop Android Apps.

Have a nice time.

Bindu Kushwaha

http://geeksonwork.blogspot.com