Wherefore art thou Andrio[d]

My latest jaunt back into the world of Java sees me trying to take two birds with one stone. In so keeping, I've decided to simultaneously learn, or relearn Java, and delve into Android to boot. Considering both will be done through Eclipse and Java is the language de jour, it's actually a no brainer not to.

I'll start off with the Android environment as by now setting up Eclipse with the required JDK is near effortless. Eclipse with Android is an almost completely different beast. The last time I'd setup either one was two years ago 1   and 2

I'd had set up Eclipse with Android more than two years ago and it was arduous and prone to lapses between the description of how to set it up and actual eventualities. Most of this was due to the ever changing nature of updates and software packages, but I did eventually manage to get it set up properly after much prodding and online help.

Fast forward

At the moment the entire Android SDK and installation has changed noticeably. I'm between resources utilizing info from the Android developer portal
http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html and

Initially I was halted in my progress of setting up the environment because I didn't realise that Android works with JDK 6, not 7. After that, it turned out that 32 bit versions of Android SDK, JDK and Eclipse builds are required. The development environment bundle that is available to download from Android is supposed to be 64 bit but for the moment I'll be happiest with a regular Eclipse build with Andriod added on. Note: The Android bundle includes the IDE, SDK and JDK required.

Here's a brief outline of what I had to do to resolve issues:

February 27th 2013
- Eclipse Juno 32 bit (installed successful)
- Android ADT (installed successfully on second attempt)
- Android SDK zipped file (problem installing in Eclipse)
- Android SDK installer file (problem still persists)

Signed out at 22:52 hrs

February 28th; Signed in at 19:55 hrs
- Attempts to sort out Android SDK manager launch issue (manager will not deploy either directly or through Eclipse IDE)

Starting with a clean slate at 20:57 hrs
 - Eclipse Juno reinstalled
 - JDK 6 install (install successful: in 'D:\Progra~1(x86)\')
 - SDK launch issue sorted via Android.bat patch :
     http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5199811/android-sdk-manager-wont-open)

 - Android SDK manager updates (successfully loaded all prescribed updates after 3 tries)


Bar a few details, eventually I managed to setup an Android SDK, ADT with the latest version of Eclipse. I've installed JDK 7 as well, for beginning development in Java separate from Android.
Hopefully everything will work well together.

Related articles

• Android App Development For Beginners - Setting Up Your SDK
• Eclipse can't find the JDK or JRE
• Setting Up Android Development Tools on Linux
• Using your chromebook as your full-time, no compromises, Android dev machine.