Android development: Visual Studio + Java. Is it possible (worth a try)? - java

I know there are (expensive) framework which let you write android apps in VS C# and compile it to android apk.
I also know, that it is possible to write Java application in VS (link).
Is it possible, maybe even not harder than in Eclipse, writing android apps in Visual Studio using some free plugins/frameworks/tools?
Is it possible to compile androids apps, and debug it in phone/virtual device?
In the near future I think using Android Studio would be best choice.

I find myself in the same situation as you: Visual Studio is my main IDE, but I'm currently working on an Android project.
I suggest that you give Eclipse another try. The Android SDK integrates very nicely into Eclipse: for example, you have a graphical UI editor, which feels similar to the WPF editor in Visual Studio. Yes, Eclipse takes getting used to, and switching between both will be a hassle, due to subtle differences in the keyboard shortcuts (Jump to Definition is F3 in Eclipse and F12 in VS; IntelliSense Autocomplete is Enter in Eclipse and Tab in VS, etc.), but you will be rewarded by using "the right tool for the task".

It is now possible to build and debug Java in Visual Studio. Enjoy.
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/vcblog/2015/11/06/java-debugging-and-language-support-in-visual-studio-for-android/

Simply write them in Java using Eclipse. VS is not optimized for Java and Eclise has a larger ecosystem of useful plug-ins. Using VS for Android development is like designing a web-site with assembler: It is simply not made for that :).
You are asking whether it is worth a try. Well "a try" compared to what? Are you currently developing apps using other IDEs or have you never developed android apps and you only know VS and want to try it there?
If you already use other IDEs keep those. If this is your first android project, using Eclipse is easier, as written above.

Personally, I would use Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA to do my Android development, as they are both native Java IDE's.
You also might want to check out AIDE. It is an integrated IDE into the Android platform. You can write code on your Android device, and the IDE can deploy and launch the app from the IDE. It makes testing on a device easy, and it even integrates with other services, such as DropBox and GitHub.
On the other hand, to develop on it you would have to be a glutton for punishment. Try writing an entire app on a tablet/phone. It isn't easy...

Have you considered Android Studio?
From there you can update your key-bindings (aka: shortcuts):
Preserve Visual Studio key mappings:
o File | Settings | Key Bindings
 KeyMaps | Visual Studio copy
o Reset a key-shortcut
Select a command in the Settings window and enter a key-combination
Some commands to consider:
 Build solution
• Other | Build
Ctrl + Shift + B
 Renaming variables, methods, files, etc.
• Main Menu | Refactor | Rename…
Ctrl + R, R
 Code Generation
• Main Menu | Code | Generate
Ctrl + Period

Related

how to write an android app with languages other than java

my title is a little different than what i try to say, i couldnt exactly tell what i mean.
as far as i know we develop android apps with android studio(and there were support for other ide s like eclipse before) you code it and make a gui app with drag and drop.
recently i tried to open source code of few android apps like whatsapp. i extracted the classes.dex file and checked the source code. it was written with java. but when i google "whatsapp" it says it is written with erlang.
my question is, how the code written with erlang turns to a java code? as far as i know you can make android apps with c++ too. since we dont have a translator for languages, how is this being possible?
WhatsApps backend is written in Erlang, not the app
https://www.quora.com/Is-WhatsApp-fully-written-in-Erlang
Android uses the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) runtime. To run Android apps on a phone you either need to write them in a JVM language (Java, Kotlin, Scala), or write them in another language and that has a rumtime interpreter on the device (Javascript + Android Webview, Flutter + Flutter Runtime)
You can write your app in just c++, but then you won't have any of the Android SDK available to you. You'd have to rebuild the entire view plaform (among other things). Flutter does this.
If you have more specific questions I'd be happy to answer them

Is it possible to run a java program inside a C# on a windows phone?

I'm in 2nd year of bachelor and working on my final project which is on the end of 3rd year.. But the project is on Java. I want to make it run in my laptop and on my phone. But I have a Microsoft Lumia 640. And I know how to create apps for my phone just in C#. Is it possible to design a mini software, and run it inside a C# app in my phone?
No, natively Windows Phone doesn't support Java but you can take a look to codename one where in their manifesto says that you will able to make mobile application for any platform only using java.
If you habe the java application as a jar lib you can use ikvm (a jvm for .net) and then you can theoretically run java bin code on the windows phone... you will need to take a look because maybe the issue will be how to deploy that jar to your phone at runtime

Questions regarding Windows/Android development (Java:APK/JAR)

I'm planning to write a software (with GUI and sounds) that should run under Android and Windows 7/8
I guess the best approach for this is to use Java?
I am new to Android and Java development so my questions are:
-So can I use one development platform to create both (APK & JAR), namely Java?
-As far as I understand for Android I need to compile (from same source?) a .APK file and for Windows a .JAR file ?
(The .JAR will run in the Java Runtime that is installed in Windows)
-If I use Java what would be the best IDE, something like Google's Android Studio (will it allow to create .JAR?) or Oracle's JDK (Java SE Development Kit) ?
thank you
I don't think it is possible to write an app that will run on both OS's, since all GUI components are part of different frameworks (Android SDK for Android, SWT/Swing/... on Windows), and not compatible with all OS's.
You best bet is probably a web-based app. You can run it in the browser on dektop and either on a mobile browser on Android, or package it as a fullscreen WebView running your web app. The best part is it would also work on iOS.
You could also write your app for desktop in Swing and then convert it to an Android app, you can find questions on StackOverflow on the subject, such as this one.
Hope this helps ;)

Is there a real Android visual designer for IDEs?

I'm trying to develop an Android application with UI. So it's little complex for me to create UI with codes. I was using Visual Studio for long time where visual design is piece of cake. I also used Netbeans and Eclipse for java applications with UI but when it comes to Android I can't find a good way for UI desing. There is a visual design part in Eclipse but I want to use Netbeans as long as it's possible. Also I think DroidDraw is not good enaugh too. So I seached on web for Netbean's visual design tool and found nothing. If there is no tool or plug-in like this WHY? Thank you for any help.
Edit:
Well, long time passed. I just get used to code my ui. Also I am using Android Studio. 8)
edit
just saw that you've used DroidDraw.
There is official GUI designer included in ADT. Browse for main.xml (project/res/layout/main.xml) and doubleclick it :)
enjoy!
The combination of ADT (Android Development Kit) and eclipse 3.1 + will help you to develop the application graphically. Once you open the layout xml files, click “Graphical Layout” tab at the bottom of the section to open the graphical view. Now you can drag and drop components & also update layout.
But it is better to understand how the xml is defined in the layout. This will help you to fix any problems (in case).
Hope this helps.
Using Embarcadero RAD Studio XE7 (delphi or c++builder) allows for that task but it builds apk files with ome 10mo,

how to start with blackberry development

I want to start with BlackBerry development for smarthphones.
I see two ways...
Eclipse
Visual Studio
I have Windows 7 64 bits... with Visual Studio 2008. I install the Visual Studio Plugin, I create a BlackBerry Project, but when I try to Save the Project I can't, a message error appears.
Other problem are I cant compile to the simulator. I have the simulator for BlackBerry Curve 8520.
How I can develop with Eclipse... I see is other method... but How I can link the simulator with eclipse...
If Is eclipse... what language is needed ??... In Visual Studio are HTML + Javascript...
But... with eclipse ?? is HTML + Javascript too ??? or maybe are JAVA ?
I hope anybody can help me.
Thanks.
---- The link given by adatapost is the single most important and rich collection of resources for the beginners.
For a quick start you may like following links:
Setting up your development tools for BlackBerry Java applications
Writing Your First Application
You have to download Blackberry Plugins for Eclipse. And Java will be the programming language.

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