Developing Android apps -> the android.jar source #2

edit: this method is outdated. This one works now (16 April 2011).


For some reason, I've had a fight or two with eclipse on getting these sources right. Even after completing the steps I've mentioned in the other blog post.

The steps I'll describe now makes a fake android-src.jar, and fixed it for me tonight. *puh*

(requires you've done everything else I've mentioned)
#cd/opt/android-sdk-linux_86/platforms/
#ln -s ~/src/android-sources android-src.jar
In eclipse

• Select your project on the right menu of eclipse
• Choose Properties
• Select Android on the left hand list.
• Choose a different SDK version, 1.6 for example.
• Click Apply.
• Wait for building workspace (on the bottom right side of the eclipse window).
• Choose your correct SDK version again. 1.5 in my example.
• Click Apply.

Note that the dummy android-src-jar we've made by sym-link needs to be replaced if you're swapping SDK versions.

This is a bit fuzzy and I'm not sure why these sources are causing such grief. There may be better ways of doing this, please tell me if you come across one.

/Finn

Android -> SDK provided icons, images and such

Another fairly beginner thing I thought I'd toss out there. I found this out by chance after doing stuff the hard way for a while.

I've spent (aka wasted) time finding my icon this way: changing the icon, launched the app in the emulator, changed the icon, launched the app. Until I finally was pleased with the icon.

... well, like I said, waste of time. The icons are in the open in the SDK in data/res/drawable ex (/opt/android-sdk-linux/platforms/android-1.5/data/res/drawable)

/Finn

bit.ly for android

I want to use the url shortening service bit.ly in an android app I'm working on, and was looking for a .jar or something to help me.

Couldn't find anything made for Android which used the httpclient and json -stuff we have bundled with the the Dalvik vm, so I made one myself today and put it on github.

http://github.com/finnjohnsen/BitlyAndroid

Easiest way is just go grab the BitlyAndroid.java, put it into your source code and start making short URLs. The github project is just a "proof of concept" android junit project.

Usage:

BitlyAndroid bitly = new BitlyAndroid("bitlyapidemo","R_0da49e0a9118ff35f52f629d2d71bf07");

String shortUrl = bitly.getShortUrl("http://johnsenf.blogspot.com/2009/12/android-sources-and-javadoc-in-eclipse.html");

//shortUrl = "http://bit.ly/9LSEfV"




/Finn