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Android Fundamentals by Tutorials

First Edition · Android 14 · Kotlin 1.9 · Android Studio Hedgehog (2023.1.1)

Before You Begin

Section 0: 5 chapters
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Section I: Introduction to Android Development

Section 1: 4 chapters
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Section II: Building a Robust Android App

Section 2: 4 chapters
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Section III: Data Management

Section 3: 4 chapters
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2. Getting Started With Android Studio
Written by Fuad Kamal

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To create Android apps, you must first install Android Studio. Android Studio is a customized IDE based on IntelliJ Platform, an IDE by JetBrains that provides powerful tools.

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to:

  • Set up Android Studio.
  • Set up a physical and emulated device for development.
  • Build, install and run an app on your device.

Getting Started

Open a web browser and navigate to https://developer.android.com/studio#downloads.

This is the download page for Android Studio. The Download button will first show you a terms and conditions page. Scroll to the bottom of the page after reading the agreement to proceed.

Note: This chapter assumes your computer is running macOS. However, because Android Studio supports Windows and Linux, this book provides instructions for those operating systems where possible.

Mark the checkbox acknowledging your agreement with the terms. Then, select the download button that suits your operating system and hardware.

This book uses Android Studio Hedgehog. “Hedgehog” is the nickname given to the version of Android Studio. If you want to use a version other than the current release, select “preview” atop the downloads page, which offers Beta and Canary Android Studio builds. Canary builds have the latest, cutting-edge features but are also the least stable. Use at your discretion. Beta builds offer early access to the next version of Android Studio. Sometimes, you might need or want to use a Beta build to use certain new features in Android or improved support for existing features.

As your computer begins to download Android Studio, in your web browser, navigate to https://developer.android.com/studio/install.

This page outlines how to install Android Studio. Follow the instructions and video relevant to your operating system until the “Welcome to Android Studio” window appears.

Note: With a slower internet connection, downloading all components might take time. Depending on your system’s configuration, an administrator’s or personal password might be required to complete installation.

Configuring Android Studio

Now that you have installed Android Studio, it’s time to configure it with the new UI. The chapters of this book all reference the new UI of Android Studio. To ensure you have this feature enabled, open Android Studio, click the Android Studio menu at the top and select Settings.

Your First Android Project

Finally, it’s time to create your first project. It’s important to note this chapter focuses on getting your first Android app running as quickly as possible. As such, you’ll encounter a few unfamiliar screens, but don’t worry — Chapter 6, “Advanced Jetpack Compose”, offers a detailed explanation.

Android Studio

With the project created, you’re ready to work on it. But don’t jump in so quickly. Android Studio is a robust piece of software. If you dive in too fast, you might find yourself lost.

Creating an Android Virtual Device

Note: If you have a physical Android device you want to use for development, skip to the next section.

Setting up an Android Device

Note: If you don’t have an Android device to use for development, read the previous section on how to set up an Android Virtual Device.

Running the App

It’s time to run Kodeco Chat! Along the top of Android Studio, there’s a dropdown with the name of your device:

override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
  super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
  setContent {
    KodecoChatTheme {
      // A surface container using the 'background' color from the theme
      Surface(
        modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
        color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.background
      ) {
        Greeting("Android")
       }
    }   
  }
}

Installing New Versions of Android Studio

Note: This book assumes the most current version of Android is Android 14, known to developers as API version 34. However, a new version might exist. That said, you might want to install the latest versions of Android Studio and the Android SDK.

Key Points

Setting up an environment is often the first and most important step when diving into a new technology. To recap this chapter, you:

Where to Go From Here?

Well done getting your first app up and running! This is just the beginning. The following few chapters in this section will teach you even more about the basics of Android development. As you work through the chapters in this book, you’ll end up with a full-featured app.

1. Welcome to Android & Kotlin
3. Android Fundamentals
Have a technical question? Want to report a bug? You can ask questions and report bugs to the book authors in our official book forum here.
© 2024 Kodeco Inc.

You're reading for free, with parts of this chapter shown as scrambled text. Unlock this book, and our entire catalogue of books and videos, with a Kodeco Personal Plan.

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