Easy Steps to Create an Android Application Project using Eclipse IDE

Android App Project in Eclipse IDE – A Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide

Tools, concepts to learn, getting used to a totally new environment. But the good news is that creating your first android application project is in fact much less painful than creating your first language project, provided you’re doing it right. So if you are now doing an android development course or just want to discover how the typical programmer creates their first projects, follow me as I go through the process for the most popular IDE for beginners – Eclipse.

What Is an Android Project and Why Does It Matter?

Getting started quickly – when you’re away from your phone, it will help if you already have a quick idea of what an Android project is . Your Android project is a neatly packed package. It contains your source code, resource files, configuration files and build commands all kept neatly inside it ready to be compiled into a complete application.

What You Need Before You Start

Creating the ideal environment for project development begins by creating the ideal environment. To create a project, both of the following must be installed and working on your computer\:The initial requirement will be the complete Android SDK (Software Development Kit) along with all the necessary packages required for working on the Android versions you want to work on. The next thing you will require will be a version of the Eclipse IDE with the ADT Plugin (‘Android Development Tools’) installed on it. This plugin connects the SDK to the IDE and helps you develop Android specific programs in it.

Without these two you can’t simply create a new Android project. Spend a couple of minutes to get them in order.VTechLabs students enrolled in the android app development course will get this environment ready during the first few sessions, in the Vadodara institute as well as the online hybrid mode.

Step 1 – Opening a New Android Project in Eclipse

The initial stage when the Eclipse application has loaded up is very simple. All you need to do is locate the New feature at the top of the screen and click on that. In doing so the following dialog appears.Locate the Android folder within this window. Double click to open. Choose Android Application Project from the Menu. HIT Next. Android Application Project will start popping up its own form titled New Android Application.

Step 2 – Filling In the Application Details

This is where your application starts. You will be prompted to key in. Application Name – this is the text which will appear on user device, can be anything you wish.Project Name – this is the name you like to call your project folder with in Eclipse to keep it manageable.Package Name – this is your app ID on android Market so it need to be unique, the best one is use your domain (. Com.vtechlabs.myapp).

Step 3 – Configuring Project Settings

This is the project configuration options screen. If you are an absolute beginner then just select everything to the defaults and click Next. These are how to create the library project, what path should be used for the files and other structural decisions. For an average application project the defaults are good.

Step 4 – Designing Your Application Icon

You are now at the launcher icon screen-the icon image that users tap on the home screen to launch your app.Eclipse it includes a default icon creator, which provides for 2 basic options. Outline shape, colour and text overlay. Choose the options to match the style of your application.

Step 5 – Selecting an Activity Template

Activity is just a screen with a user interface in android. All android applications have one or more activities. This page asked you to choose a template to get started with your first activity. Select Blank Activity if you would like to start with a clean slate that has absolutely nothing here (no built in UI elements available for use). This is also the best option for students that want to build from scratch. Click Next to proceed.

Step 6 – Configuring the Activity and Finishing Setup

The last configuration screen shows the name, layout name and title of your activity template which you have just selected. Do not touch them if it is your first project. Click Finish. Eclipse will proceed to construct your Android application and pre-configuration project by creating all default files and directories. Your project is now in a state that can be built on.

What Comes After – Understanding Your Project Structure

Once the project is created, Eclipse shows the structure of the project in the window explorer of projects. In this window, we find a structure of directories for sources (program code, files with XML language for the layout, and files for graphical resources for your application), resources and configuration files (including the file AndroidManifest.xml that register the components, permissions and usage your application). This is the point where your real development begins. You begin to add layouts, write Java logic, create new activities and test them all by using the included in eclipse the Android Virtual Device – AVD .

At the android training institute in vadodara VTechLabs the students work on real projects and build real applications following this very pattern implementing a real feature at a time. Hence the students of the training institute get a complete view of how things work and what each file does.

Why Learning Android Development Still Makes Career Sense

Modern development environments like Android Studio are becoming default but for the serious mobile developer knowledge of how Android projects look and work from the ground up is essential. Employers prefer developers who understand their tools’ architecture over developers who simply click Next. Your first Eclipse project will provide you with that knowledge.

To all it professional Training in vadodara, in a rapidly growing industry such as mobile development skills, scope for an application, like Android, is perhaps one of the top employment needs. Vtechlabs provides structured training with a blended approach, resulting in trained faculty, live project exposure and assistance in job placement, for all in Vadodara and nearby.

Conclusion

After all it is not a long and concise and neatly listed table to perform installation of SDK and ADT Plugin, select the right target and create activity properly then click on finish button for developing first Android application project in Eclipse IDE. In brief, have a clear idea about each step to develop every Android project in future. Get started, follow each step and want to learn more.