Database Users

Wanted: Compile for Android ON THE DEVICE!

Way back when, I could run a c# compiler on my Windows Mobile phone and create apps. I think it would be fun to do on-device "compilation" on my Desire Z too.
I'm not asking for an IDE -- just something that can take Java source code and XML files, compile to bytecode for Dalvik and produce an .apk -- all on the device itself.
Is this possible?

OK -- we'd have to both a javac (java compiler) and a dx tool running on the device to do this. The first compiles the java source, the second takes that file and converts it to Dalvik bytecode.
Anyone else interested in this?

I'm very interested too. I tried sl4a but it's limited for now.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

Dexify java compiler
I'm also very interested!
I develop in Java for the Eve VM on Windows Mobile: [www t-arn com/software.htm]
but for this I needed to install a JavaVM on the device.
But it should be possible to dexify the java compiler. I found following post:
[www ist-music eu/developer-zone/documentation/phoneme-and-osgi/music-on-android]
The porting of OSGi requires the dexification of the OSGi bundles. This is a process which makes any JAR file (compliant with Java VM) compatible with Dalvik VM. It basically consists on adding a new file, classes.dex, into the JAR file. To dexify each OSGi bundle, a two-step process is required by using the Android SDK tools. In windows, the process would be:
* Create the classes.dex file associated to the JAR file:
[ANDROID_SDK]\platforms\android-1.5\tools\dx.bat --dex --output=%CD%\classes.dex my_bundle.jar
* Incorporate the classes.dex file into the JAR file:
[ANDROID_SDK]\platforms\android-1.5\tools\aapt.exe add my_bundle.jar classes.dex
Now, the dexified bundles work on both VMs: Java VM and Dalvik VM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess, we could do that for javac. If this does not work, we could try another Java compiler:
- EJC: [thecoderlounge blogspot com/2010/05/ecj-eclipse-java-compiler.html]
- kopisusu: [klomp org/KopiSusu/download.html]
I have no idea how to dexify the dx tool, though :-((
Hope to hear more from you guys
Tom

I have not yet gotten the Android SDK (nor a device...) but it seems that the dx tool itself is written in java. There is a dx.jar in the SKD. This one might already be dexified...or we could dexify with itself.
Tom

On-device development & compiler on a server...
Hi guys, I'm new to this Forum - just got my Archos 101 and now I'm searching for some more fun with it ;-)
So I really liked you guy's idea of having a compiler on the device itself - especially since the java compiler's really fast, so no doubt it can run on a smartphone...
I was really tempted by the open source "Open Blocks" library (education.mit.edu/openblocks) from some of these "Lifelong Kindergarden" people at the MIT... they're having this neat programming environment for teaching children programming, where you can drag/drop your source code like Lego...
Here you can have a look how the programming looks:
education.mit.edu/webdav/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Procedure/How_to_Create_a_Procedure.html
Now even google is using a similar thing, probably the same sources for their "App Inventor" (appinventor.googlelabs.com/about/), but you can only develop online at a real pc, then the .apk file is packaged on the server and downloaded to your android device...
So that's practically another way of having stuff compiled "on your device" - you could do the the development on a device and then have a server dedicated for a fast compiler and dx run...
Basically, I'd say that's the perfect system to write quick programs on a touchscreen device, especially when it's a bit larger tablet...
So if anyone wants to join in, I think I'm really keen on trying to port this OpenBlocks thing to the android screen ;-)
Cheers,
wowbag

Java IDE on Android
Hello everybody
I have just finished the latest version of taJavaIDE (0.3.0)
This APK is meant to become an Android development tool with which you can create native Android apps (APKs) ON the Android device itself.
What is working so far (on my Desire HD):
- Eclipse compiler for Java is integrated and working
- dx tool is integrated (not yet tested properly)
- BeanShell Interpreter is integrated and working.
You can write your own BeanShell script, store it on your SDCard and automate
the build process with it.
What is NOT yet working:
- aapt
- apkbuilder
- jarsigner
- zipalign
apkbuilder and jarsigner should not be a problem. I think, I can integrate those in the same way I integrated ecj.
As far as I know, zipalign is not absolutely needed (I might be wrong here, though).
My biggest problem is aapt which is not a Java application but a C++ application. To make it run on Android, you would need to port it to Java (looks like a REAL challenge!) or use the NDK to create a native library that you could then access from the APK.
I have no experience with the NDK and I also don't have the necessary build environment, so I would really appreciate if someone would help me out here!
Anybody interested in contributing?
Tom

Wow, thanks for getting this started, t-arn!
It's been forever since I did any C++, but I'll take a look at aapt and see what I can figure out.
Hopefully, a true C++ programmer will come along and set us straight

I'm very interested in this project and I would be willing to try to help out if you need it. I'm a second year software engineering student and I'm currently on a work term where all of my work is with android. I may not be of much help but at least I think I have some idea what I'm doing so let me know.

you are correct in saying that zipalign is not necessary. we only need it if we want to sign the apk in release mode(for publishing it to the market). We could just use debug mode and everything would be fine. I'm sure that if someone wanted to release an apk to the market, they could just copy the files over to their pc and zipalign it there. We would still be able to use the apk on the device without using zipalign.

t-arn said:
- jarsigner
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Serison has an application on the market to sign APK's. Just thought I would let you know it is possible.

I would like this as well, as my phone has a physical keyboard and typing code isn't that bad on it - atleast not for minor edits/tweaks

JavaIDEdroid open source project
Hello everybody
I have created an open source project for JavaIDEdroid:
http://code.google.com/p/java-ide-droid/
Everybody is welcome to join the project (and hopefully contribute to it!)
As soon as I have cleaned up the code a little bit, I'll upload the source and the current APK.
For further questions and discussions, please join the java-ide-droid group. You'll find the link on the project's home page.
See you there!
Tom

Sounds pretty promising,looking forward to give it a try！
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App

Sounds possible, if you have the right components. I would love this. Would definitely donate to whoever got it working easily and 100%.

Very interesting project

Look nice. Downloading now.
I have wanted this since I first got an android phone.
I ended up using a virtual debain command line running OpenJava to compile and run the stuff. But if i can do it without that hastle in one app, I will LOVE you.
Edit: I tried it out. Mind explaining how to make a beanShell script? on the ECJ it always gives me a security exception even with just -help.
Code:
java.lang.SecurityException
at java.lang.System.setSecurityManager(System.java:610)
at com.t_arn.JavaIDEdroid,.DE.fnCompile(IDE.java:44)
at com.t_arn.JavaIDEdroid.MainActivity.fnCompile(MainActivty.java:167)
at com.t_arn.JavaIDEdroid.MainActivity.tabCompile_btnCompile(MainActivity.java:137)
......
Done in 1305348377 sec.

Please join the JavaIDEdroid support group at http://groups.google.com/group/java-ide-droid and re-post your question there.
I'd like to keep discussions there.
Thanks
Tom

very interesting, ill join the group, i can make the native lib for the aapt.

I would say get gcc working on the device then you can compile anything. You can compile a javavm. A native binary. Etc. If gcc can be compiled and work then all programs most likely can be compiled on the device assuming the proper libs are there to compile against.
Sent from my Incredible using Tapatalk

[Q] Developing on Device

I have programmed in java for quite some time, and am decent at android apps.
However, i have two questions about developing on my device (rooted samsung captivate).
First, how can i get dev tools to run correctly on my phone. I have installed it as stated in "developer.android com/guide/developing/debug-tasks html#additionaldebugging". However, when clicking on Dev Settings it crashed with HARDWARE_TEST security exception. I have read that you need to sign/run it as system.
Is it possible to run it on my rooted captivate? if so how do i install it as system or find the system signature to sign it.
My other question is about programing, compiling, and running android applications from a device. I can take my .apk and unzip it. Then edit any resource files. Then rezip and sign it. However if i want to replace the actual code i need to compile it. I can use an online java compiler but i need to convert it to android format.
I know that dx.bat does this by using dx.jar . I can add dx.jar to the referenced libraries of my app. However i cant figure out what to do past there. Is what i am attempting even possible?
Thanks for your help.

There's a couple threads in this forum from folks like me who want to do this. Perhaps you can help us figure it out
Step one is I think to get an java compiler running on the phone. Then to make a version of DX that can run on the phone to convert the class to .apk

Thanks. in normal java programs you can use "com.sun.tools.javac.Main.compile( new String[] {args} );" found in the "<sdk>/lib/tools.jar" to compile a program. And dx.jar is what is used to covert it to android, however i do not know what to call in it.
We just need to find a way to get these jars to work on android.

SDK, NDK, C++, Java

Hi
i opened a thread a while ago, but i can't find it anymore. So here my new questions i got.
Sorry for these noob questions but i need a start
So:
What is exactly the difference between a SDK and a NDK.
And why became it possible to programm in c++ for android when the NDK came out?
Is there a difference between the possibilities regarding Android, depending on programming in c++ or java?
thx for your help

eaglesuper said:
What is exactly the difference between a SDK and a NDK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SDK is the main development kit for Android apps - it contains tools for Java and resources (png, xml) compiling, packaging to apk file, installing, running and debugging them on a device, an emulator, documentation, etc., etc. NDK is a set of tools to compile C code to shared lib, which you could use in your app - and that's all.
You could create an app using SDK only - most of apps does that. However you can't do it using NDK only, because you can't run or publish .so library just like that - you have to use SDK to integrate your library with the rest of an app.
eaglesuper said:
And why became it possible to programm in c++ for android when the NDK came out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand your question.
eaglesuper said:
Is there a difference between the possibilities regarding Android, depending on programming in c++ or java?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Java is the main language for Android development, so it has access to all APIs, also OS requires you to use Java in some places, e.g. when using Android UI. But NDK gets more and more APIs, so it's now possible to develop nearly whole app in C.

Hi,
thanks for your reply! You helped me a lot!
If i combine the beginning of your posting and the last few setences, is that conclusion correct:
I can develop nowadays nearly the whole app on c++ for example. With NDK and C++ i can only make libraries. Then i have to "arrange" them and test them and therefore i need Java?
And how different is Java and c++? Cause i always wanted to learn c++.
But in nowadays world i have the feeling that it's so old (no online stuff like java and php).
So does it still make sense to learn c++?

A word on my SDK... It keeps intentionally writing the wrong code on the status window for the emulator device...
"invalid command-line parameter: Files\android-sdk-windows\tools/emulator-arm.exe.
Hint: use '@foo' to launch a virtual device named 'foo'.
please use -help for more information"
Isn't it supposed to be: Files\android-sdk-windows\tools\emulator-arm.exe? Instead, its "/" is in the wrong direction. WTF?
Is this something with SDK? Or something else all together. I have a few .apk's to test (built in Eclipse) and I am unable to open the emulator to test. I would really like to have some input. Thanks in advance.

http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=18317
Here:
steps to solve the problem:
1. click 'Window' in Eclipse
2. clcik 'Preferences' and 'Android'
3. set 'SDK Location' to 'C:\PROGRA~1\Android\android-sdk'
4. click 'Apply' and 'OK'
That's it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

eaglesuper said:
Hi
Is there a difference between the possibilities regarding Android, depending on programming in c++ or java?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well java is a VM based based programming lang. c++ is a native language. the difference is that java gets compiled to VM byte code. These byte codes are the same for every android phone out there. the VM takes the byte codes and executes them (there is more, just a quick overview). since every phone has an implementation of the Dalvik VM (the one used for Android) then every application written in java can be run essentially the same on all devices.
c++ is compiled for specific hardware in mind. it gets compiled to cpu instructions. if you compile a c++ binary for a x86 machine its not going to run on an ARM based platform. since there are soo many different ARM based platforms, TI OMAP, snapdragon, tegra 2, etc, each with a slightly different implementation of the ARM standard there is an amount of incompatibility in compiled binaries.

[Q] binary in android

alright finally i made up my mind for making android CLI app
now i want to make an app on linux , i can simply write a small CPP program
but what about android (Especially acer iconia)?
how should i begin
what are the tools required?
Thanks in advance

Not sure what your asking for exactly.
But if you have not developer.android.com. is a place you MUST Visit for all things android..

Android doesn't really work with CLI... You'll probably have to go with a GUI, and most apps are written in Java (other languages are somewhat tricky, as you have to use the JNI or IPC to use most android libs)... as mentioned above, you'll get the required tools on developer.android.com. Other than that: Android's libc is fundamentally broken, with many standard functions being unavailable or misbehaving -- a major cause of headaches.

i am talking in general
for example "Busybox"
its written in C/C++
i just wanna know how to compile my own C code for android

Busybox is a bit different, as it's not a user fronting app. For something like that, just cross compile to arm. I believe theres one in the ndk:
http://developer.android.com/sdk/ndk/index.html
You'll need the ndk for user fronting apps with c code as well, btw.
you can use other cross compilers as well:
https://sourcery.mentor.com/sgpp/lite/arm/portal/release324

aman11dhanpat said:
alright finally i made up my mind for making android CLI app
now i want to make an app on linux , i can simply write a small CPP program
but what about android (Especially acer iconia)?
how should i begin
what are the tools required?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, and welcome to the exciting world of Android Development! *insert sparkles*
In the Android world, CLI apps aren't the most popular. Making an app with a GUI would be a much easier starting point to some extent.
What you'll need:
1. A computer with the necessary software installed. This can be a Linux, Mac, or even Windows machine. In the case of a Windows machine, be sure you have the correct drivers installed. With the Linux machine, be sure you have the correct udev rules for the Iconia. Install the Android SDK. Install Eclipse, and the Android plugin.
It sounds like you want to run some native code as well. Use the Android NDK. There's a nice little beginner's guide here. Every good programmer starts with their first Hello, World!
2. Preferably some experience with Java. Almost all Android apps run on the Dalvik VM.
3. Patience. A lot of patience. Compiling takes time.
4. A device to test your code on. Running in an emulator is not good enough. Enable developer debugging on your device in the settings.
Hope this helped a bit.

Thanks alot guys
now i guess i'll be able to make some of my own apps

[Q] Problem getting started on Android Studio

Hey guys,
I have been having trouble getting started developing applications for android. I know how to use Java, and frequently use the netbeans ide for my java homework ect. But I decided why not adventure out and build upon what I learned in school. Unfortunately I have ran into nothing but problems. The first problem is this:
"Gradle project sync failed. Basic functionality (e.g editing, debugging) will not work properly. "
In the messeages window it reads:
[file path to \app\build.gradle]
Failed to Find: com.android.support:appcompact-v7:21+
I have had trouble using grade in eclipse....well I only got eclipse to work once, when I first got my phone, and managed to make a small pop-up app for my self. I did not know any programming language at the time. I merely just copy and pasted most of the code.
and problem number two;
The generated code is riddled with errors?
I look through most of these errors and they state that certain things can be resovled. For example, cant resolve "support" <--- I think that by not having this imported correctly (I think this falls into the first problem) is causing the rest of the errors in my MainActivity file to go crazy.
Is their any way to post more information? Like a log file, maybe that might be of more help too. I just am unfamiliar with Android Studio, as of right now. Attached is a picture of the IDE when is spawns the error.
Thanks for the help in advance!

How to Fix said issue
KJ4CCH said:
Hey guys,
I have been having trouble getting started developing applications for android. I know how to use Java, and frequently use the netbeans ide for my java homework ect. But I decided why not adventure out and build upon what I learned in school. Unfortunately I have ran into nothing but problems. The first problem is this:
"Gradle project sync failed. Basic functionality (e.g editing, debugging) will not work properly. "
In the messeages window it reads:
[file path to \app\build.gradle]
Failed to Find: com.android.support:appcompact-v7:21+
I have had trouble using grade in eclipse....well I only got eclipse to work once, when I first got my phone, and managed to make a small pop-up app for my self. I did not know any programming language at the time. I merely just copy and pasted most of the code.
and problem number two;
The generated code is riddled with errors?
I look through most of these errors and they state that certain things can be resovled. For example, cant resolve "support" <--- I think that by not having this imported correctly (I think this falls into the first problem) is causing the rest of the errors in my MainActivity file to go crazy.
Is their any way to post more information? Like a log file, maybe that might be of more help too. I just am unfamiliar with Android Studio, as of right now. Attached is a picture of the IDE when is spawns the error.
Thanks for the help in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok guys, I figured it out. We need to install a package from the sdk manager. The picture shows which one needs to be installed. The package is "Android Support Repository"

Seems you have already gotten the answer. But for this kind of questions, past the main line of the error log into Google is much faster than post a question, I think.