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August 22, 2022Android Developer Tool: 6 things to help you pick one
Choosing the right Android Developer tool is crucial when you want to create your Android app. Think about it: there is a plethora of IDE to choose from and each one of them has its features. On top of that, each IDE has an incredible amount of plugins! So, before jumping into your project, you may want to consider these 6 things to make your choice easier.
#1 Set your budget
Before choosing an android developer tool that works for you, you may want to consider your budget. In fact, some IDE (Integrated Development Environment) can be pretty costly. Take RAD Studio, for example, its pro version can cost you up to €2000/ year. At a lower price, you can get IntelliJ IDEA with a yearly cost of €650.
But if this doesn’t stay within your budget, do not despair.
Luckily, there are open source tools out there. And one of the most popular ones is Android Studio, which allows you to develop your android app for free. Of course, once your app is ready, you will have to pay €25 to publish it on Google Play. But still, even if you are working on a budget, this is an affordable option for most people.
#2 Have a look at the Hardware Requirements
Starting android development on a budget means probably using your existing computer. But if it’s a 10-year-old age PC running on Windows XP, then you probably need an upgrade.
- CPU: The more cores the better
Newer generation Intel CPU has a built-in hardware acceleration feature that boosts performance for the emulator. - RAM: 2GB bare minimum, 8GB recommended
It’s a fact: Android development can eat up a lot of memory especially when using the built-in emulator. While you can get away with 2GB on some IDE like Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA, with 8 gigs you can get a far smoother experience. - Hard Drive: at least 4GB
This amount of space should be enough for the IDE system files. However, if you are working on a heavier project, extra libraries and development kits can even take up 40GB.
So, before you start working on your Android app, make sure your PC can handle some heavy programs. This will allow you to work in the best way possible.
#3 Choose the programming language you want to use
Almost endless. This is the number of options that Android developers can use. And each IDE uses different programming languages. So, when choosing the right Android developer tool, you should consider what languages you know and which ones you prefer.
For example, if you want to work with Java and Kotlin, Android Studio is the choice for you. However, if you feel more familiar with C#, VB.Net, or JavaScript, you should consider Visual Studio Xamarin.
But there is more. If your goal is to develop games, the best Android developer tools on the market are Unreal Engine, Unity, and Game Studio.
On the other hand, if you are a beginner, you can have a go at Cordova or Phone Gap. In fact, they are simple and easy-to-learn tools for all levels. So, they allow you to create your first Android apps quickly and with less effort.
All in all, if you want to become an Android developer, there are plenty of tools available to you. So, once you know what your goals are and what languages you want to use, it’s easy to find one which suits you best.
#4 Install the plugins you need
Let’s face it: working with Android developer tools is hard. However, there are some of them that are there to make your job easier. That is plugins. They are very helpful tools for Android developers and they have different functionalities. For instance, they can boost your program, they can easily write code and they can even make code look neat.
But consider this: different IDEs use different plugins. And they are quite different from one another. To get a better picture, there are hundreds of plugins for the most famous IDE, Android Studio which may not work on other programs. And the number is growing every day!
On this Android developer tool, plugins are many, quick to install, and easy to use. In fact, since it is a platform developed by Google, Android Studio is very popular and it has become a hub for plugin developers. And there is more. Many plugins that work on other tools can easily function also on Android Studio. So, it’s no surprise that this Google creation is one of the go-to programs for Android developers.
#5 Know what it takes to learn to work with them
Mastering any Android developer tool requires a good foundation of the programming language used. For beginners who are familiar with Java, it should be less shocking, but for those who aren’t, the learning curve will be somewhat steeper.
Some user interface (UI) like in NetBeansIDE can be complicated and it takes time to get used to them. Here is where plugins come in handy. IntelliJ IDEA has a large community-based plugin creator making the UI highly customizable. In turn, this boosts efficiency tremendously.
If you don’t know where to start, do not be intimidated. There are plenty of tutorials available across the net. This goes especially for Android Studio since it’s the official Android IDE.
#6 See what companies want
For companies, not every Android developer tool is the same. And, in general, the choice of the resource to use depends on the app the company needs to create.
So, if you want to start your career in the world of Android apps, you should probably consider what program companies use the most. Speaking of which, the top-four resources that they use are JQuery Mobile, Adobe PhoneGap, Google Android SDK, lastly, Android Studio.
So, make sure you are at least familiar with these resources before you apply for an Android development job at a company. So, don’t be scared to tinker around with different programs and types of apps. In fact, this will surely boost your chances of getting the job.
In conclusion, choosing the right Android developer tool for your project can be confusing. But with these 6 tips, you’re on a good path. And, If you’re still a beginner but looking to create professional apps for your business, and avoid the risk of poor user experience, our team of Android developers can help you out. Give us a call on
