Understanding the Android Studio Iguana

 Hi friends, as we know that Android always brings new things in its updates so today we will know what is in the Android Studio Iguana. Also we are going to open a project which will help us write code in Java and not in Kotlin. This is tricky, so be there!

The link to download Android Studio is THIS.

Here is the loading screen of the Android Studio Iguana with its version 2023.2.1 mentioned in it.

Once the loading is done, you will find the Welcome screen with various tabs. Let's start with Projects first:

On the left side we have Projects and other options. First lets see what is inside Project.

New Project: Nothing new, just create a new project either in Kotlin or Java (we will get to the point how we can create a Java project).

Open: Just open the existing Android Studio project from a directory.

Get from VCS: VCS is nothing but Version Control System. You can get a project downloaded through this and GIT would be a common example of it.

There are yet more actions to be performed. Clicking on the same you will find four more things to do:

Import an Android Code Sample: Here you have option to import code samples and run them.

Profile or Debug APK: This is a very interesting tool which will help you in debugging your apk with least efforts.

Virtual Device Manager: Nothing new in this, you know how to check your apps on various configurations. This is what it has!

SDK Manager: This is also inherited from the previous Android Studios. The software development kit that has various SDK platforms, tools etc. 

Here is a quick look of the welcome screen when we have at least one project.

Now comes the next option Customize:

Many user prefer customizing IDEs as per their comfort:

Color Theme: You can make your Android Studio Light, Dark, High contrast etc. The best from most of the developer's view would be Dark as it does not create eye itching issues. 

Sync with OS: By checking this option you don't have to manually change the theme color. It will. automatically select by observing your syste settings.

IDE font: The font size that you want to keep for your IDE. Don't make it 72. I did that and then could not able to change it for a long time because the IDE expanded so that it covered all of my screen.

Keymap: As you can see in the image, you have options to set your keymap to macOS or Eclipse or Visual Studio etc.

Plugins: Plugings are used to add new features or enhance the application. In this you will find various plugings such as Genymotion which will help your app run in various emulators. You can also create Flutter apps by installing this plugin.

Learn: Android Studio has a Learn option which will help us learning it through videos, web articles and also it has a keyboard shortcuts pdfs which will be very useful for all the Android developers.

Settings: The very left down bottom of the welcome screen, you will get a settings icon. Clicking it shows these four options:

Edit custom properties: Through this you have access to change the properties of Android Studio IDE.

Edit custom VM options: The virtual machine properties can be edited through this option.

Collect logs and Diagnostic Data: This has various checks asking you if you want to see the logs and analize the data.

Okay friends we just had a bird's eye on the basic Android Studio IDE. Now we will learn

How to create a project that will allow us to write code in Java.

At first when you open Android Studio and click on New Project you will see that there is no way to code in Java because there will be only Kotlin to code. Those who are Java fans would really have tough time here. So let's see what is needed to get the Java environment working!

After clicking on New Project, we often click on Empty Activity or Basic Views Activity. This creates a Kotlin project. We only have to click the Empty Views Activity to create one for Java.

After clicking the Next button, on configuration screen you have to Select Java for the Language option. At last in Build configuration language, select Groovy DSL (build.gradle).

Congratulations! You can now code in Java for Android Studio.

Updated: Super fast way to implement latest Admob banner and Interstitial ads

I have something very cool for those who want to implement Admob ads in their Android apps.

This is just a five step process:

1) Add buildscript in build.gradle (project)

2) Add the dependency of Admob in build.gradle (module)

3) Initialize ads,

4) You only have to create an object of AdvertiseUtil.java class which has everything set,

5) Paste the banner ad's small code in your layout,

6) Just call the banner or interstitial ad whichever you want.

You are done!

------------------------------------------ build.gradle (project) ----------------------------------

// Top-level build file where you can add configuration options common to all sub-projects/modules.
buildscript {
    repositories {
        google()
        mavenCentral()
    }
}

plugins {
alias(libs.plugins.androidApplication) apply false
}

------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------ build.gradle (module) ----------------------------------

apply plugin: 'com.android.application'

android {
    compileSdkVersion 28
    defaultConfig {
        applicationId "com.app.yourappname"
        minSdkVersion 16
        targetSdkVersion 28
        versionCode 1
        versionName "1.0"
        testInstrumentationRunner "androidx.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
    }
    buildTypes {
        release {
            minifyEnabled false
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android-optimize.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
        }
    }
}

dependencies {
    implementation fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: ['*.jar'])
    implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.0.2'
    implementation 'androidx.constraintlayout:constraintlayout:1.1.3'
    testImplementation 'junit:junit:4.12'
    androidTestImplementation 'androidx.test:runner:1.1.1'
    androidTestImplementation 'androidx.test.espresso:espresso-core:3.1.1'
    implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-ads:23.1.0'
}

------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------- string.xml ---------------------------

<resources>
    <string name="app_name">WhatAnAndroid</string>

    <!-- Admob Test Ads-->
    <string name="ad_app_id">ca-app-pub-3940256099942544~3347511713</string>
    <string name="ad_native">ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/2247696110</string>
    <string name="ad_interstitial">ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/1033173712</string>
    <string name="ad_banner">ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/6300978111</string>
    <string name="ad_rewarded">ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/5224354917</string>
    <!-- Admob Test Ads-->

</resources>

-------------------------------------------------

------------------------------ admob_ads_activity.xml -----------------------------------------------

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:id="@+id/main_rll"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:background="@color/colorPrimary">

    <RelativeLayout
        android:gravity="center"
        android:id="@+id/aaa_topBannerAdViewRL"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true"/>

    <RelativeLayout
        android:id="@+id/aaa_bottomBannerAdViewRL"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_alignParentBottom="true" >
    </RelativeLayout>
</RelativeLayout>

-------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------- AdvertiseUtil.java ---------------------------------

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Context;

import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
import androidx.annotation.OptIn;
import androidx.media3.common.util.Log;
import androidx.media3.common.util.UnstableApi;

import com.google.android.gms.ads.AdRequest;
import com.google.android.gms.ads.AdSize;
import com.google.android.gms.ads.AdView;
import com.google.android.gms.ads.LoadAdError;
import com.google.android.gms.ads.interstitial.InterstitialAd;
import com.google.android.gms.ads.interstitial.InterstitialAdLoadCallback;
import com.prashantsj.apps.AdmobAdsActivity.R;

public class AdvertiseUtil {
    
    private Context context;
    private InterstitialAd mInterstitialAd;
    public AdvertiseUtil(Context context) {
       this.context = context;
    }

    /********************BANNER***********************/
    
    private AdView adView;
    
    public AdView loadBannerAd() {
       adView = new AdView(context);
        adView.setAdSize(AdSize.SMART_BANNER);
       adView.setAdUnitId(context.getString(R.string.ad_bannerad));
       showBanner();
       return adView;
    }
    
    public void showBanner() {
       AdRequest adRequest = new AdRequest.Builder().build();
       adView.loadAd(adRequest);
    }
    
    public void onResumeBanner(){
       if(adView!=null)
          adView.resume();
    }
    
    public void onPauseBanner(){
       if(adView!=null)
          adView.pause();
    }
    
    public void onDestroyBanner(){
       if(adView!=null)
          adView.destroy();
    }
    
    /*********************************************/
    
    /*********************INTERSTITIAL*************************/

    public void loadInterstitialAd() {
       AdRequest adRequest = new AdRequest.Builder().build();
       InterstitialAd.load(this.context, context.getString(R.string.ad_interstitial), adRequest,
             new InterstitialAdLoadCallback() {
                @OptIn(markerClass = UnstableApi.class) @Override
                public void onAdLoaded(@NonNull InterstitialAd interstitialAd) {
                   // The mInterstitialAd reference will be null until
                   // an ad is loaded.
                   mInterstitialAd = interstitialAd;
                   Log.i("Interstitial Ad Loaded", "onAdLoaded");
                }

                @Override
                public void onAdFailedToLoad(@NonNull LoadAdError loadAdError) {
                   // Handle the error
//                 Log.i("", loadAdError.toString());
                   mInterstitialAd = null;
                }
             });
       }

    public void showInterstitialAd() {
       if (mInterstitialAd != null) {
          mInterstitialAd.show((Activity) context);
          loadInterstitialAd();
       }
    }

    /*******************************************************/  
}

-------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------- AdmobAdsActivity.java --------------------------

package com.app.yourappname;

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.widget.RelativeLayout;

import com.google.android.gms.ads.MobileAds;
import com.google.android.gms.ads.initialization.InitializationStatus;
import com.google.android.gms.ads.initialization.OnInitializationCompleteListener;
import com.app.yourappname.AdvertiseUtil;
import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;

public class AdmobAdsActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    private AdvertiseUtil au;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(@Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

        setContentView(R.layout.admob_ads_activity);
        MobileAds.initialize(this, initializationStatus -> {
        });

        au = new AdvertiseUtil(this);

        RelativeLayout topBanner = findViewById(R.id.aaa_topBannerAdViewRL);
        RelativeLayout bottomBanner = findViewById(R.id.aaa_bottomBannerAdViewRL);

        topBanner.addView(au.loadBannerAd());
        bottomBanner.addView(au.loadBannerAd());

        au.loadInterstitialAd();
    }

    @Override
    public void onUserInteraction() {
        super.onUserInteraction();

        if(au!=null) au.showInterstitialAd();
    }

    @Override
    protected void onPause() {
        super.onPause();
        if(au!=null) au.onPauseBanner();
    }

    @Override
    protected void onResume() {
        super.onResume();
        if(au!=null) au.onResumeBanner();
    }

    @Override
    protected void onDestroy() {
        super.onDestroy();
        if(au!=null) au.onDestroyBanner();
    }
}

-------------------------------------------------

According to the new admob implementation rules, you need to add the app id in manifes

-------------------------- Declare the Activity name and internet permissions in manifest file-----------------

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.app.yourappname">

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE"/>

    <application
    android:hardwareAccelerated="true"
    android:allowBackup="true"
    android:dataExtractionRules="@xml/data_extraction_rules"
    android:fullBackupContent="@xml/backup_rules"
    android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
    android:supportsRtl="true"
    android:theme="@style/AppTheme"
    tools:targetApi="31">
        <meta-data
            android:name="com.google.android.gms.ads.APPLICATION_ID"
            android:value="@string/ad_app_id"/>
        <activity android:name=".AdmobAdsActivity">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
    </application>

</manifest>

How to download, install and run Android Studio project on device?

Installing Android Studio is an easy process but sometimes if the correct procedure is not followed, things do not go right. So here is the complete step by step process to download, install and run your first app on device for Windows.

Step 1: Download the Android Studio IDE from https://developer.android.com/studio

Step 2: After opening the .exe or the setup file, you will see this window. I already have installed Android Studio so it is asking to Uninstall the old version. If you are installing fresh, no need to worry, just hit 'Next>' and go ahead by choosing a path where you would like it to be stored.

Step 3: After installing it successfully, a window will be opened (if you have selected start Android Studio after install finished). If not opened, then go to C:\Program Files\Android\Android Studio\bin\ and double click studio64.exe

For quick access create a desktop shortcut.

In this window, to create a new project, click on the first option: '+ Start a new Android Studio project'

Step 4: As the first project and program has to be simple, we will be creating an Empty Activity. Click on the 'Next' option.

Step 5: This window has multiple options to select from:

Name: You can set a name to your project under this field. 

Package name: This is a very important part of your app. A package differentiates your app from all other apps.

Save location: You can change the default project location by setting it here.

Language: Now there are two languages that support Android programming. Java and Kotlin. Though Kotlin is the official programming language of Android, I like Java. Again its your wish.

Minimum SDK: This option helps you to support you app for devices with old APIs. Setting it to API 16 shows support for 99.8% devices, so no need to change it.

Use Legacy android.support.libraries: This option is to be ticked when we want to include other libraries in our app. For now to make a hello world app, leave it unticked.

Please Note: Keep your internet connection ON before clicking finish.

Step 6: When the first project is created it will start downloading the necessary stuff. Let it finish downloading.

Step 7: After the downloading gets over, it may show error. If not then skip the steps.

For me, it was with error: Module 'app': platform 'android-29' not found.

Step 8: So lets see what is wrong. The android-29 is an api level for Android version 10.0 or Q. That means we have not installed android-29. In order to install it, click on the sdk manager shown with a red arrow.

  Step 9: After clicking on SDK manager, a window with all the apis will be displayed. Click the Show package details at the very right bottom corner so that you will be able to select necessary stuff individually.

Once you are able to see the selected Android SDK Platform 29, click Ok to continue installation.

Step 10: Read the 'Terms & Conditions' and select the 'Accept' radio button. Hit 'Next' to continue.

Step 11: Here you can understand why we did not download everything from Android 10.0 (Q) and rather selected just one from Show package details.

Click 'Ok'.

After successfully downloading it you will see no errors. But in order to run the app either you will need an Android device or an emulator.

Step 12: In your android device, go to Settings -> About Phone -> Build Number (See at the bottom). Tap 7 times on it to open the Developer option.

Step 13: The developer option will be enabled and can be found under Settings. Tap on it to open a new panel.

Step 14: In this step, connect your device to PC and keep the Android Studio IDE open. In device, keep two options ON in developer option. The first one is the main (at the top) and the another is USB debugging.

Step 15: Once all this done, you will see a window asking debugging permission (in your device) while showing your computer's RSA key. Allow it by pressing 'Ok' and finally in the Android Studio, you will see your device's name at the place where the red arrow is pointing. If your emulator is already opened, click the drop down option.

 

Congratulations! you are able to show the output on your phone through USB debugging.

To avoid attaching USB connection and to enjoy wireless WIFI debugging please follow the link:

http://whatanandroid.blogspot.com/2020/07/how-to-do-wireless-debugging-in-android.html