Develop Reference

Android apk to play store

Could someone tell me the steps of how to actually get your app (built in AS) on the play store?
I already:
made myself an Android developers console account.
paid the 25$ fee.
built a Signed version of my apk.
( i don't know where he built it to, AndroidStudioProjects\MyApplication\app\build\outputs\apk ? )
Do i need to rename the built apk to the desired app name ?
So please could someone describe the steps starting from 0, So future people with the same problem can find the solution easly ?

Before publishing your app to play store, you need to follow following two steps:
1. Get the signed version of apk: If you are using Eclipse,
Right click on project > Android tools > Signed version of application package
2. Zip align the apk obtained from above step:
"\sdk\build-tools\android-4.4W\zipalign.exe" -f -v 4 "\SignedProject.apk" "\Project_ZipAligned.apk"

The project that you created should have a .apk file or you can create a signed apk file . To sign you application go here http://developer.android.com/tools/publishing/app-signing.html. Once you have you apk file, app icons ready you need to upload them on the website. At this point you will be ready to publish.

Publishing updates to Android Apps

I published an App a while back and would like to make updates to it. I've saved my password and Alias when i originally created the App but when i try export the App using the "Android Tools/Export Signed Application" option using Eclipse it prompts me for an existing Keystore. The only Keystore i can find is a debug.keystore in my .android folder under C:\Users\Username. I know you cant publish Apps on the Marketplace using the debug keystore. Does this mean i need to generate a new one from scratch using the existing Alias and password?
If so, is there an option in eclipse to do this??

You need the same key. If you really lost it, unfortunately you'll have to republish that app under a different name/key. If you use the wizard in ADT, it'll prompt you to generate a new key (or hopefully find your old one in some directory that you didn't check).

You have to use the same key, and wont be able to publish to the same application without it.
You can generate new ones via:
Using File -> Export -> Export Android Application, then follow the steps can generate a new one.

How to give android apk to client for testing purpose?

I am developing for an application currently.
But when i will finish my app developement and i create .apk, should i sign it or make it unsigned while giving my app to my client for testing on their own devices??
He should not be able to put this apk on market as an author/ He should not distribute without my permission.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks.

You can sign with your debug key which in windows resides in: username/.android/debug.keystore
Password is: android
Sec password is: android
Edit: But if the person has some knowledge he can just resign it with another key, you can't really protect yourself against this (afaik).

Steps:
In Android Studio Generate Build APK
Build -> Build APK
You get popup once apk is generated
Build APK
Apk(s) generated successfully.
Shown in File Manager.
Goto https://www.diawi.com/ and signup if if you are a new user, else login.
In above link you may find option "Upload your app".
Inside that box you ma find "Drag&drop files here .ipa or .zip(.app) .apk"
So Drag and Drop apk file or Browse apk file using + Add file(s) button.
After uploading apk Click on Send button.
This will generate a URL and Barcode.
Share that URL with a person who want to test the build.

you don't need to sign using debug key, android sdk does it automatically, and android applications signed by debug key is not possible to upload on market, you can get apk file in bin directry of your project.

file-> export
click on android
select "export android application"
specify the path

How can I automatically sign applications for billing?

I'm having a few issues with Android/Eclipse with using Android Market Billing. I have to sign my application properly for it to work (according to the dev guide), but I don't want to have to go through the whole process all the time.
Is there a step I can add to Eclipse so it'll automatically sign the APK?

You can use Ant to export a signed APK with a single command. There is no single-click 'Export signed APK' action in Eclipse.

You can use the Export Wizard from Package Explorer.
With 3 simple steps you are ready to publish on an application marketplace such as Google Play.
Check the link below for more info
http://developer.android.com/guide/publishing/app-signing.html#ExportWizard

Android Application APK signing?

I would like to know about Android application signing.
IFAIK, blackberry and iphone application must be signed to work on the real device.
For the Android, does application need to sign ?
If so, how to sign the application ?
Please advice. guys.
Thanks in advance.

If you are using the Eclipse plugin.
Right click on the project > Android Tools > Export Signed Application Package
Follow the instructions for creating a .keystore file and you're sorted!

There's a guide to signing Android applications on the developer website: http://developer.android.com/guide/publishing/app-signing.html
To answer your immediate concern: you don't need a real device to sign an application. You sign during the build process, so it can be done on any computer with the correct software (which is all free). The easiest way to build a signed application is to just use Eclipse's ADT plugin, which has an "export signed application" feature.

As #Laurence Dawson mentioned one way to do this is just by opening your project in eclipse then
Right click on the project > Android Tools > Export Signed Application Package
BUT you MUST create a Keystore prior to do this, this is really easy and simple the option will appear after you select "Export Signed Application Package" from right click options, it will ask you to "sign" your APK (in order to Beta/Alpha/Production publish) this process is done simply by creating this Keystore, once its created just select this new keystore (it will appear right in the options of "Export Signed Application Package") and voila! then it will just ask you for enter the path where to upload your signed APK ready for google developer website!