Develop Reference

Basic Xamarin Android SDK Issue

I've never struggled with anything in programming as much as this Xamarin installation, unbelievably flakey. I've got my environment (VS 2015 Enterprise) to a point whereby I can spin up a new Blank App (Android) but the designer requires a newer version of the Android SDK (apparently):
I've only just installed the latest Android Studio, so I can confirm (in Xamarin settings) I'm pointing to the correct path for the SDK (in AppData/Local etc.)
On opening the SDK manager I can see the latest SDK tools is installed.
Please note: I've also tried running the SDK manager independently of VS (and as admin).
Never had this much trouble trying to get something installed and configured. Any help MASSIVELY appreciated.
Whoever helps me crack this gets a massive bounty.
EDIT:
Found this in the logs, fairly certain this is the issue:
Xamarin.VisualStudio.Android.MonoAndroidDesignerPane Error: 0 : [2016-09-22 16:36:54.2716] System.AggregateException: One or more errors occurred. ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2.Insert(TKey key, TValue value, Boolean add)
at Xamarin.VisualStudio.Android.Designer.MonoAndroidDesignerDocumentCache.Push(String filePath, AndroidDesignerDocumentCacheItem value) in C:\data\lanes\3513\c4382f51\source\xamarinvs\src\Core\VisualStudio.Android\Designer\MonoAndroidDesignerDocumentCache.cs:line 25
at Xamarin.VisualStudio.Android.MonoAndroidDesignerPane.OpenViewCode() in C:\data\lanes\3513\c4382f51\source\xamarinvs\src\Core\VisualStudio.Android\Designer\MonoAndroidDesignerPane.cs:line 619
at Xamarin.VisualStudio.Android.MonoAndroidDesignerPane.b__66_0() in C:\data\lanes\3513\c4382f51\source\xamarinvs\src\Core\VisualStudio.Android\Designer\MonoAndroidDesignerPane.cs:line 612
EDIT
Bounty is for Jon when it allows me to award it. This issue has already been resolved.

Try to delete your obj/bin folders as it seems you might have an AndroidSdksCache holding the old version. Specifically look for a file here obj\Debug\sdks.cache.
The second note is that you have build-tools 23.0.0 installed. Please uninstall that version and any other old version and install 24.0.2.
It shows the current directory as being C:\sdk1\ when the referenced SDK version is different in your screenshot. You will need to update C:\sdk1\ to the latest Android SDK Tools.

I think that can be many things.
1) some time your user name in your PC if have character specials like accents or spaces. Make problems with the VS.
2) you need check if you install Visual studio Emulator android. After donwload a device and check the api that have that device.
Windows 8 or windows 10 pro.
https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/features/msft-android-emulator-vs.aspx
Don´t use the generic emulator. If you dont know how configure.
3)Make sure that you have install Xamarin correctly in your VS.
Tool -> options -> Xamarin
you need watch all the green check.
if the android dont have the green check. Search the route when you have install the sdk. For example watch the image. My root for example
Let me know if this solve your problem. Regards.

how to setup eclim with android developer tool (eclipse 4.2)

I have the Android Developer Tool which shows eclipse version 4.2 (juno).
According to Eclim site required version of Eclim is as
Eclipse 4.3.x (Kepler) (Eclim 2.2.x), Eclipse 3.7.x (Indigo) (Eclim 1.7.x), or Eclipse 3.8 (Eclim 1.7.13 or greater)
I thought eclim 1.7.18 will work with eclipse 4.2. I also tried 2.3 but none are compatible with eclipse 4.2 which comes bundled in ADT.
So which version of Eclim should I use?

I got ADT bundle with eclipse 4.2 and installed eclim 2.2.6 which doesn't complain about eclipse's version.
I hope it works for you too.

For other readers not satisfied I'll tell my story, before you read you must know I'm that type of developers who love using the CLI and thinks that keyboard shurtcuts are faster than using a mouse, if you don't agree may be this setup is not for you:
Install main tools
I've downloaded Eclipse Luna (4.4.0) from the eclipse project website.
Download the Android SDK.
Later install the ADT Plugin (through Help > Install New Software).
After installing the ADT Plugin will ask for the path to the Android SDK.
Later on installed Eclim (2.4.0), it will ask for the eclipse installation folder as well for the .vim folder.
Start the Eclim daemon service. (In debian you can use update-rc.d to make it always run, or search a solution for your system, you can setup to start at system start, let the ideas come out!)
Setting up the Android Development Vim Studio
Check Eclim is up by typing in vim :PingEclim you should see the version of Eclim as well of Eclipse.
I suggest installing the NeoComplCache Vim plugin it integrates nicely with Eclim autocomplete, in the Eclim doc web site it says what you need to add to integrate it.
Eclim will detect the android-sdk path based on the setup you made on eclipse but if not you can define the android-sdk path (see Eclim docs).
How to create projects and install on device
With my NERDTreee I automagically CD in the selected root dir and use :ProjectCreate %/MyProjectFolder -n android, it will ask for some configs.
Later in order to you can build and install the app to your phone you need first to generate the build files (eclipse doesn't share these build files), use :!android project update --path %/MyProjectFolder (note you can omit '/MyProjectFolder' if you're already inside that folder). You can add --target and --name flags if you want to update these values.
At this point you can work in your project without any issues, code completion works excellent, if you need import something use :JavaImport but you know you can map it.
Wenever you want to test the app in your device (I use a physical device) use :Ant debug install and if build succeeds use :!adb shell am start -n your.package.name/.YourMainActivity this will fire the app in your device just like eclipse does.
You can combine the build and install command with :!ant debug install && adb shell am start -n your.package.name/.YourMainActivity. Also remember to keep a terminal open for your logcat adb logcat or if you declare a tag (I suggest doing it) adb logcat -s "MyTag"
Why to use eclim?
I was in a pain after updating my eclipse juno only errors was shown, I was tired of downloading, installing, updating eclipse, even the bundled ADT was bugy, Android Studio looks very ugly on linux by the swing font rendering, many hours were wasted at the end I just search for integrate my vim (I use it for web dev) and never looked back, used Eclim because I had the buggied eclipse on my system (is still here can't use that slow bugy crap, I HATE ECLIPSE).
Does it worth it?
If you don't have eclipse I suggest you try another Android Development Vim Studio without eclim, but if you already have Eclipse, go for eclim. And yes I'm happier to code this way in Vim rather than in eclipse, the only miss is the GUI Layout Designer. As some people say If you want something done well, better do it your self
Looks like a lot of work
Yes, for sure I'll start building a vimscript for this.

Windows 8 - Running Eclipse (Java VM not found)

I just downloaded the Android Developer Tools Bundle. I started following the setup instructions and gotten as far as extracting the files to new location ("Development") as it says. I tried running the Eclipse app as instructed, yet a window popped up saying;
A Java Runtime Environment (JRT) or Java Development Kit (JDK) must be available in order to run Eclipse. No Java virtual machine was found after searching the following location:
C:.........\Development\adt-bundle-windows\eclipse\jre\bin\javaw.exe
javaw.exe in your current PATH"
I tried compatibility trouble-shooter which can not detect a thing, whether it was the right action to take. I looked across stackoverflow and tried a few of the suggestions with no change. I looked at windows site and android site and nothing seems to make any difference, good or bad (well, I hope no bad).
I literally got this laptop 10 days ago and all programs are brand new, no updates or reinstalls etc.
I am running a Windows 8 with 64bit, which is what I selected at download of ADT Bundle.
I had downloaded the wrong java file.
To fix I went to;
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk7u7-downloads-1836413.html
and accepted terms then downloaded the appropriate file which I had to signup for registration;
Windows x64 90 MB jdk-7u7-windows-x64.exe
It worked without changing any PATH.
Thank you..

At first download jdk(java development kit) and install it. the jdk includes the jre(java runtime environment). You can also install the jre alone.

Thank It worked. Just add C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0\bin in your PATH
Control Panel
1. System
2. Advance Setting
3. Advance
4. Environment Variables
5. System variable Group
6. look For PATH in the list
7. Edit
8. Add path of your C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0\bin jdk installation and save
Remember to separate value with ;

You must download a JDK or JRE first from java.oracle.com, and add your installation folder in the PATH system avaiable.(Control Panel --System--Advance Settings --advance -- enviroment)

Go to the following page and download the executable on java.com
The executable installs the latest JAVA virtual machine.
NOTE: for Windows only
The installer knows your current version of windows.

Eclipse Android SDK slow Content Assist performance

Im running eclipse on my windows 7 machine, 64bit with 6gb ram and core 2 duo.
Im currently running Eclipse 3.6 and android 2.2 SDK
Im running jdk 1.6
Im noticing that when coding and the context popups to list methods of a class, it hangs Eclipse for up to 15 seconds. This is very frustrating.
One thing to note, when Eclipse hangs, my processor is maxed out, and is being worked by a java process. So its doing something whatever it is. But frequently everytime I finish an object with a period and the context box pops up, its becoming too painful to work with.
I changed some settings in the Eclipse.ini file such as:
-Xms1024m
-Xmx1024m
--launcher.XXMaxPermSize 512m
Is there anything else I should look at:

After a google search
I have been able to find the bug report from Eclipse.
In short:
It is a problem that arises when using Helios with ADT. As the ADT page on android.com says:
Caution: There are known issues with the ADT plugin running with Eclipse 3.6. Please stay on 3.5 until further notice.
To fix it, you will have to use Eclipse 3.5 and put your project in a newly created workspace. (If you keep the workspace from Eclipse 3.6, the problem will occur even on Eclipse 3.5.)

A Work-around procedure is presented in comment#8 at this URL: http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=7850
Example:
I'm coding against Froyo, and my target SdkVersion is 7 (AndroidManifest.xml). So for step 1, I downloaded this file:
https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/base/+archive/froyo-release.tar.gz
And then for step 2, I extracted the base/ directory of that .tgz file into my SDK path, which I install under /opt/android-sdk-linux_x86/. So here's the command I executed against the tgz to put everything where it goes:
tar -vzxf base-froyo.tar.gz -C /opt/android-sdk-linux_x86/platforms/android-7/sources/ base/
The end goal appears to be to place the actual sources into the "sources" folder in the SDK tree, so that when the auto-correct goes out looking for them, they are there.
snpe60 describes it more clearly:
Comment 7 by snpe60, Oct 14, 2010
This issue is happen because the ADT
classpath container have an invalid
source attachment by default. It is
fixed in
https://review.source.android.com/16569.
This change enables changing the ADT
clasppath container's source
attachment and disables setting
invalid source attachment. Hoping it
will be available in ADT 8.0.0.

This is much better Eclipse autocompletion problem

here is a link for the problem you are having
http://aaarkonusurum.blogspot.com/2011/08/eclipse-intelisensein-cldrtan-yavaslgna.html

Android ADT Plugin doesn't show up in Eclipse

I'm using Windows 7 and installed the 64 bit version of Eclipse 3.5.2. I then installed the Android ADT plugin, but when I try to configure it in the Windows > Preferences dialog, the Android Plugin doesn't show up in the left pane. Instead I see DDMS. This prevents me from specifying the location of the Android SDK (unless there is another way) to give me the appropriate templates and such.
Someone posted a fix to this that includes setting the permissions of Eclipse, but that didn't work for me. I tried installing the Android Plugin from both online installation (thru the URL install) and the offline Archive method.

If you're running Windows Vista or 7, make sure you right-click Eclipse and RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR. I literally spent six hours figuring this out, and this was what fixed it.

Dear people from the future:
I had roughly the same problem in linux, except that i didn't see anything at all but vanilla eclipse after installing. by combining both previous answers i got it to work:
start eclipse with sudo eclipse -clean, install the plugins and restart eclipse. the plugins showed up including the welcome screen that's supposed to be there.
after that it should work when running as regular user as well.
works for both the android sdk and the gwt sdk. (and probably other eclipse plugins)

Remove the plugin, then restart as follows:
eclipse -clean
Now try reinstalling the ADT from the online installation

For users having similar problem and not luck with other solutions:
I have windows XP but had same problem. I realized that I had JDK5/bin folder in my PATH environment variable (though my JDK_HOME was pointing to JDK6), as soon as I modified the PATH to replace bin of JDK5 with JDK6, the Android buttons on eclipse (after restart with -clean) along with Android option in Preferences & New Project showed up. (Weird eh!)
Also, consider to install the bundle android installation having eclipse with pre-configured Android SDK if a new eclipse installation doesn't matter to you
http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing/bundle.html

The above answers do not confront the heart of the problem. There is a feature in Windows 7 that prevents downloaded files from direct access of local files. All of the state is perfectly maintained in the Eclipse workspace instance. The problem is easily resolved by doing the following:
Find the "Eclipse" executable
Right-click on it.
Click "Properties".
Select the "General" tab.
Look for -> Security: "This file came from another computer and might be blocked..."
Click Unblock.
This is a much better solution than uninstalling and reinstalling the ADT or Eclipse which can be a pain.