Android DEV Tools

Using the App

By default, the Android software development kit includes Dev Tools with every system image. A system image is a record of the entire computer system stored in the form of a file; developers use the system image to emulate actual development environments. To use Dev Tools on an actual development device, you must copy it from the emulator by executing the command “adb -e pull /system/app/Development.apk ./Development.apk,” which copies the app, an .apk-type file, to the current directory. To install the app, use the command “adb -d install Development.apk.”

Debugging Features

Debugging features make up the core of Dev Tools. With this app, you can select any application to debug. Once selected, Dev Tools keeps the operating system from creating error messages, even when you are paused on a breakpoint for extended periods. Breakpoints, a necessary element of testing and debugging, allow developers to pause a program for a long time in order to investigate problems. The Wait for Debugger feature allows you to prevent any application from loading until a debugger attaches to it. This in turn allows you to set a breakpoint for the crucial startup process, letting you pause startup to examine the code for errors.

Other Features

In addition to debugging features, Dev Tools sends signals via screen updates. The app briefly flashes a pink rectangle on any screen to indicate sections currently being redrawn. This makes developers aware of unnecessary processes being executed by the code during the testing phase. To simulate Android reclaiming memory – a process of freeing up memory that lends itself to testing the code path – Dev Tools can force the system to destroy any activity in the code once it has stopped. This helps expose save-state-related issues in the application. Dev Tools can also show a CPU meter at the top of the screen to monitor current CPU usage, which helps developers keep track of the effect of the application on system performance.

Other Developer Tools

Though the Dev Tools app bears the official name, it is not the only development tool for Android. The Android Emulator provides a device emulation tool for application design and testing while Hierarchy Viewer lends itself to user interface creation and Dalvik Debug Monitor Server also lends a hand in debugging. Mksdcard helps developers create a disk image to use with Android emulators. The similarly named CellObject Android DevTools works in conjunction with Dalvid Debug Monitor Server to browse database files and transfer preferences for XML files to the device emulator.