mobile_gis_workshop_preparations.md

Preparations for mobile GIS app with CARTO SDK workshop

Jaak Laineste, @jaakl

Important: please install Android SDK tools as instructed below before workshop. It involves over 1GB download and it saves a lot of time and hassle on-site if you do it beforehand.

Requirements

A computer with:

• Linux, Mac or Windows
• Additional permissions to install software (Java JDK and USB Drivers) may be needed depending on your OS

A mobile device:

• Decent Android device with Android version 4.0.2 or newer. Nexus 4 or newer would be perfect for example.
• USB cable to connect device to your computer

Required skills:

• Basic coding. Object-oriented development with Java would be great plus.

1. Install Android Studio

Download and install software

Download Android studio:

• Go to Android Developer site https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html, download latest Android Studio package
• Install the main app as instructed, with defaults

2. Start Android Studio, download Components

• With first Studio start it downloads and installs required additional Android SDK components and dependencies
• Standard Install type is just fine, it should show "create new project" wizard when preparations are done.
• Be patient - many Android Studio steps (updates, builds etc) can take many seconds, even few minutes with very minimal progress indication

3. Prepare and connect to your Android device

• Enable development mode for your Android device. Exact procedure depends a bit on your device and OS, you can just google "enable development ". Go to Development settings and enable USB Debugging. For example on most devices following works:
• On some OS-s (i.e. Windows) you may need to install additional USB drivers, see more info here: https://developer.android.com/studio/run/win-usb.html. This is not needed on Mac (and probably Linux)
• Connect your Android device with USB to the computer and it should ask debug permissions on device. Allow it.
• Note: if you really want you can try using Android Emulator (a.k.a. virtual device), but this is much slower, and does not have (good) multi-touch for map pinch-zoom/tilt features.
• To test connection create any basic new project for mobile device (not Watch) with new project wizard and next-next and run it on device with Run > Run 'app' from menu. You should see your device in list of targets as the first one, and selecting it installs and starts app on it.