Android is certainly the most preferred choice for developers as it makes things simple and highly scalable. Nowadays Android development is becoming easier with the presence of numerous tools that allow developers to perform various activities. As of now, Google has
Android Studio encompassing various robust tools making Android app development way easier. And at the same time, third parties also build advanced tools that allow the development of highly robust and interactive applications on Android.
This is a list of the best Android tools that every developer needs to know of:
Android Studio
This basic and excellent Google Android Studio is an amazing Integrated Development Environment (IDI) that enables developers to attain everything they need without the requirement to leave the IDE itself. Coming to the file hierarchy and error checking, the coding environment works just as Java IDE while also offering the option to test applications leveraging Android Virtual Device Manager, Android Debugging Bridge and plugging in physical devices.
Genymotion
Developers who have worked with Android Emulator understand well how gruesome it is to start the emulator and run an application. For that you have third-party tool Genymotion that resolves the issues offering “hardware accelerated Android emulator” that is fast and free. This tool can be used to save a hell of a lot of time in Android development.
GameMaker- Studio
GameMaker: Studio is among the easiest and most advanced Android development tools offering full customization on every element. This tool works best in 2D gaming excelling in every category while having an intuitive and simple user interface enabling you with drag and drop abilities and actions. In case you like customization, then you can code using GameMaker Language (GML) that allows you to learn easily as it doesn’t have methods while the syntax is way simpler and shorter as compared to java or C++. Download the free version and know everything about how to use this tool in order to build an Android application.
Ubertesters
Is your app using location-based services? Did you detect it with usability bugs? Are you required to manage frequent app versions? In that case, a professional and reliable app testing and distribution tool such as Ubertesters is required. TestFlight, the intuitive and easy-to-use in-app “feedback widget” allows you to shine among others. As you integrate SDK various floating buttons appear inside the application, on which as you tap will show numerous controls useful in performing wide-ranging tasks like writing bug reports, annotating screenshots, performing tests from within the running application. This is among the best free tools ensuring reliability and performance.
AVD Manager
You get this feature with built-in Google Android Studio making it easier to test the application on a virtual device ensuring it’s bug-free and performing optimally. Using this tool, app developers can customize virtually every element of the device, comprising RAM size, instruction set, screen size, and resolution. The performance is good, though Google did come together with Intel in order to build “fast virt mode” using Hardware Accelerated Execution Manager allowing to speed up the performance of the virtual device radically.
Unity 3D
It’s just the ideal tool you can start with when you have a liking for 3D. However, you must understand that 3D is a new and unique ballgame demanding quite some time and effort that makes it easier to learn how every aspect is worked upon. However, nothing to worry about as Unity3D presents various demos and tutorials that allows you start quickly using a C# programming language as well as you can use external software to build 3D models. Few examples of good software consist of Autodesk Maya, Blender and Photoshop CC 2015. You will be required to work with complex 3D meshes, objects and materials as each is with separate code and numerous combinations. Meanwhile, for a newbie to Android game development, it’s best to start with some other engine instead of using Unity 3D.
Conclusion
There are various ways in which you can develop applications for Android and this is just the right place to start with whether you desire Loa or Java, 3D or a simple approach. Use various Android tools and find out which works best for you.