CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javaandroidvisual-studio
Ari
Ari

Reputation: 3127

Android development: Visual Studio + Java. Is it possible (worth a try)?

I know there are (expensive) framework which let you write android apps in VS C# and compile it to android apk.

I also know, that it is possible to write Java application in VS (link).

Is it possible, maybe even not harder than in Eclipse, writing android apps in Visual Studio using some free plugins/frameworks/tools? Is it possible to compile androids apps, and debug it in phone/virtual device?

In the near future I think using Android Studio would be best choice.

Upvotes: 19

Views: 11945

Answers (5)

Tom
Tom

Reputation: 580

It is now possible to build and debug Java in Visual Studio. Enjoy.

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/vcblog/2015/11/06/java-debugging-and-language-support-in-visual-studio-for-android/

Upvotes: 6

Scott Nimrod
Scott Nimrod

Reputation: 11595

Have you considered Android Studio?

From there you can update your key-bindings (aka: shortcuts):

Preserve Visual Studio key mappings:

o   File | Settings | Key Bindings 
      KeyMaps | Visual Studio copy
o   Reset a key-shortcut
        Select a command in the Settings window and enter a key-combination

Some commands to consider:

      Build solution
       •    Other | Build
               Ctrl + Shift + B

   Renaming variables, methods, files, etc.
       •    Main Menu | Refactor | Rename…
               Ctrl + R, R

   Code Generation
       •    Main Menu | Code | Generate
               Ctrl + Period

Upvotes: 2

Heinzi
Heinzi

Reputation: 172220

I find myself in the same situation as you: Visual Studio is my main IDE, but I'm currently working on an Android project.

I suggest that you give Eclipse another try. The Android SDK integrates very nicely into Eclipse: for example, you have a graphical UI editor, which feels similar to the WPF editor in Visual Studio. Yes, Eclipse takes getting used to, and switching between both will be a hassle, due to subtle differences in the keyboard shortcuts (Jump to Definition is F3 in Eclipse and F12 in VS; IntelliSense Autocomplete is Enter in Eclipse and Tab in VS, etc.), but you will be rewarded by using "the right tool for the task".

Upvotes: 6

gexicide
gexicide

Reputation: 40048

Simply write them in Java using Eclipse. VS is not optimized for Java and Eclise has a larger ecosystem of useful plug-ins. Using VS for Android development is like designing a web-site with assembler: It is simply not made for that :).

You are asking whether it is worth a try. Well "a try" compared to what? Are you currently developing apps using other IDEs or have you never developed android apps and you only know VS and want to try it there?

If you already use other IDEs keep those. If this is your first android project, using Eclipse is easier, as written above.

Upvotes: 5

nicholas.hauschild
nicholas.hauschild

Reputation: 42849

Personally, I would use Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA to do my Android development, as they are both native Java IDE's.

You also might want to check out AIDE. It is an integrated IDE into the Android platform. You can write code on your Android device, and the IDE can deploy and launch the app from the IDE. It makes testing on a device easy, and it even integrates with other services, such as DropBox and GitHub.

On the other hand, to develop on it you would have to be a glutton for punishment. Try writing an entire app on a tablet/phone. It isn't easy...

Upvotes: 4

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