Bummer: something went wrong trying to "Ping Bluemix" from helloAuthentication Android sample app

Question

With help on this forum, I was finally able to run "bms-samples-hellotodo-advanced", which used MCA with Facebook authentication.

I'm still having no joy with "bms-samples-helloauthentication", which uses MCA with Google authentication.

I'm building and debugging with Android Studio, using Genymotion emulators. I'm following these instructions:

• bms-samples-android-helloauthentication README.md

• https://console.ng.bluemix.net/docs/services/mobileaccess/google-auth-android.html

Everything builds with no warnings or errors. I'm able to start the app successfully.

But when I click "Ping Bluemix", the app displays: Bummer: something went wrong

• I do not get a Google login dialog

• I do not see any errors or warnings in Logcat

• The debugger shows that I get past pingBluemix() > new Request(BMSClient.getInstance().getBluemixAppRoute() + "/protected", Request.GET).send(this, this);

• But I do not ever hit onActivityResult(), so I never get a chance to call GoogleAuthenticationManager.getInstance().onActivityResultCalled()

• cf logs helloAuthentication2 shows:

  2016-04-06T23:28:51.97-0700 [App/0] OUT [2016-04-07 06:28:51.971] [ERROR] [default] - Missing authorization

How can I troubleshoot and resolve this problem?

Is there any way I can troubleshoot MCA/Google authentication independent of running the Android app?

Answer 1

Many thanks to James Young above:

1. No, my Genymotion emulators did not have Google Play Services installed. That was the problem.

2. To install Google Play Services:

   a) Click on the browser

   b) Search for Google Play Services apk

   c) Install from Google Play (ideal) or

   d) Select a version on apkmirror.com and install manually

3. Once Google Play Services were installed, "everything worked". When I clicked "Ping Bluemix", I got a dialog for a Google logon, and was successfully able to authenticate through Bluemix.

Thank you again, James!