GuruBlog

The Processing-Team has released a new Beta a view days ago, this version has some awsome new features including starting support for Android Applications. This is a very short howto that shows how to get a first simple sketch running in the android emulator.

First you need the most current processing beta from here (0181 at the time of writing) and the android sdk from here.

unzip both files to a directory you like. Then go to the android-sdk/tools folder and start the android sdk manager (on linux for example by typing ./android in the shell)

then go to "Available Packages" on the left and install the Google APIs version 5 rev 1 and the corresponding sdks (its marked as obsolete so you have to check the little checkbox on the bottom)

then set a shell variable that points to the location of your android sdk

export ANDROID_SDK=/wherever/your/sdk/is

now start the processing beta and make a short sketch like this little bouncing ball

PVector pos;
PVector v;
void setup() {
  size(320,480,A2D);
  smooth();
  pos = new PVector( width/2, height/2);
  v = new PVector( 10, 10 );
}

void draw() {
  background(255);
  ellipse( pos.x, pos.y, 30,30);
  pos.add( v );
  if (pos.x < 0 || pos.x > width) v.set( v.x * -1, v.y,0 );
  if (pos.y < 0 || pos.y > height) v.set( v.x, v.y*-1,0 );
}

Switch to the android mode by selecting "Android Mode" from the tools menu

Now hit the play button Processing will start the android emulator and start your new sketch (this will take some time)

The android support is still a bit shaky and i haven't tried the apps on a real phone yet - but it's really prommissing and i really like the idea of running processing sketches on my phone :-)