docs/html/preview/setup-sdk.jd

page.title=Set Up the SDK
meta.keywords="preview", "android"
page.tags="preview", "developer preview"
page.image=images/cards/card-n-sdk_2x.png

@jd:body


<div id="qv-wrapper">
  <div id="qv">
    <h2>In this document</h2>
      <ol>
        <li><a href="#get-as13">Get Android Studio 2.1</a></li>
        <li><a href="#get-sdk">Get the Preview SDK</a></li>
        <li><a href="#java8">Get the Java 8 JDK</a></li>
        <li><a href="#create-update">Create or Update a Project</a></li>
        <li><a href="#setup-test">Set Up for Testing</a></li>
      </ol>
  </div>
</div>

<p>
  You must have a development enviroment to make use of the Android N Developer
  Preview. This document describes how to setup and configure a development
  environment so you can use and test the Preview SDK.
</p>

<p>
  This document assumes that you are familiar with Android app development,
  such as using the Android SDK Manager and creating projects. If you are new
  to Android, see
  <a href="{@docRoot}training/basics/firstapp/index.html">Building Your First
  App</a> training lesson first.
</p>


<h2 id="get-as13">Get Android Studio 2.1</h2>

<p>
  The Developer Preview is best used with Android Studio 2.1, which is also in
  preview status. If you have an existing version of Android Studio you are
  using for development, you should install a separate instance of Android
  Studio for use with the Preview. This section describes how to install
  an instance of Android Studio and update to version 2.1.
</p>

<p class="caution">
  <strong>Caution:</strong> The canary preview of Android Studio 2.1 is still
  in active development. If you are using your primary development machine to
  test the developer preview, you should create a second installation of
  Android Studio to use for testing the Developer Preview.
</p>

<p>To install Android Studio and update to version 2.1:</p>

<ol>
  <li>Download, install, and launch the current version of
    <a href="{@docRoot}tools/studio/index.html">Android Studio</a>.
  </li>

  <li>In Android Studio, open the <em>Settings</em> dialog and in the left
    panel, choose <strong>Appearance &amp; Behavior &gt; System Settings &gt;
    Updates</strong>.
    <ul>
      <li>On Windows and Linux, open <em>Settings</em> by choosing
        <strong>File &gt; Settings</strong>.
      </li>
      <li>On Mac OS, open <em>Settings</em> by choosing
        <strong>Android Studio &gt; Preferences</strong>.
      </li>
    </ul>
  </li>

  <li>On the <em>Updates</em> panel, make sure the <strong>Automatically
    check updates for</strong> option is selected and choose the
    <strong>Canary Channel</strong> option.
  </li>

  <li>On the <em>Updates</em> panel, click <strong>Check Now</strong>
    to check for the latest canary build. Allow the software to download
    and install the canary version when prompted.
  </li>
</ol>


<h2 id="java8">Get the Java 8 JDK</h2>

<p>
  You must use the Java 8 Development Kit with the N Developer Preview. If you
  do not have this version of the JDK installed, download and install it before
  working with the Preview SDK.
</p>

<p>To set the JDK version in Android Studio:</p>

<ul>
  <li>Make sure you have installed the Java 8 JDK, and make a note of its
    directory location on your development computer.</li>
  <li>With a development project open in Android Studio, open the
    <em>Project Structure</em> dialog by choosing <strong>File &gt;
        Project Structure</strong>.
   </li>
   <li>In the left panel of the dialog, click <strong>SDK Location</strong>.
   </li>
   <li>In the <strong>JDK Location</strong> field, enter the location of the
    Java 8 JDK, and click <strong>OK</strong>.
   </li>
</ul>


<h2 id="get-sdk">Get the Preview SDK</h2>

<p>To add the Preview SDK to your Android Studio 2.1 development
  environment:</p>

<ol>
  <li>Launch Android Studio 2.1.
  </li>

  <li>In Android Studio, open the <em>Settings</em> dialog and in the left
    panel, choose <strong>Appearance &amp; Behavior &gt; System Settings &gt;
    Updates</strong>.
    <ul>
      <li>On Windows and Linux, open <em>Settings</em> by choosing
        <strong>File &gt; Settings</strong>.
      </li>
      <li>On Mac OS, open <em>Settings</em> by choosing
        <strong>Android Studio &gt; Preferences</strong>.
      </li>
    </ul>
  </li>

  <li>On the <em>Updates</em> panel, make sure the <strong>Automatically
    check updates for Android SDK</strong> option is selected and choose the
    <strong>Preview Channel</strong> option.
  </li>

  <li>In the <em>Settings</em> dialog left panel, choose
    <strong>Appearance &amp; Behavior &gt; System Settings &gt;
    Android SDK</strong>.
  </li>

  <li>Click the <strong>SDK Platforms</strong> button, and then select
    <strong>Android N Preview</strong>.
  </li>

  <li>Click the <strong>SDK Tools</strong> button, and select the latest
    Android <strong>SDK Tools</strong>, <strong>Platform-tools</strong>, and
    <strong>Build-tools</strong> versions.
  </li>

  <li>Click <strong>OK</strong> and then accept the licensing
    agreements for the packages to be installed.
  </li>
</ol>

<p>After completing these steps, the preview components are available in your
  development environment. </p>


<h2 id="create-update">Create or Update a Project</h2>

<p>
  In order to use the preview APIs, you must create or update a development
  project to use the preview components.
</p>


<h3 id="create">Create a new project</h3>

<p>
  Use the Android Studio new project wizard to create a project. For detailed
  information on how to create a project with this too, see
  <a href="{@docRoot}sdk/installing/create-project.html">Creating a Project</a>.
</p>

<p>To create a new project using the Preview SDK:</p>

<ol>
  <li>Start the New Project wizard and follow the steps until you reach the
    <em>Target Android Devices</em> page.
  </li>
  <li>On this page, select <strong>Phone and Tablet</strong> option.</li>
  <li>Under <strong>Phone and Tablet</strong> option, in the <strong>Minimum
    SDK</strong> option list, select <strong>Android N Preview</strong>.</li>
</ol>


<h3 id="update">Update an existing project</h3>

<p>
  For existing projects, you must modify the project configuration to use the
  Preview APIs. In your development environment, open the
  <code>build.gradle</code> file for your module and set these values as
  follows:
</p>

<pre>
android {
  compileSdkVersion <strong>'android-N'</strong>
  ...

  defaultConfig {
     ...
     minSdkVersion <strong>'N'</strong>
     targetSdkVersion <strong>'N'</strong>
     ...
  }
  ...
}</pre>



<h2 id="setup-test">Set Up for Testing</h2>

<p>
  Testing an app with the preview requires that you have a device or virtual
  device configured with the preview version of the platform. If you have a
  compatible device, you can install the preview platform for testing.
  Otherwise, you can configure a virtual device for testing.
</p>

<h3 id="setup-device">Set up a physical device</h3>

<p>
  If you have a Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, or Nexus Player, you can install a
  preview system image on these devices for testing your app. You can set up a
  virtual device with the preview version of the platform from within Android
  Studio using the Android Virtual Device Manager tool.
</p>

<p class="caution">
  <strong>Important:</strong> Installing a preview image on a device
  <em>removes all data from it</em>, so you should backup any data before
  installing a preview image.
</p>

<h3 id="setupAVD">Set up a virtual device</h3>

<p>
  You can set up virtual device with the preview version of the platform from
  within Android Studio using the Android Virtual Device Manager tool.
</p>

<p>To create an AVD with the AVD Manager:</p>

<ol>
  <li>Install the Preview SDK in your development environment, as described
    in <a href="{@docRoot}preview/setup-sdk.html">Setting Up the Preview
    SDK.</a></li>
  <li>Follow the steps in
    <a href="{@docRoot}tools/devices/managing-avds.html">Managing AVDs with AVD
    Manager</a>. Use the following settings:
    <ul>
      <li><strong>Device:</strong>
        Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, or Android TV</li>
      <li><strong>Target:</strong>
        Android N (Preview) - API Level N</li>
      <li><strong>ABI:</strong>
        x86</li>
    </ul>
  </li>
</ol>

<p>
  For more information about creating virtual devices for testing, see <a href=
  "{@docRoot}tools/devices/index.html">Managing Virtual Devices</a>.
</p>