Python for Android, Part 1

We are now in the stage where we will start our learning curve on Android, and first things first. We need to prepare our development platform.

My assumptions are the following:

• Ubuntu 11.10 Desktop (12.04 just got released, I just never install it out of the oven, I always wait for a month or so before using it, so that I can install a more stable proven release); and...
• Ubuntu has been prep (here are a couple of very useful links: 10 Things to do after Installing Ubuntu 11.10, 15 Things I did after Installing New Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot)
• There is no Java JDK installed
• Internet connectivity!

So we begin by installing Java, in this case Open Java JDK. Please follow the next steps (taken from Ubuntu Community Documentation Java):

1. On a terminal window add the following commands:
   sudo apt-get install openjdk-6-jre
   sudo apt-get install icedtea6-plugin
   sudo apt-get install openjdk-6-jdk


2. Download and Install the Android Development Kit:
   Download the Android SDK Starter Package
   Instructions on Installing the SDK


3. Untar, unzip, and install (this is the latest version to the date of this post):
   cd
   tar -xzvf android-sdk_r18-linux.tgz
   sudo mv android-sdk-linux/ /opt
   cd /opt
   sudo ln -s android /opt/android-sdk-linux
   sudo chown -R (your-user-id):(your-user-group-id)  *
   
   NOTE I recommend to install in /opt (which is what I did), yet you can do it where ever you may want.


4. Now execute the installer:
   cd tools
   ./android


5. Select Android 2.2 latest revision and the Android SDK download will begin!

This is it, now stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon!

Learning Python

So far so good! I have now managed to create my 1^st webapp following the HF Python book, and one neat feature to know (though I come from a Django background, is the use of the CGI debugger feature!

If your like me, learning the ins and outs of the Python foundation, this will allow you to get more information on the standard error, streamed at the browser, for debugging purposes (HF Python, page 248). Add the following two lines of code to your main webapp script and let Python take care of showing you the details of the errors it has found:

import cgitb
cgitb.enable()

So now we go on to Python for Android and I'm sure you will like these two links:

Python-for-Android
Android-Scripting

Python 3

I have now formally started the python 3 learning curve, and have to say that Head First Python is a must read for any beginner or mid-level. Stay tuned for news and highlights on this new phase!