Android NDK Beginner’s Guide

Annotation Android NDK is all about injecting high performance into your apps. Exploit the maximum power of these mobile devices using high-performance and portable code. This book will show you how to create C/C++ enabled applications and integrate them with Java. You will learn how to access native API and port libraries used in some of the most successful Android applications. Using this practical step-by-step tutorial, highlighted with comments and tricks, discover how to run C/C++ code embedded in a Java application or in a standalone application. You will create a real native application starting from project creation through to full implementation of native API and the porting of existing third-party libraries. You will discover OpenGL ES and OpenSL ES, which are becoming the new standard in mobility. You will also understand how to access keyboard and input peripherals and how to read accelerometer or orientation sensors. Finally, you will dive into more advanced topics such as debugging and ARM assembler instructions. By the end of the book, you should know the key elements to enable you to start exploiting the power and portability of native code. Read more... Abstract: Annotation Android NDK is all about injecting high performance into your apps. Exploit the maximum power of these mobile devices using high-performance and portable code. This book will show you how to create C/C++ enabled applications and integrate them with Java. You will learn how to access native API and port libraries used in some of the most successful Android applications. Using this practical step-by-step tutorial, highlighted with comments and tricks, discover how to run C/C++ code embedded in a Java application or in a standalone application. You will create a real native application starting from project creation through to full implementation of native API and the porting of existing third-party libraries. You will discover OpenGL ES and OpenSL ES, which are becoming the new standard in mobility. You will also understand how to access keyboard and input peripherals and how to read accelerometer or orientation sensors. Finally, you will dive into more advanced topics such as debugging and ARM assembler instructions. By the end of the book, you should know the key elements to enable you to start exploiting the power and portability of native code Discover the native side of Android and inject the power of C/C++ in your applications In Detail Android NDK is all about injecting high performance into your apps. Exploit the maximum power of these mobile devices using high-performance and portable code. This book will show you how to create C/C++ enabled applications and integrate them with Java. You will learn how to access native API and port libraries used in some of the most successful Android applications. Using this practical step-by-step tutorial, highlighted with comments and tricks, discover how to run C/C++ code embedded in a Java application or in a standalone application. You will create a real native application starting from project creation through to full implementation of native API and the porting of existing third-party libraries. You will discover OpenGL ES and OpenSL ES, which are becoming the new standard in mobility. You will also understand how to access keyboard and input peripherals and how to read accelerometer or orientation sensors. Finally, you will dive into more advanced topics such as debugging and ARM assembler instructions. By the end of the book, you should know the key elements to enable you to start exploiting the power and portability of native code. What you will learn from this book Approach This beginner's guide focuses on getting you through all the major learning points in a smooth, logical order. You'll also see how to avoid some common pitfalls. Who this book is written for Are you an Android Java programmer who needs more performance? Are you a C/C++ developer who doesn't want to bother with Java stuff and its out-of-control garbage collector? Do you want to create fast intensive multimedia applications or games? Answer yes to any of the above and this book is for you. With some general knowledge of C/C++ development, you will be able to dive head first into native Android development.

In Detail

Android NDK is all about injecting high performance into your apps. Exploit the maximum power of these mobile devices using high-performance and portable code.

This book will show you how to create C/C++ enabled applications and integrate them with Java. You will learn how to access native API and port libraries used in some of the most successful Android applications.

Using this practical step-by-step tutorial, highlighted with comments and tricks, discover how to run C/C++ code embedded in a Java application or in a standalone application. You will create a real native application starting from project creation through to full implementation of native API and the porting of existing third-party libraries. You will discover OpenGL ES and OpenSL ES, which are becoming the new standard in mobility. You will also understand how to access keyboard and input peripherals and how to read accelerometer or orientation sensors. Finally, you will dive into more advanced topics such as debugging and troubleshooting applications. By the end of the book, you should know the key elements to enable you to start exploiting the power and portability of native code.

Approach

This beginner's guide focuses on getting you through all the major learning points in a smooth, logical order. You'll also see how to avoid some common pitfalls.

Who this book is for

Are you an Android Java programmer who needs more performance? Are you a C/C++ developer who doesn't want to bother with Java stuff and its out-of-control garbage collector? Do you want to create fast intensive multimedia applications or games? Answer yes to any of the above and this book is for you. With some general knowledge of C/C++ development, you will be able to dive head first into native Android development.

This is a practical hands-on book with clear instructions and lot of code examples. It takes a simple approach, guiding you through different architectural topics using realistic sample projects. A single project is implemented using different architectural styles to make the reader understand the details of each style. There are also many small independent code samples to explain design patterns, WCF, and localization. This book is for people familiar with the ASP.NET framework using either C# or VB.NET. You don't need to be an ASP.NET guru – the book is ideal for novice and intermediate developers. If reading about application architecture usually confuses you or sends you to sleep, then this book will be perfect for you! In short, any ASP.NET programmer who is confused or disoriented reading different books or materials on architectures wondering how and what to implement in their application, will definitely benefit from this book! Chapter 3: Interfacing Java and C/C++ with JNI; Working with Java primitives; Time for action - building a native key/value store; Referencing Java objects from native code; Time for action - saving a reference to an object in the Store; Local and global JNI references; Throwing exceptions from native code; Time for action - raising exceptions from the Store; JNI in C++; Handling Java arrays; Time for action - saving a reference to an object in the Store; Checking JNI exceptions; Summary; Chapter 4: Calling Java Back from Native Code; Synchronizing Java and native threads Content: Preface Chapter 1: Setting Up your Environment Chapter 2: Creating, Compiling, and Deploying Native Projects Chapter 3: Interfacing Java and C/C++ with JNI Chapter 4: Calling Java Back from Native Code Chapter 5: Writing a Fully-native Application Chapter 6: Rendering Graphics with OpenGL ES Chapter 7: Playing Sound with OpenSL ES Chapter 8: Handling Input Devices and Sensors Chapter 9: Porting Existing Libraries to Android Chapter 10: Towards Professional Gaming Chapter 11: Debugging and Troubleshooting Index