Android emulator does not open until CTRL+C is pressed during "Starting emulator..."

[rmartin16]

Describe the bug

Several users in Discord have reported briefcase run android results in Briefcase getting stuck at the Wait Bar for Starting emulator.... When CTRL+C is pressed, Briefcase exits and the emulator opens.

This issue can be worked around by leaving the emulator open and running briefcase run android again and then choosing the running emulator in the list

Steps to reproduce

Not sure yet...

Expected behavior

Emulator opens while Briefcase is running.

Screenshots

No response

Environment

• Operating System: Windows 10/11
• Python version: 3.8, 3.10, 3.11
• Software versions:
  • Briefcase: 0.3.16

Logs

briefcase.2023_12_06-23_21_25.run(1).log
briefcase.2023_12_13-21_53_23.run(1).log
briefcase.2023_12_04-23_10_36.run.log
briefcase.2024_02_03-12_47_55.run.log

Additional context

Given that the emulator start running properly after Python exits, that suggests that Python is somehow blocking the emulator process. Or possibly that when Python closes the stdout pipe on its end, that unblocks the emulator so it can move forward... Maybe something else about the way Python is starting the emulator...

[JaxkDev]

Can add Python 3.8 + 23H2 to the list, seems to replicate 100% of the time...
briefcase.2024_03_01-00_08_47.run.log

[f-bdolan]

Additionally, when it does start, my application is not installed

[rmartin16]

Additionally, when it does start, my application is not installed

@f-bdolan: correct; when you press CTRL+C and the emulator opens, your app will not have been installed. However, if you run briefcase run android again and select the "running emulator", Briefcase will install your app then.

[f-bdolan]

Ah! Excellent, so there is a work-around. For those of you just showing up:

If briefcase run android stalls on "starting":

1. Run briefcase run android
2. Pick an emulator (if you use beePhone it will have debugging options turned on)
3. Wait a moment to stall
4. Hit Ctrl-C
5. Leave the emulator open
6. Run briefcase run android again and choose the SAME emulator
7. It will install