Android NDK Setup

This page explains how to compile gameplay for Android devices on Windows 7.

Install the External Dependencies

Before you get started you will have to download the dependencies separately:

• Installing External Dependencies

Install Tools

Install the Android SDK

1. Download and install the Android SDK.
2. Make sure <android-sdk-path>/tools and <android-sdk-path>/platform-tools are added to PATH.

Install the Android NDK

1. Download and install the Android NDK.
2. Make sure <android-ndk-path> is added to PATH.

Install Apache Ant

1. Download and install Apache Ant.
2. Make sure <ant-path>/bin is added the PATH.

Building Library and Samples

1. Change to the android directory for the sample you want to build: cd samples/browser/android
2. Run the following command:

    ant debug

Packaging/Installing a sample game

Make sure developer mode is enabled and USB debugging is turned on.

1. Change directory to < cd samples/browser/android

2. Install the app: ant debug install

Troubleshooting

Device not detected

If ant debug install does not work, ensure your device is being detected properly by running adb devices. If no devices are reported, try downloading the correct USB drivers from you phone manufacturer's website. (OEM Drivers)

Debugging

Use logcat to capture the log file from the device.

adb logcat -d > logcat.txt

If your program crashed then the log file will contain the stack trace without symbols. Use ndk-stack to make the stack trace readable.

-sym points to the directory that contains the symbols while -dump points to the log file.

ndk-stack -sym C:\Git\gaming\GamePlay\samples\sample-mesh\android\obj\local\armeabi -dump d:\logcat.txt

How to build in ARM mode (instead of thumb mode)

• Open Android.mk in gameplay/android/jni/Android.mk

• Open Android.mk in each of the games you want to compile in ARM mode.

  (Example: gameplay-samples/sample00-mesh/android/jni/Android.mk)

• Below LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES, add the following line:

  LOCAL_ARM_MODE := arm
  

Note: You will have to re-run android.bat update (....) to update the build settings. (More information)