LAMW: Lazarus Android Module Wizard

Posted by: Elaa iSolution on 8:28 AM in 0

LAMW: Lazarus Android Module Wizard
RAD Android!

 "Getting Started" for Windows [by Jose Marques Pessoa]

 Linux Install Tutorial:  LAMW folder  "...docs\linux" 


 About MacOS: X11 [libGL.dylib] is no longer bundled with Mountain Lion (and later!)   
   [This prevents/drop some LAMW features, 
   including the use of OpenGL components "jCanvasES1" and "jCanvasES2"]

 About MacOs Install:  [adapted from ".../docs/linux/tutorial_by_waynesherman]
  .Install [I] Infrastructure
  .Install FPCUpdeluxe
   https://github.com/newpascal/fpcupdeluxe/releases/download/v1.6.0q/fpcupdeluxe-powerpc-darwin-carbon.app.zip
  .Use FPCUpdeluxe to Install FPC+Laz   [trunk or  stable or ...]
  .Use FPCUpdeluxe to Install arm/android cross-compile  
       
.Github
 ref. https://github.com/jmpessoa/lazandroidmodulewizard

.Forum
 ref. http://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,21919.0.html

I. Infrastructure

.Java JDK 8 : [recommended!!!]

 http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html
 
 Warning:  Java JDK > 8 don't support [anymore] "ant" build system!

.Android SDK [old] ---  "ant" and "gradle" build supported...    [recommended!!!]
 [Windows] http://dl.google.com/android/installer_r24.0.2-windows.exe
 [Linux]  http://dl.google.com/android/android-sdk_r24.0.2-linux.tgz
 [Mac]  http://dl.google.com/android/android-sdk_r24.0.2-macosx.zip

 Hint: 1)after unpacked/install, open a command line Terminal and go to folder "sdk/tools"
  2)run the command  "android update sdk"   to open a GUI "SDK Manager"
  3)check "Android SDK Tools"
  4)check "Android SDK Platform-Tools"  
  5)check "Android SDK Build-Tools 25.0.3" 
  6)check "Android SDK Build-Tools 26.0.2"   
  7)go to "Android 7.1.1 (API 25)" and check only "SDK Platform"
  8)go to "Android 8.0.0 (API 26)" and check only "SDK Platform"
  9)go to "Extras" and check: 
    "Android Support Repository"    
    "Android Support Library"    
    "Google USB Drive" //windows only...
    "Google Repository"
    "Google Play Services"  

.Android SDK  [updated/modern version] --- only "gradle" build  supported...

 [Windows] https://dl.google.com/android/repository/sdk-tools-windows-3859397.zip
 [Linux]  https://dl.google.com/android/repository/sdk-tools-linux-3859397.zip
 [Mac]  https://dl.google.com/android/repository/sdk-tools-darwin-3859397.zip


.Android NDK
 https://developer.android.com/ndk/downloads/index.html

.Laz4Android [Windows] [cross-arm-android compiler installed!] 
   http://sourceforge.net/projects/laz4android/files/?source=navbar

 :: OR Lazarus [canonical]
  "Do It Yourself" a cross Android compile! [windows]:    
   After install the LAMW go to:
   1. IDE "Tools" --> "[Lamw] Android Module Wizard" --> "Get FPC Source [Trunk]"
   2. IDE "Tools" --> "[Lamw] Android Module Wizard" --> "Build FPC Cross Android"

.Ant [to build Apk]

 http://ant.apache.org/bindownload.cgi 
 Simply extract the zip file to a convenient location...

.Gradle 4.4.1 [to build Apk with "AppCompat" [material design] theme]
 https://gradle.org/next-steps/?version=4.4.1&format=bin

 Simply extract the zip file to a convenient location...

 warning: Gradle build process need internet connection!!!

.Hint [Lazarus Docked Desktop. Nice!]
 https://github.com/FlKo/LazarusDockedDesktops


.[LAMW 0.8] "AppCompat" [material design] theme need:'+
  1. Java JDK 1.8   
  2. Gradle 4.4.1 [https://gradle.org/next-steps/?version=4.4.1&format=bin]
  3. Android SDK "plataforms" 26 + "build-tools" 26.0.2 
  4. Android SDK/Extra "Support Repository"
  5. Android SDK/Extra "Support Library"
  5. Android SDK/Extra "Google Repository"
  5. Android SDK/Extra "Google Play Services"  

II. LAMW:  Lazarus Android Module Wizard

 .Install order.

  tfpandroidbridge_pack.lpk [..../android_bridges]
  lazandroidwizardpack.lpk [..../android_wizard]
  amw_ide_tools.lpk  [..../ide_tools]

III. USING LAMW

1. Configure Paths:

 Lazarus IDE menu "Tools" ---> "[Lamw] Android Module Wizard" -->  "Path Settings ..."

  ref. https://od.lk/f/Ml8xNTU4Mjc1NDZf

 NOTE: [MacOs >= 10.5] path to Java JDK auto setting as: ${/usr/libexec/java_home}

2. [How to] New Project [Thanks to Ahmad Bohloolbandi (a.k.a. @developing)]

 After install "LAMW" packages and Configured the paths:

 2.1-From Lazarus IDE select "Project" -> "New Project" 
 
  ref. https://od.lk/f/Ml8xNTU4Mjc1NThf

 2.2-From displayed dialog select "LAMW GUI Android Module"  

 2.3-Press OK Button.

 2.4. From Form "Android Module wizard: Configure Project..." [Workspace Form]

  ref. https://od.lk/f/Ml8xNTU4Mjc1NjBf

 2.4-Fill/complete the fields:

  "Path to workspace [projects folder]"  

   example: C:\MyLamwProjects

 2.5-Fill/complete the field:

  "New Project Name  [or Selec one]

   example: LamwGUIProject1

   [This is your Android App/Apk name]

 2.6-[MinSdk] Select the  Min. Device Api need to run your App:

  example: 14

 2.8-Select Architecture/Instruction: 

  example: ARMv6
  
        2.9.Select Android Theme

  example: [DefaultDevice]

   or "AppCompat" for material design theme

 2.9.Click "OK"

 2.10-Save All [unit1.pas] to path that is showed ...

3. From "Android Bridge" component tab drag/drop a jTextView in the "Android Module Form" designer

 set property: 
  PosRelativeToParent  = [rpTop,rpCenterHorizontal]

 WARNING!
  .Please, whenever a dialog prompt, select "Reload from disk"

4. From "Android Bridge" component tab drag/drop a jButton the "Android Module Form" designer

 set property: 
  Anchor = jTextView1
 set property: 
  PosRelativeToAnchor : [raBelow]
 set property:
  PosRelativeToParent = [rpCenter]

 write code for event property "OnClick":
  example: ShowMessage('Hello!')

5.  Lazarus IDE menu "Run" ---> "Build"    

 PANIC? Please, go to:
  III.1. "Configure Paths" and fix its!

6. Connect your Device to Computer [usb] and configure it to "debug mode"     

 "App settings"  ---> more/aditional -- developer options [*]:  

  stay awake  [checked!]
  usb debugging [checked!]
  verify apps via usb [checked!]

 PANIC? Go to Google search with "android usb debugging <device name>" to get the operating mode adapted to your device...
 
  ex. Galaxy S3/S4 --> app settings --> about -->> Build number -->> [tap,tap,tap,...]
         ex. MI 2 --> app settings --> about -->> MIUI Version -->> [tap,tap,tap,...]

7.Lazarus IDE menu "Run" ---> "[Lamw] Build Apk and Run" [Congratulations!!!]

8.PANIC? Fail to buid "Apk" or Run "Demos"...

 .Try change project "AndroidManifest.xml" according your Android SDK system installation....

   .<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="15" android:targetSdkVersion="17"/>

  .Change your project "build.xml"  according your  Android SDK system installation and "AndroidManifest.xml"

   .<property name="target"  value="android-17"/>   


9. Using/Testing "Demos":  [Please, before try a demo, do yourself a first "hello world" apk!]
[so, you can test your environment settings ...]

 .Lazarus IDE menu --> Open the project *.lpi   [....\jni]
 .Lazarus IDE menu --> Project -->  Project Inspector --> "Unit1.pas"  [etc...]
 .Lazarus IDE menu "Run" ---> "Build"    
 .Lazarus IDE menu "Run" ---> "[Lamw] Build Apk and Run" 

 [Congratulations!!!]

10. NOTE: All LAMW projects [and demos] are Eclipse compatible!

  Thank you!

11. About "untitled" demos:

AppTest1 : multi-form demo
AppTest2: jni coding: the hard way
AppTryCode1: jHello component demo [array, strings,  etc...]
AppTryCode2: jMediaPlayer1 and  jSurfaceView1 components demo 
AppTryCode2: jDumpJavaMethods component demo [about java to pascal converter...]


Thanks to All!
 

[FAQ 2]: [Thanks to Ahmad Bohloolbandi (a.k.a. @developing) ]

#Question: How do we can design a layout that shown same in real device?

[Answer]: You should use the component properties: 

  "Anchor", 
  "PosRelativeToParent", 
  "PosRelativeToAnchor", 
  "LayoutParamHeight", 
  "LayoutParamWhidth" 
          
Example: 

1-Put a "jTextView" component on your AndroidModule form:

 Set "PosRelativeToParent"
  "rpCenterHorizontal" [True]
  "rpTop" [True]

2-Put a "jButton" component on AndroidModule form:

 Set "Anchor" to "jTextView" (Because you should set position relative with "jTextView")
 set "PosRelativeToAnchor"
  "raBelow" [True]

3-Put a "jEditText" component on form:

 Set "Anchor" to "jButton".
 Set "PosRelativeToAnchor"
  "raBelow" [True]

NOTE:  Anchor setting is most important section of this design, 
 because your component position depends on this property.
 And for change width and/or height of each components you should 
 change/configure "LayoutParamWhidth" and/or "LayoutParamHeight".