Getting Started with Android Development for Embedded Systems

Colin Walls
colin_walls@mentor.com

Agenda
Introduction Android architecture Application development Android deployment Mentor Graphics support for Android Conclusions

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What is Android?
An operating system for smart phones?
yes and no

An integrated software platform for building smart phones?

almost

An integrated software platform for building connected devices

application framework on top of Linux open source not GPL
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What is Android?

Application

Application

Application Framework

Windows

DOS

DOS

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What is Android?

Application

Application

Open Source or Proprietary Middleware glibc or uClibc

Android

Linux

Linux

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Android History
2005 2007 2008 2008 2009 Google acquires Android Inc. Open Handset Alliance announces Android First Android based handset launched Android source code released Mentor Graphics acquires Embedded Alley

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Agenda
Introduction Android architecture Application development Android deployment Mentor Graphics support for Android Conclusions

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Android Architecture
Linux
2.6.3x
115 patches required

provides:
process management memory management security networking drivers:
display, keypad, camera, WiFi, flash, audio, IPC, power
Linux

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Android Architecture
Libraries
e.g.:
libc - bionic media libraries graphics SQLite
Libraries

Linux

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Android Architecture
Android runtime
Dalvik VM Not a Java VM
register based

one instance per application memory optimized uses Linux to manage memory and multithreading
Libraries Android runtime

Linux

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Android Architecture
Application framework
services and systems:
views content providers resource manager notification manager activity manager
Libraries Android runtime Application framework

all Java classes any application can publish its capabilities

Linux

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Android Architecture
Applications
programs provided:
email SMS calendar Web browser contacts
Applications Application framework

Libraries

all applications have the same status Java programs

Uses standard Java tools Converted to Dalvik bytecode

Android runtime

Linux

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Agenda
Introduction Android architecture Application development Android deployment Mentor Graphics support for Android Conclusions

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Development Environment
Eclipse based
Android Development Tools (ADT) plug-in Create an Android Virtual Device (AVD) Android Emulator
or

Target device
T-Mobile G1 Android Dev Phone 1 USB connection

Only ARM devices

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Programming Model

All the resources for an application are bundled into an archive Android package Programs written in Java
run using Dalvik VM use non-standard, memory efficient bytecodes each program has its own Linux process data protected, but sharing possible

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Programming Model

No single entry point main()

components instantiated and run as required types of components:
activities services broadcast receivers content providers

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Programming Model
Activities
executable unit that performs specific function has UI application may have numerous activities one activity nominated as default [entry point]

Broadcast receivers
respond to broadcast messages

Content providers
makes applications data available to others can be: file system SQLite other

Services
similar to activity no UI runs in the background

targeted by
ContentResolver

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Programming Model
Manifest file
describes components of an application structured XML file
called AndroidManifest.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <manifest . . . > <application . . . > <activity android:name="com.example.project.MyActivity . . . > </activity> . . . </application> </manifest>
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Programming Model

Intents
asynchronous messages activate activities, services, and broadcast receivers for activities and services, specifies action and location of data applications have intent filters

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Programming Model
Intent filters
describe what intent the components of an application can handle in manifest file
<application . . . > <activity android:name="com.example.project.MyActivity . . . > <intent-filter . . . > <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" /> <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" /> </intent-filter> </activity> . . . </application>
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Agenda
Introduction Android architecture Application development Android deployment Mentor Graphics support for Android Conclusions

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Android is Designed for Mobile Phones

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Android Experience on Any Platform?

Consumer

Telcom

Automotive

Medical

Home

White Goods

Not so easy
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Meaningful Telecom Connections

Consumer Medical Automotive Home White Goods

Medical

Automotive

White Goods

Telecom

Agenda
Introduction Android architecture Application development Android deployment Mentor Graphics support for Android Conclusions

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The Embedded Alley approach Offer software and tools that precisely fit the customers product platform Maximize Open Source leverage for customers

Collaborate closely throughout the customer product life cycle

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Bridging the Smartphone Gap

Today Android strongly tied to 3G mobile devices
Chipsets, development tools, ecosystem (ARM, Qualcomm) Platform developer community anchored in Open Handset Alliance

Needs investment to enable wider market

Embedded CPUs, device drivers, board support Broader open source community

Embedded Alley is bridging that gap

Enabling popular embedded CPUs and chipsets Extending reach of Android Runtime porting/optimizations, development tools
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Embedded Alley and Android

Dramatically expands Android application space
Handheld multimedia Digital video Automotive Medical devices Home automation and SOHO networking Instrumentation and industrial control

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Android Deployment
Enable Customers to build product specific applications, UI Produce product specific SDK and emulator Extending beyond handset assumptions Enable developing product and industry specific classes

Applications Application framework

Porting/optimizing for instruction sets Integrating with hardware acceleration Extending beyond handset assumptions Enable product and industry specific middleware

Libraries

Android runtime

Porting and optimizing Android Dalvik VM for CPU cores and SoCs

Linux

Providing Androidready Linux kernel Integrating and testing board support and industry-specific device drivers 30 www.mentor.com/embedded

Development System for Android

Provides the latest stable Android runtime (Cupcake, 1.5)
Includes optimized Libraries for Architecture and CPU core Includes optimized Dalvik VM for the Architecture and the CPU core

Platform Libraries, Kernel

Developing and adding board ports and custom drivers Developing and adding product specific C/C++ Libraries (more than NDK) Enables customizing HAL for hardware specific needs

Runtime Dalvik, Java Native Interface

Developing and adding product specific JNI

Application Framework
Developing and adding product specific classes Enables customizing the UI, theme, and icons

Application SDK and Emulator (modified ADT, JDT Eclipse plug in)
Create product specific Application SDK Enables customizing the emulator to match the product (hardware, behavior and skins)

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Embedded Alley Development System

Eclipse IDE for application development, tools and debug
Latest stable gcc, binutils and gdb/gdbserver (CDT) Dnload app, console window, automatic debug connection (DSDP)

Match Customer requirements and workflow

Integration and build tool to create product specific runtime Build both proprietary code and open source components Control build type and flags - debug, code coverage, optimization levels, CPU flags Integrate with customer workflow and source control

Best practices and real world workflow

Reproducible builds Software BoM, Source package, License Auditing and Traceability Multiple build targets - development, test, production, manufacturing

User documentation
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Android Services
Custom board ports kernel and Android Extend Android I/O support with JNI and Class support Integrate product/industry specific middleware Turnkey solutions Application development Integration and Support services
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Agenda
Introduction Android architecture Application development Android deployment Mentor Graphics support for Android Conclusions

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Conclusions
Android is a disruptive technology
introduced for mobile phones much wider potential

Many challenges in wider Android deployment Mentor Graphics is committed to supporting developers who choose Android/Linux
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Questions?
Colin Walls
colin_walls@mentor.com

blogs.mentor.com/colinwalls