Android Question Do I need JDK and ADK yet ?

[RVVdave]

Hi

New to B4A

I write in VB6 and have a program that takes Joystick input and sends out byte array BT to a device using SPP

I don't have phone to test it on
I realise I will need to get one to run BT and Joystick on to test the code and will connect using the bridge to phone.
But for now I just need to work on porting my code over using basics BT and Joy code I found here and when comes time to sort out Ill get a phone with android to test it.
I don't have any GUI to work on other than a settings form to save settings so for now it just the code parts.

Want to ask can I just use trial B4A alone for now to do some code work in without installing the Java SDK and or Android SDK ?

Thanks.

 

[Erel]

Yes, you can communicate with other devices over Bluetooth. Check the Bluetooth tutorial: https://www.b4x.com/search?query=Bluetooth+tutorial

 

[RVVdave]

Yes, you can communicate with other devices over Bluetooth. Check the Bluetooth tutorial: https://www.b4x.com/search?query=Bluetooth tutorial

Thanks Erel

I have been reading here for last few days and went over all the Bluetooth tute you linked and others like Joystick etc to get the basics of it.
What I needed to know is will B4A work alone without the SDK's so I can just work on the code aspect of the project and use the SDK's and phone later to do the last bits of it.
Or do I need to install the JDK and ADK to use B4A.

 

[Erel]

See the installation instructions here: https://www.b4x.com/b4a.html

 

[RVVdave]

See the installation instructions here: https://www.b4x.com/b4a.html

I read it a few times, various searches of the forums, dloaded the guides in zip and read through them and it all answers most questions I had, but didn't find the answer to the question I asked here.

Questions is what relevance does Java SDK and Android SDK and for that matter NET framework and Emulators to B4A.

The B4A-Bridge explains what it is and what is does in relation to B4A.
But the other installs to use I listed above, no idea how they relate to the program which means Ill be lost at the first sign of an error if I don't know what functions all the other parts have to B4A.

I install bare VB6 and just use it, no OCX's, anything it wont do there is an API to use and if the IDE doesn't work then its easy to solve, my code is wrong and that's all.

B4A could be the IDE, or JDK, or ADK, or emulator or my code and no way to know which it is since the SDK functions to B4A IDE are not explained in help files or forum anywhere I can find.
That could potentially drag out my move to B4A with such complexities to a degree I cant justify the time on it with many visits here to ask about ever single error that pops up to see if that cause is my code, or JDK, or IDE, or NET, or ADK, or Emulator.

I'm using it for my business not for enjoyment and having win software to supply that does the job already makes it hard to justify.
Some owners of the machinery I make it works with said they would like to have mobile APP's, I said Ill look into it and if its not going to take too much time Ill do it.

And after I do it in B4A I need to do it in B4I too because I know as soon as I say I have an Android APP the next question from them will be do you have one for iOS too so I'm already regretting it and haven't started a line of code yet.

So if I can get a basic outline of why I need to install all these other parts from various places as well as B4A itself or how B4A relies on them that would be helpful .

Thanks

 

[RVVdave]

Ok I think I solved that thanks to youtube

It appears the B4A needs JDK to run the code libraries which are Java.
So in VB6 speak the Java libs are like code modules for reusable code.
Some of which B4A provides with it or can be created in Java to used in B4A.

Android SDK was explained enough by this video that covers all the usual Android SDK issues encountered.


So I it appears the Android SDK is platform on which the code is tested.

At which rate if I want to just work in B4A to do the code layout and test and debug it later I need the JDK installed and B4A at this stage.
And if I don't get sick of it by then and want to continue with it and test the app and debug the code I then need the Android SDK or Android device, but not both unless I want to test programs on Emulator and Device.

Does that cover it ?

 

[Erel]

B4A depends on two frameworks: Java JDK and Android SDK.

.Net is most probably not required as it is already installed on modern Windows.

 

[RVVdave]

.Net is most probably not required as it is already installed on modern Windows.

Thanks for that tip
I did wonder about NET and noted Win10 has NET4.6 in it already so figured Id just run it with that and see.