B4A includes all the features needed to quickly develop any type of Android app.
B4A is used by tens of thousands of developers from all over the world, including companies such as NASA, HP, IBM and others.
Together with B4i you can now easily develop applications for both Android and iOS.
Screenshots
Installation
1. Java JDK v7 or v8
- Open the Java 8 JDK download link.
- Check the Accept License Agreement button.
- Select "Windows x86 (32-bit) or Windows x64" in the platforms list.
- Download the file and install it.
2. Android SDK
- Download Android SDK.
- Install the SDK. The SDK doesn't work properly when it is installed in a path with spaces (like "Program Files").
It is recommended to install it to a custom folder similar to C:\Android. - Install Android SDK Tools, Android SDK Platform-Tools, Android SDK Build-tools (v23.0.3 is recommended),
Android Support Repository, Google Repository and at least one platform (see the image below). Use API 14 or above. - You can also install Google USB Driver if you need to connect a physical device with USB. A list of other drivers is available here.
3. B4A
- Download B4A Trial Version
- Open B4A.
- Choose Tools > Configure Paths.
- Use the Browse button to locate "javac.exe" and "android.jar"
4. B4A-Bridge (optional)
- B4A-Bridge allows the IDE to connect to the device over the wireless network. This is an alternative to USB debug mode (which is also supported).
- Download B4A-Bridge from Google Play. You can search for B4A Bridge or press on the above button. You can also download the apk file directly.
- Make sure that installation of apps from unknown sources is enabled. This can be set under Settings - Security or Settings - Applications.
- Run B4A-Bridge on the device. See this tutorial for more information.
- Connect the IDE to the device: Tools - B4A Bridge - Connect
- You are ready to run your first Android program!
5. Next Steps
- Join our community
- Download the beginner's guide
- Use the site search feature (top right corner). It works!
Documentation
Frequently asked questions
Q: Do I need to know Visual Basic, VB6, VB.Net, etc... to develop with B4A?
A: No. B4A programming language is simple and straightforward.
Q: What is the difference between the Standard version and the Enterprise version?
A: The Standard version includes two months of free upgrades. The Enterprise version includes two years of free upgrades.
Q: Which phones and tablets are supported?
A: All Android devices running Android 2.0 or above are supported.
Q: What are the limitations of the trial version?
A: The trial version is limited to 30 days and the project size is limited.
Q: How can I reuse existing Java code?
A: You can wrap your Java code as a library and then reference it from B4A IDE. See this forum for more information.
Q: How is the performance of B4A apps compared to native apps?
A: The performance of B4A apps (in Release mode) is similar to the performance of apps written with Java.
The size of a simple app is around 100 KB.
Q: I'm getting this error on startup: "Application could not be initialized correctly error 0xc0000135".
A: Install Microsoft .Net Framework 4+
- Windows Vista+: .Net Framework 4.5.2.
- Windows XP: .Net Framework 4.0.
- Windows Vista+: .Net Framework 4.5.2.
- Windows XP: .Net Framework 4.0.