Android Studio 2.0 has finally ushered in a stable version, which is a big hit. The following article is a brief introduction to the new features of 2.0. If you want to see the details, please see here <Android Studio Practical Guide>
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English original: Android Studio 2.0
Author: Jamal Eason, Android product manager
Translator: Guokai Han (non fully translated)
Android Studio 2.0 is the fastest way to build high-quality, efficient applications on the Android platform, including mobile phones, tablets, Android Auto, Android Wear, and Android TV. As the official IDE from Google, Android Studio includes everything you need to build apps, including code editors, code analysis tools, simulators, and more. The new 2.0 stable version brings faster build speed and faster emulator, supports the latest Android and Google Play Services.
Android Studio works with the Android platform to support all the latest and most important APIs. If you are developing Android, you should use Android Studio 2.0. Today you can download it directly or update it on the stable channel.
Android Studio 2.0 includes the following new features that can be used in the development process:
- Instant Run – For all developers who like to build quickly. Make some changes, change it and watch it appear in the running application.
- Android Emulator -The new emulator is about 3 times faster than the previous emulator. At the same time, due to the enhancement of ADB, the speed of transferring applications and data to the emulator is 10 times faster than to the physical device.
- Cloud Test Lab integration -write once and run everywhere. With the Cloud Test Lab cloud service, you can quickly and easily run tests on a wide range of Android physical devices.
- App Indexing code generation and testing -App Indexing helps your app to better display in Google search, and now Android Studio can add an automatically generated URL for you.
- GPU Debugger Preview -For developers developing OpenGL ES games or applications, you can now use the GPU debugger to see the status of each frame and GL.
- IntelliJ 15 update – Android Studio is built on the Intellij platform and has now been upgraded to the latest version.
In-depth new features
Instant Run
Today, mobile platforms are centered around speed and agility. But building mobile applications sometimes feels cumbersome and slow. Instant Run in Android Studio allows you to enter a fast and smooth development process, accelerating the cycle of editing, building, and running. When you click the Instant Run button, it will analyze your changes and then decide how to deploy the new code in the fastest way.
New Instant Run button
Whenever possible, the changed parts of the code are injected into the running application process, thereby avoiding redeployment or reinstallation of the APK. Some types of changes require restarting the activity or application, but the cycle of editing, building, and running is usually faster than before. Instant Run can be used on all Android devices or emulators with API 14 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and above.
See the Instant Run documentation for more information . Note: <The Android Studio Practical Guide section 12.6 has detailed usage instructions in immediate operation>
Android emulator
The new Android emulator is up to 3 times faster than the previous emulator in terms of CPU, RAM, and I / O. ADB push speed increased by up to 10 times! In most cases, development on the official Android emulator is faster than on real devices.
In addition to speed and performance improvements, the Android emulator has a brand new user interface and sensor control panel.
Android emulator interface: toolbar and extended control panel
See the Android emulator documentation for more information . Note: <The Android Studio Practical Guide Section 12.5 Android Emulator has detailed usage instructions>
Cloud Test Lab
Cloud Test Lab is a cloud-based service that allows you to test your application on a wide range of devices and device configurations. Once you have completed the basic tests on your emulator or device, you can use Cloud Test Lab to test on a wider range of physical device combinations.
The new interface in Android Studio allows you to configure the test combination running on Cloud Test Lab and see the test results. See here for more information .
Configure Cloud Test Lab
App Indexing
App Indexing API can make your application easier to be found in Google search. Android Studio 2.0 can help you create the correct URL structure in the application code and add the corresponding attributes to the AndroidManifest.xml file. After adding, you can test and verify it in the figure below.
Google App Indexing Testing
For more Android Studio support for App Indexing, see here .
GPU debugger preview
If you are developing OpenGL ES games or graphics-based applications, a new GPU debugger is available in Android Studio 2.0. Although the GPU debugger is still in preview, you can identify and debug graphics rendering issues frame by frame. See here for more information .
GPU Debugger Preview
Next step
Update
You can update through Android Studio's automatic upgrade. Or download a new version here again. If you are developing the Android N Developer Preview, please refer to the configuration instructions here .
Configure Instant Run and Android emulator
After updating or downloading Android Studio 2.0, you should upgrade your project to use Instant Run, and create a new Android Virtual Device (AVD) to use the new Android emulator, so you have a faster Android development Experience.
Using Instant Run is easy. For each existing project, you will see a prompt to upgrade the project to the new gradle plugin version (com.android.tools.build:gradle:2.0.0).
