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The early feedback on developing applications for the Android platform was mixed.<ref name="MixedFeedback">{{cite web |url=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071219-google-android-plagued-by-dysfunctional-development-process.html |title=Developing apps for Google Android: it's a mixed bag |accessdate=2007-12-19 |last=Paul |first=Ryan |date=2007-12-19 |work=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref> Issues cited include bugs, lack of documentation, inadequate QA infrastructure, and no public issue-tracking system. (Google announced an issue tracker on 18 January 2008.)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2008/01/you-cant-rush-perfection-but-now-you.html |title=You can't rush perfection, but now you can file bugs against it |work=Android Developers Blog |first=Dan |last=Morrill |date=18 January 2008 |accessdate=2009-09-03}}</ref> In December 2007, MergeLab mobile startup founder Adam MacBeth stated, ''"Functionality is not there, is poorly documented or just doesn't work... It's clearly not ready for prime time."''<ref name="Bugs">{{cite web |url=http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB119800856883537515-lMyQjAxMDE3OTE4ODAxMDg4Wj.html |title=Glitches Bug Google's Android Software |accessdate=2007-12-19 |last=Morrison |first=Scott |date=2007-12-19 |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher= }}</ref> Despite this, Android-targeted applications began to appear the week after the platform was announced. The first publicly available application was the [[Snake (video game)|Snake game]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.android-freeware.org/download/snake |title=Snake |accessdate=2008-01-26 |work=Android Freeware Directory}}</ref><ref name="Snake">{{cite web |url=http://www.mobiles2day.com/2007/11/14/first-android-application-snake/ |title=First Android Application — Snake |accessdate=2008-01-07 |date=2007-11-14 |work=Mobiles2day |publisher= }}</ref>
The [[Android Dev Phone]] is a [[Subscriber Identity Module|SIM]]-unlocked and hardware-unlocked device that is designed for advanced developers. While developers can use regular consumer devices purchased at retail to test and use their applications, some developers may choose not to use a retail device, preferring an unlocked or no-contract device.
The Android [[software development kit]] (SDK) includes a comprehensive set of development tools.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/index.html |title = Tools Overview |work = Android Developers |date = 21 July 2009}}</ref> These include a [[debugger]], [[Software library|libraries]], a handset [[emulator]] (based on [[QEMU]]), documentation, sample code, and tutorials. The SDK is downloadable on the [http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html android developer website]. Currently supported development platforms include computers running [[Linux kernel|Linux]] (any modern desktop [[List of GNU/Linux distributions|Linux distribution]]), [[Mac OS X]] 10.4.9 or later, [[Windows XP]] or later. The officially supported [[integrated development environment]] (IDE) is [[Eclipse (software)|Eclipse]] (currently 3.5 or 3.6) using the Android Development Tools (ADT) Plugin, though developers may use any text editor to edit Java and XML files then use [[command line]] tools ([[Java Development Kit]] and [[Apache Ant]] are required) to create, build and debug Android applications as well as control attached Android devices (e.g., triggering a reboot, installing software package(s) remotely).<ref>{{cite web |url = http://jonwestfall.com/2009/08/backup-restore-android-apps-using-adb/ |title = Backup & Restore Android Apps Using ADB |first = Jon |last = Westfall |date = 25 August 2009 |work = JonWestfall.com |accessdate =2009-12-07}}</ref>▼
A preview release of the Android SDK was released on 12 November 2007. On 15 July 2008, the Android Developer Challenge Team accidentally sent an email to all entrants in the Android Developer Challenge announcing that a new release of the SDK was available in a "private" download area. The email was intended for winners of the first round of the Android Developer Challenge. The revelation that Google was supplying new SDK releases to some developers and not others (and keeping this arrangement private) led to widely reported frustration within the Android developer community at the time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/14/android_developer_unrest/ |title=Google plays Hide and Seek with Android SDK |first=Cade |last=Metz |date=14 July 2008 |accessdate=2008-10-23 |work=[[The Register]]}}</ref>
On 18 August 2008 the Android 0.9 SDK beta was released. This release provided an updated and extended API, improved development tools and an updated design for the home screen. Detailed instructions for upgrading are available to those already working with an earlier release.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://code.google.com/android/intro/upgrading.html |title=Android — An Open Handset Alliance Project: Upgrading the SDK |accessdate=2008-10-24}}{{Dead link|date=September 2009}}</ref> On 23 September 2008 the Android 1.0 SDK (Release 1) was released.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://developer.android.com/sdk/older_releases.html |title=Other SDK Releases |accessdate=2009-09-02 |work=Android Developers}}</ref> According to the release notes, it included "mainly bug fixes, although some smaller features were added." It also included several API changes from the 0.9 version. Multiple versions have been released since.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://developer.android.com/sdk/older_releases.html |title=SDK Archives}}</ref>
==Android SDK==
▲The Android [[software development kit]] (SDK) includes a comprehensive set of development tools.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/index.html |title = Tools Overview |work = Android Developers |date = 21 July 2009}}</ref> These include a [[debugger]], [[Software library|libraries]], a handset [[emulator]] (based on [[QEMU]]), documentation, sample code, and tutorials. The SDK is downloadable on the [http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
Enhancements to Android's SDK go hand in hand with the overall Android platform development. The SDK also supports older versions of the Android platform in case developers wish to target their applications at older devices. Development tools are downloadable components, so after one has downloaded the latest version and platform, older platforms and tools can also be downloaded for compatibility testing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://developer.android.com/sdk/tools-notes.html |title=SDK Tools}}</ref>
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