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Android Studio offers you an built-in growth surroundings (IDE) to develop, take a look at, debug, and package deal Android apps that may attain billions of customers throughout a various set of Android gadgets. Final month we reached an enormous milestone for the product: 10 years for the reason that Android Studio 1.0 launch reached the secure channel. You may hear a bit extra about its historical past within the most up-to-date episode of Android Builders Backstage, or watch a number of the staff’s favourite moments: 🎉
After we got down to develop Android Studio we began with these three rules:
First, we needed to construct and launch an entire IDE, not only a plugin. Earlier than Android Studio, customers needed to go obtain a JDK, then obtain Eclipse, then configure it with an replace heart to level to Android, set up the Eclipse plugin for Android, after which configure that plugin to level to an Android SDK set up. Not solely did we would like every thing to work out-of-the-box, however we additionally needed to have the ability to configure and enhance every thing: from having an built-in dependency administration system to providing code inspections that have been related to Android app builders to having a single place to report bugs.
Second, we needed to construct it on prime of an actively maintained, open-sourced, and best-of-breed Java programing language IDE. Not too lengthy earlier than releasing Android Studio, we had all used IntelliJ and felt it was superior from a code modifying perspective.
And third, we needed to not solely present a construct system that was higher suited to Android app growth, however to additionally allow this construct system to work persistently from each from the command line and from contained in the IDE. This was necessary as a result of within the earlier software chain, we discovered that there have been discrepancies in conduct and functionality between the in-IDE builds with Eclipse, and CI builds with Ant.
This led to the discharge of Android Studio, together with these highlights:
Listed here are some nostalgic screenshots from that first model of Android Studio:
Android Studio has come a good distance since these early days, however our mission of empowering Android builders with wonderful instruments continues to be our focus.
Let’s hear from some staff members throughout Android, JetBrains, and Gradle as they replicate on this milestone and the way far the ecosystem has come since then.
Android Studio staff
“Contained in the Android staff, engineers who did not work on apps had the selection between utilizing Eclipse and utilizing IntelliJ, and most of them selected IntelliJ. We knew that it was the gold normal for Java growth (and nonetheless is, all these years later.) So we requested ourselves: if that is what builders choose when given a alternative, would not this be for our customers as nicely?
And the nice and cozy reception once we unveiled the alpha at I/O in 2013 made it clear that it was the best alternative.”
– Tor Norbye, Engineering Director of Android Studio at Google
“We had a imaginative and prescient of making a really Built-in Improvement Atmosphere for Android app growth as an alternative of a set of associated instruments. In our earlier working mannequin, we had contributions of Android instruments from a spread of frameworks and UX flows that didn’t 100% work nicely end-to-end. The transfer to the open-sourced JetBrains IntelliJ platform enabled the Google staff to tie instruments collectively in a considerate means with Android Studio, plus it allowed others to contribute in a extra seamless means. Lastly, wanting again on the final 10 years, I’m pleased with the partnership with Jetbrains and Gradle, plus the group of contributors to deliver the perfect suite of instruments to Android app builders.”
– Jamal Eason, Director of Product Administration of Android Studio at Google
JetBrains
“Google selecting IntelliJ because the platform to construct Android Studio was a really thrilling second for us at JetBrains. It allowed us to strengthen and construct on the platform even additional, and paved the best way for additional collaboration in different initiatives equivalent to Kotlin.”
– Hadi Hariri, VP of Program Administration at JetBrains
Gradle
“Android Studio’s tenth anniversary marks a decade of unimaginable progress for Android builders. We’re proud that Gradle Construct Device has continued to be a foundational a part of the Android toolchain, enabling tens of millions of Android builders to construct their apps sooner, extra elegantly, and at scale.”
– Hans Dockter, creator of Gradle Construct Device and CEO/Founding father of Gradle Inc.
“Our long-standing strategic partnership with Google and our mutual dedication to bettering the developer expertise continues to impression tens of millions of builders. We sit up for persevering with that journey for a few years to return.”
– Piotr Jagielski, VP of Engineering, Gradle Construct Device
Final however not least, we need to thanks in your suggestions and help over the past decade. Android Studio wouldn’t be the place it’s right this moment with out the lively group of builders who’re utilizing it to construct Android apps for his or her communities and the world and offering enter on how we will make it higher every day.
As we head into this new 12 months, we’ll be bringing Gemini into extra elements of Android Studio that can assist you throughout the event lifecycle to construct high quality apps sooner. We’ll attempt to make it simpler and extra seamless to construct, take a look at, and deploy your apps with Jetpack Compose throughout the vary of kind components. We’re pleased with what we launch, however we at all times have room to enhance within the evolving cellular ecosystem. Due to this fact, high quality and stability of the IDE is our prime precedence so to be as productive as doable.
We sit up for persevering with to empower you with nice instruments and enhancements as we take Android Studio ahead into the subsequent decade. 🚀 We additionally welcome you to be part of our developer group on LinkedIn, Medium, YouTube, or X.