Android Studio
Android Studio is the official IDE for writing Android software. It bundles together a source code editor based on IntelliJ IDEA, the Gradle build tool, and the Android SDK. This is available for download on Windows, macOS and Linux based operating systems. Each component provided with Android Studio is licensed under its own terms. Aside from the SDK, most of the components are distributed under the Apache License.
Android Studio was announced on May 16, 2013, at the Google I/O conference. It was in early access preview stage starting from version 0.1 in May 2013, then entered beta stage starting from version 0.8 which was released in June 2014. The first stable build was released in December 2014, starting from version 1.0. At the end of 2015, Google dropped support for Eclipse ADT, making Android Studio the only officially supported IDE for Android development.
On May 7, 2019, Kotlin replaced Java as Google's preferred language for Android app development. Java is still supported, as is C++.
Features
Plugin Ecosystem and ExtensibilityAndroid Studio's architecture is designed to be highly extensible, allowing developers to tailor the IDE to their specific needs through a robust plugin ecosystem. Plugins can introduce new functionalities, integrate external tools, and enhance existing features, thereby streamlining the development process.
Built-in Plugins: Essential tools integrated into Android Studio, such as Android Support, Kotlin Support, and Git Integration.
Third-Party Plugins: Popular community-driven extensions like Firebase Assistant, ButterKnife Zelezny, and SQLDelight, which expand functionality.
Developing Custom Plugins: The process of building new plugins using the IntelliJ Platform SDK and Gradle plugins for automation and customization.
Managing Plugins: Best practices for installing, updating, and optimizing plugins to maintain performance and compatibility.
Built-in Plugins
Out of the box, Android Studio includes a set of built-in plugins that support essential development tasks:Android Support: Provides tools and integrations specific to Android development, including project templates, wizards, and the Android SDK manager.Kotlin Support: Since Kotlin became Google's preferred language for Android app development in 2019, Android Studio has integrated comprehensive support for Kotlin, facilitating seamless development experiences.Git Integration: Offers version control support, enabling developers to manage code repositories directly within the IDE.Third-Party Plugins
Beyond the built-in options, developers can access a vast array of third-party plugins to extend Android Studio's capabilities:Firebase Assistant: Simplifies the process of adding Firebase services to an app, such as analytics, authentication, and cloud messaging.ButterKnife Zelezny: Automates the generation of view bindings for Android's ButterKnife library, reducing boilerplate code.SQLDelight: Assists in generating type-safe APIs from SQL statements, streamlining database interactions within Android applications.These plugins, among many others, are available through the JetBrains Plugin Repository and can be easily installed via Android Studio's plugin manager.
Developing Custom Plugins
For specialized requirements, developers have the option to create custom plugins:IntelliJ Platform SDK: Android Studio is built upon JetBrains' IntelliJ IDEA, and developers can utilize the IntelliJ Platform SDK to develop plugins that extend the IDE's functionality.Gradle Plugins: Custom Gradle plugins can automate build processes, manage dependencies, and perform other build-related tasks, enhancing the efficiency of project workflows.Comprehensive documentation and community resources are available to guide developers through the process of plugin development, ensuring that even complex extensions can be implemented effectively.
Managing Plugins
Effective management of plugins is crucial to maintain an optimal development environment:Installation and updates: Plugins can be installed and updated directly through Android Studio's plugin manager, accessible via the settings menu.Compatibility considerations: It's important to ensure that plugins are compatible with the specific version of Android Studio in use to prevent potential conflicts or issues.Performance impact: While plugins add valuable features, an excessive number can lead to increased resource consumption. Regularly reviewing and disabling unnecessary plugins can help maintain IDE performance.By leveraging the plugin ecosystem, developers can customize Android Studio to align with their workflows, integrate preferred tools, and enhance productivity, making it a versatile environment for Android application development.
The following features are provided in the current stable version:
- Gradle-based build support
- Android-specific refactoring and quick fixes
- Lint tools to catch performance, usability, version compatibility and other problems
- ProGuard integration and app-signing capabilities
- Template-based wizards to create common Android designs and components
- A rich layout editor that allows users to drag-and-drop UI components, option to preview layouts on multiple screen configurations
- Support for building Android Wear apps
- Built-in support for Google Cloud Platform, that enables integration with Firebase Cloud Messaging and Google App Engine
- Android Virtual Device to run and debug apps in the Android studio.
Once an app has been compiled with Android Studio, it can be published on the Google Play Store. The application has to be in line with the Google Play Store .
Version history
The following is a list of Android Studio's major releases:| Version | IntelliJ IDEA version | Release date |
| 1.0 | December 2014 | |
| 1.1 | February 2015 | |
| 1.2 | April 2015 | |
| 1.3 | July 2015 | |
| 1.4 | September 2015 | |
| 1.5 | November 2015 | |
| 2.0 | April 2016 | |
| 2.1 | April 2016 | |
| 2.2 | September 2016 | |
| 2.3 | March 2017 | |
| 3.0 | October 2017 | |
| 3.1 | March 2018 | |
| 3.2 | September 2018 | |
| 3.3 | January 2019 | |
| 3.4 | April 2019 | |
| 3.5 | August 2019 | |
| 3.6 | February 2020 | |
| 4.0 | May 2020 | |
| 4.1 | Oct 2020 | |
| 4.2 | May 2021 | |
| Arctic Fox | 2020.3 | July 2021 |
| Bumblebee | 2021.1 | January 2022 |
| Chipmunk | 2021.2 | May 2022 |
| Dolphin | 2021.3 | September 2022 |
| Electric Eel | 2022.1 | January 2023 |
| Flamingo | 2022.2 | April 2023 |
| Giraffe | 2022.3 | July 2023 |
| Hedgehog | 2023.1 | November 2023 |
| Iguana | 2023.2 | February 2024 |
| Jellyfish | 2023.3 | April 2024 |
| Koala | 2024.1 | June 2024 |
| Ladybug | 2024.2 | October 2024 |
| Meerkat | 2024.3 | March 2025 |
| Narwhal | 2025.1 | June 2025 |
| Otter | 2025.2 | October 2025 |
System requirements
These features includes requirements for IDE + Android SDK + Android Emulator.- Windows: x86_64 CPU architecture; 2nd generation Intel Core or newer, or AMD CPU with support for a Windows Hypervisor;
- Mac OS: ARM-based chips, or 2nd generation Intel Core or newer with support for Hypervisor.Framework;
- Linux: x86_64 CPU architecture; 2nd generation Intel Core or newer, or AMD processor with support for AMD Virtualization and SSSE3;
- Windows: CPU with UG support;
- Intel Hardware Accelerated Execution Manager 6.2.1 or later.
- Intel processor on Windows or Linux: Intel processor with support for Intel VT-x, Intel EM64T, and Execute Disable Bit functionality;
- AMD processor on Linux: AMD processor with support for AMD Virtualization and Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (SSSE3);
- AMD processor on Windows: Android Studio 3.2 or higher and Windows 10 April 2018 release or higher for functionality.