Android

Top 10 tools to increase Android developers productivity

Top 10 tools to increase Android developers productivity
Top 10 tools to increase Android developers productivity Top 10 tools to increase Android developers productivity

For Android developers today we will see the list of tools which will increase your  personal productivity while developing Android app. So lets start with:

Contents

Top 10 tools to increase Android developers productivity.

We will list tools which every Android developer require while developing Android app and also need this tools on daily basis which covers all the fields.So lets start

Vysor

First install chrome app from store: vysor chrome app

Secondly install a small app from google play store :

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koushikdutta.vysor&hl=en_IN

Vysor for chrome is a Chrome app, compatible with all operating systems. It gives you a possibility to operate your physical device from your desktop.Imagine when you have to share your phone screen on skype while interacting with client or to give demo of how app looks then this is the perfect for you.

There are two versions of the app:

    • Free — it offers mirroring and controlling your Android device and taking screenshots.
  • Pro — it gives you high quality mirroring, taking screen videos, fullscreen mode, going wireless and drag & drop functionality.

Android tool for Mac

Good thing: Completely free

Sad thing: Only Available for Mac user

    • Record screen videos,
    • take screenshots,
    • install (sideload) APKs,
    • take bug reports,
  • use common scripts.

Best part is it gives you option to create GIF also

Genymotion

Android developer’s first love since its inception.It provides hell lot of customization to developer in easy way. Its free for personal use.

Genymotion
Genymotion

The tool advantages:

    • Compatibility with Android SDK tools, Eclipse and Android Studio (there is also a plugin which I listed in my last article about Android Studio Tips & Tricks
    • Bunch of predefined emulators,
    • Using laptop webcam as the video source for your Android camera.
    • Testing your app with various charge levels and see how it handles those use cases,
    • Using the GPS widget to test your geolocation-based apps,
    • Running UI tests like e.g. Espresso,
  • Screencasting (taking screenshots, recordings etc.).

In addition, you can install Google Services applications from Open Gapps Project and enjoy Genymotion like your Android phone.

Top 10 free Android libraries for app development in android studio

 Android Asset Studio

Open source tool created by famous Roman Urik ,which even sometimes make the developers feel that they are designers. Imagine when designer gives you only one large icon and you need hdpi,mdpi,xhdpi ,xxhdpi then this tool will save you.(Happens with me in all projects)

Helps in  generating graphics and other assets that would eventually be in an Android application’s res/ directory for all kind of resource resolution at once.

The tool is available on Github and consists of:

Android asset studio
Android asset studio

ADB Idea plugin

Adds the following ADB commands to Android Studio and Intellij:

  • Uninstall App
  • Kill App
  • Start App
  • Restart App
  • Clear App Data
  • Clear App Data and Restart
  • Revoke Permissions
  • Start App With Debugger
  • Restart App With Debugger

There are two basic ways to invoke a command:

  • Through the Tools->Android->ADB Idea menu
  • By searching for “ADB” in “Find Actions” (osx: cmd+shift+a, windows/linux: ctrl+shift+a)

Android Wifi Adb

Now you not need to keep your phone connected all the time to USB cable in order to debug apps in the phone over wifi.Just for the first time you need to attach the phone to computer using USB cable and from next time you can run the apps over wifi without any USB cable.

Postman

This is my favourite tool when doing the api integration into apps. You have to test the apis ,their request parameters and response before you go and integrate them into your app. It’s available in the native app for Linux,mac and windows operating systems. The functionalities evolved a lot till now.

We can add multiple workspaces with multiple accounts so that you can keep the api separated based on different accounts.

To install in ubuntu you need help from this link

Features include:

    • Compact layout,
    • HTTP requests with file upload support,
    • formatted API responses for JSON and XML,
    • HATEOAS support,
    • image previews,
    • request history,
    • basic Auth and OAuth 1.0 / 2.0 helpers,
    • autocomplete for URL and header values,
    • key/value editors for adding parameters or header values. Works for URL parameters too,
    • using environment variables to easily shift between settings. Great for testing production, staging or local setups,
    • keyboard shortcuts to maximise your productivity,
    • using collections to organise requests,
    • documenting requests inside collections. You can even store entire HTML notes. Postman uses Bootstrap so you can use it too to style your notes,
  • downloading and share collections with your team of developers.
Postman
Postman

Json Editor Online

Just copy and paste your json string and you can traverse the long json easily. And best part is you can even save the response online. Just remember to save the url for future reference.

Json editor online
Json editor online

TestFairy

Best tool to share your Android or ios app to testers by just inviting a beta testing link. Very simple to integrate in Android just need to use gradle dependency and add one simple line in App class to initiate the log into console.

Things are too simple here and that makes it too easy for developers to always use it.It also provides video of testing session for 15 days for free account. You can also shake the phone if you find any bugs in the app.

testfairy
testfairy

Skitch(windows and Mac)

Skitch is a free app that helps you communicate visually with friends, co-workers, and the world. Annotate images with arrows, shapes, text, and more. Use Skitch to sketch something new, mark up maps, screen captures, or even a photo. Then save or share your Skitch annotation to help others see and understand your ideas. Getting everyone on the same page has never been easier.

For Ubuntu similar functionality is provided by : Shutter

So friends just tell us in comment what other tools you use to increase your productivity.

Feeling glad to receive your comment