AndroidCompile

This page is an introduction to compilation of VLC for Android on Linux.

Eclipse, SDK and NDK installation

Android SDK

1. Create a working directory android.
2. Go to Android SDK page and download android-sdk_r10-linux_x86.tgz.
3. Decompress into android folder.
4. Run tools/android.
5. In the tool, install "SDK Platform Android 2.3, API 10", and follow the instructions.

You can have more details, if needed.

Android NDK

1. Check that the SDK installation is correct.
2. Go to Android NDK page.
3. Download http://dl.google.com/android/ndk/android-ndk-r5b-linux-x86.tar.bz2.
4. Decompress into android folder, next to your android-sdk-linux_x86 folder.

Note: If you use the Android v7 NDK, replace your /vlc-android/build.xml file as follows:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<project name="VLC" default="help">

    <!-- The local.properties file is created and updated by the 'android' tool.
         It contains the path to the SDK. It should *NOT* be checked into
         Version Control Systems. -->
    <loadproperties srcFile="local.properties" />

    <!-- The ant.properties file can be created by you. It is only edited by the
         'android' tool to add properties to it.
         This is the place to change some Ant specific build properties.
         Here are some properties you may want to change/update:

         source.dir
             The name of the source directory. Default is 'src'.
         out.dir
             The name of the output directory. Default is 'bin'.

         For other overridable properties, look at the beginning of the rules
         files in the SDK, at tools/ant/build.xml

         Properties related to the SDK location or the project target should
         be updated using the 'android' tool with the 'update' action.

         This file is an integral part of the build system for your
         application and should be checked into Version Control Systems.

         -->
    <property file="ant.properties" />

    <!-- The project.properties file is created and updated by the 'android'
         tool, as well as ADT.

         This contains project specific properties such as project target, and library
         dependencies. Lower level build properties are stored in ant.properties
         (or in .classpath for Eclipse projects).

         This file is an integral part of the build system for your
         application and should be checked into Version Control Systems. -->
    <loadproperties srcFile="project.properties" />

    <!-- quick check on sdk.dir -->
    <fail
            message="sdk.dir is missing. Make sure to generate local.properties using 'android update project'"
            unless="sdk.dir"
    />


<!-- extension targets. Uncomment the ones where you want to do custom work
     in between standard targets -->
<!--
    <target name="-pre-build">
    </target>
    <target name="-pre-compile">
    </target>

    /* This is typically used for code obfuscation.
       Compiled code location: ${out.classes.absolute.dir}
       If this is not done in place, override ${out.dex.input.absolute.dir} */
    <target name="-post-compile">
    </target>
-->

    <!-- Import the actual build file.

         To customize existing targets, there are two options:
         - Customize only one target:
             - copy/paste the target into this file, *before* the
               <import> task.
             - customize it to your needs.
         - Customize the whole content of build.xml
             - copy/paste the content of the rules files (minus the top node)
               into this file, replacing the <import> task.
             - customize to your needs.

         ***********************
         ****** IMPORTANT ******
         ***********************
         In all cases you must update the value of version-tag below to read 'custom' instead of an integer,
         in order to avoid having your file be overridden by tools such as "android update project"
    -->
    <!-- version-tag: 1 -->
    <import file="${sdk.dir}/tools/ant/build.xml" />

</project>

Eclipse

As used by your distribution, install Eclipse with your package manager:

apt-get install eclipse (debian)
yum install eclipse (Fedora)
pacman -S eclipse (Arch)
emerge -av eclipse-sdk (Gentoo)
...

And run it, at least once, and then quit eclipse.

ADT

The ADT plugin is required to compile on Android.

1. Go to ADT page.
2. Start Eclipse, then select Help > Install New Software....
3. Add the "ADT Plugin" repository with https://dl-ssl.google.com/android/eclipse/ as URL
4. Validate and select the checkbox next to Developer Tools and click Next, Next, Finish.
5. Restart Eclipse.
6. Go to Menu > Window > Preferences... and then Android from the left pane.
7. Point the SDK Location in to your downloaded SDK directory.
8. Ok, and quit Eclipse.

See extra information here.

Environment setup

Linux and autotools

• You MUST be on Linux, and a recent one.
• You MUST have installed: apache-ant, autoconf, automake, libtool, gawk (or nawk), gcc, g++, pkg-config, cmake, patch, subversion. And very up-to-date versions of those tools.
• You MUST install: git.

Environment

Set $ANDROID_SDK to point to your Android SDK directory

export ANDROID_SDK=/path/to/android-sdk

Set $ANDROID_NDK to point to your Android NDK directory

export ANDROID_NDK=/path/to/android-ndk

Add some useful binaries to your $PATH

export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_SDK/tools:$ANDROID_SDK/platform-tools

If you plan to use the emulator or if you have a phone that does not support NEON, you need a build without NEON

export NO_NEON=1

Those exports must be set at all times, notably for the contribs and the configure.

Building

Get VLC Source

Use the VLC git repository to get the source!

In your android folder, run:

git clone git://git.videolan.org/vlc-ports/android.git

Compile

Read compile.sh first, as it contains some very useful important information. Then run it:

sh compile.sh

Package in Eclipse

1. In Eclipse, create a new Android project from existing source by giving the vlc-android path.
2. Compile your project using Eclipse.

Run

Run it and enjoy!

Debugging

Here are some helpful links if you wish to debug VLC on Android:

• DDMS
• Logcat

Troubleshooting

Outdated Awk

If you receive the error message while building:

Android NDK: Host 'awk' tool is outdated. Please define HOST_AWK to point to Gawk or Nawk !    

The prebuilt version of Awk that comes with the Android NDK is outdated. Defining HOST_AWK in your environment does nothing as the system still tries to just the one that comes with the Android NDK. To get around this issue, simply rename or delete the Awk binary that comes with the Android NDK. For example to move it:

mv $ANDROID_NDK/prebuilt/linux-x86/bin/awk $ANDROID_NDK/prebuilt/linux-x86/bin/awk.old

Can't find Ant

If you're new to Ant, please be aware that some Linux distributions don't install it in the usual spot as with other programs. Try checking to see if the directory /usr/share/java/apache-ant/bin exists and add it to your path.