Android Mobile App Development with Corona: Getting Started
Android App Development with Corona: Getting Started
To get started, you will need: Corona SDK v2.0 (or newer) (http://www.CoronaLabs.com/). You do not need to download the following unless you are planning to do non-Corona app development for Android based systems: Android SDK (http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html) Java JDK (http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp) |
You don’t have to own any of this to get started (well, except for the computer), you can easily get started with the trial version of Corona SDK.
Hello World
Ready to do your first program? Typically this is done as “Hello World”.
Open your editor of choice (I’m using BBEdit in my demonstration).
Create a folder (or project) and then a file named ‘main.lua’ (after creating a project, click File > New > and select Other)
Type:
print (“Hello World”)
Now, open the Corona Terminal (make sure it is the terminal, not the simulator, or you won’t see your program run).
In the dialog box, go to your FOLDER that contains the main.lua file and click ‘open’.
You will see the Android simulator.. ignore it for right now. Everything happens in the terminal for this first app.
In your terminal window, you should see your “Hello World”. Congratulations! You’ve made your first Corona on the iPhone app!
Not impressed? That’s because the print function that we used to display “Hello World” is used to display information to a log file or terminal.
Okay, let’s make something happen on the simulator!
Back in BBEdit (you can use the same file),
Type:
Local textobj = display.newText(“Hello World”, 50, 50, nil, 24)
Textobj:setTextColor(255, 255, 255)
What did you just do? Here’s the run down:
First we created a local variable called textobj. We set textobj = to the object that we create by calling display.newText, passing it the text (“Hello World”), the X & Y location of the top left corner of the text, nil (a parameter reserved for future use), and 24 (the size of the text to be created).
Second, we set the color of the textobj that was just created using the R, G, B color system (each color (red, green, blue) having a value between 0 – 255). We set the color to white.
By default, the text object has no color, so you have to assign it a color for it to be seen. You COULD create text (and you might want to in a future app) that has no color, but for now, it doesn’t serve any purpose.
Try the app out!
Now you have made your first REAL Corona app!
[tubepress video=”sTd0dGmwoOk”]
11 Comments
Please note that you don’t have to download the Android SDK or Java JDK to use Corona, even targeting Android. All that you need is Ansca Corona.
Thanks for the clarification Eric!
So what would be the best SDK for Android app development on PC? Eclipse?
The IDE that I prefer is Eclipse. There are quite a few out there, but with my Java background, I’ve found Eclipse to be an excellent all-around editor.
How can you make Eclipse to start the Nexus simulator per default?
It always kicks of IPhone.
main.lua file create but not generated apk file for android device, so plz help me
Double check what directory you are building to. It is not the same as where your main.lua file is located.
Could you please help me to start Corona??
Step by Step
I need full game with source code
I recommend my book Mobile App Development with Corona or the textbook version, Beginning Mobile App Development with Corona. Either will lead you step by step through the development of the app.
Full source code is provided with the either book. To purchase, click on the “Books” tab at the top of the page.