# Running Android App in Standalone Emulator (Without Android Studio)

**Author**: Matthew Raymer  
**Last Updated**: 2025-10-12 06:50:00 UTC  
**Version**: 1.0.0

## Overview

This guide demonstrates how to run the DailyNotification plugin test app in a standalone Android emulator without using Android Studio. This method is useful for development, CI/CD pipelines, and resource-constrained environments.

## Prerequisites

### Required Software
- **Android SDK** with command line tools
- **Android Emulator** (`emulator` command)
- **ADB** (Android Debug Bridge)
- **Gradle** (via Gradle Wrapper)
- **Node.js** and **npm** (for TypeScript compilation)

### System Requirements
- **RAM**: 4GB minimum, 8GB recommended
- **Storage**: 2GB free space for emulator
- **OS**: Linux, macOS, or Windows with WSL

## Step-by-Step Process

### 1. Check Available Emulators

```bash
# List available Android Virtual Devices (AVDs)
emulator -list-avds

# Example output:
# Pixel8_API34
```

### 2. Start the Emulator

```bash
# Start emulator in background (recommended)
emulator -avd Pixel8_API34 -no-snapshot-load &

# Alternative: Start in foreground
emulator -avd Pixel8_API34
```

**Flags Explained:**
- `-avd Pixel8_API34` - Specifies the AVD to use
- `-no-snapshot-load` - Forces fresh boot (recommended for testing)
- `&` - Runs in background (optional)

### 3. Wait for Emulator to Boot

```bash
# Wait for emulator to be ready
adb wait-for-device

# Verify emulator is running
adb devices

# Example output:
# List of devices attached
# emulator-5554   device
```

### 4. Build the Plugin and Test App

```bash
# Navigate to project directory
cd /path/to/daily-notification-plugin

# Build TypeScript and native code
./scripts/build-native.sh --platform android
```

**What this does:**
- Compiles TypeScript to JavaScript
- Builds Android native code
- Creates plugin AAR files
- Builds test app APK

### 5. Build Debug APK (Required for Installation)

```bash
# Navigate to Android directory
cd android

# Build debug version (includes debug signing)
./gradlew :app:assembleDebug
```

**Why Debug APK:**
- **Debug signing** - Automatically signed for installation
- **No certificates needed** - Uses default debug keystore
- **Faster builds** - No optimization, faster compilation

### 6. Install APK on Emulator

```bash
# Install the debug APK
adb install app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk

# Alternative: Install with replacement
adb install -r app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk
```

**Installation Options:**
- `adb install` - Install new app
- `adb install -r` - Replace existing app
- `adb install -t` - Allow test APKs

### 7. Launch the App

```bash
# Launch the app
adb shell am start -n com.timesafari.dailynotification/.MainActivity

# Alternative: Launch with specific intent
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -n com.timesafari.dailynotification/.MainActivity
```

### 8. Monitor App Logs

```bash
# View all logs
adb logcat

# Filter for specific tags
adb logcat -s "Capacitor" "DailyNotification" "Console"

# View logs for specific process
adb logcat --pid=<PID>

# Clear logs and view new ones
adb logcat -c && adb logcat
```

## Complete Command Sequence

### Quick Start (Copy-Paste Ready)

```bash
# 1. Start emulator
emulator -avd Pixel8_API34 -no-snapshot-load &

# 2. Wait for emulator
adb wait-for-device

# 3. Build everything
./scripts/build-native.sh --platform android

# 4. Build debug APK
cd android && ./gradlew :app:assembleDebug

# 5. Install APK
adb install app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk

# 6. Launch app
adb shell am start -n com.timesafari.dailynotification/.MainActivity

# 7. Monitor logs
adb logcat -s "Capacitor" "DailyNotification" "Console"
```

## Alternative Methods

### Method 1: Using Capacitor CLI

```bash
# Build and run in one command
npx cap run android

# This will:
# - Build the plugin
# - Sync web assets
# - Build and install APK
# - Launch the app
```

### Method 2: Direct Gradle Commands

```bash
# Build and install directly
cd android
./gradlew :app:assembleDebug
adb install app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk
adb shell am start -n com.timesafari.dailynotification/.MainActivity
```

### Method 3: Using Monkey (Alternative Launch)

```bash
# Install and launch with Monkey
adb install app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk
adb shell monkey -p com.timesafari.dailynotification -c android.intent.category.LAUNCHER 1
```

## Troubleshooting

### Common Issues

#### Emulator Won't Start
```bash
# Check available AVDs
emulator -list-avds

# Check emulator process
ps aux | grep emulator

# Kill existing emulator
pkill -f emulator

# Start with verbose logging
emulator -avd Pixel8_API34 -verbose
```

#### ADB Connection Issues
```bash
# Check ADB connection
adb devices

# Restart ADB server
adb kill-server
adb start-server

# Check ADB version
adb version
```

#### APK Installation Fails
```bash
# Check if app is already installed
adb shell pm list packages | grep timesafari

# Uninstall existing app
adb uninstall com.timesafari.dailynotification

# Install with force
adb install -r -t app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk
```

#### Build Failures
```bash
# Clean build
cd android && ./gradlew clean

# Rebuild
./gradlew :app:assembleDebug

# Check Gradle daemon
./gradlew --status
```

### Performance Optimization

#### Emulator Performance
```bash
# Start with hardware acceleration
emulator -avd Pixel8_API34 -accel on

# Start with specific RAM allocation
emulator -avd Pixel8_API34 -memory 2048

# Start with GPU acceleration
emulator -avd Pixel8_API34 -gpu host
```

#### Build Performance
```bash
# Enable Gradle daemon
echo "org.gradle.daemon=true" >> ~/.gradle/gradle.properties

# Increase memory
echo "org.gradle.jvmargs=-Xmx4g" >> ~/.gradle/gradle.properties

# Enable parallel builds
echo "org.gradle.parallel=true" >> ~/.gradle/gradle.properties
```

## Expected Results

### Successful App Launch
When the app launches successfully, you should see:

```bash
# ADB output
Starting: Intent { cmp=com.timesafari.dailynotification/.MainActivity }

# Logcat output
D Capacitor: Starting BridgeActivity
D Capacitor: Registering plugin instance: CapacitorCookies
D Capacitor: Registering plugin instance: WebView
D Capacitor: Registering plugin instance: CapacitorHttp
D Capacitor: Loading app at https://localhost
D Capacitor: App started
D Capacitor: App resumed
I Capacitor/Console: Script loading...
I Capacitor/Console: Creating mock DailyNotification plugin...
I Capacitor/Console: Functions attached to window: [object Object]
```

### App Interface
The app should display:
- **Title**: "🔔 DailyNotification Plugin Test"
- **Three buttons**: "Test Plugin", "Configure Plugin", "Check Status"
- **Status area**: Shows test results and plugin status

## Benefits of Standalone Approach

### Advantages
- ✅ **No Android Studio** - Pure command line workflow
- ✅ **Faster startup** - No IDE overhead
- ✅ **CI/CD friendly** - Works in automated environments
- ✅ **Resource efficient** - Lower memory usage
- ✅ **Scriptable** - Can be automated
- ✅ **Remote development** - Works over SSH

### Use Cases
- **Development** - Quick testing and iteration
- **CI/CD pipelines** - Automated testing
- **Remote development** - SSH-based development
- **Resource-constrained environments** - Low-spec machines
- **Team environments** - Shared development servers

## Integration with Development Workflow

### Daily Development
```bash
# Quick test cycle
./scripts/build-native.sh --platform android
cd android && ./gradlew :app:assembleDebug
adb install -r app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk
adb shell am start -n com.timesafari.dailynotification/.MainActivity
```

### Automated Testing
```bash
# CI/CD pipeline
emulator -avd Pixel8_API34 -no-snapshot-load &
adb wait-for-device
./scripts/build-native.sh --platform android
cd android && ./gradlew :app:assembleDebug
adb install app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk
adb shell am start -n com.timesafari.dailynotification/.MainActivity
# Run tests...
```

## Next Steps

### Testing the App
1. **Click "Test Plugin"** - Tests the mock plugin implementation
2. **Click "Configure Plugin"** - Tests plugin configuration
3. **Click "Check Status"** - Tests plugin status retrieval
4. **Monitor logs** - Check for any errors or issues

### Development Workflow
1. **Make changes** - Edit plugin code or test app
2. **Rebuild** - Run the build commands
3. **Reinstall** - Install updated APK
4. **Test** - Launch and test functionality
5. **Iterate** - Repeat as needed

---

**This method provides a complete standalone Android development environment without requiring Android Studio!** 🎉