Android for Cars App Library Samples

This directory contains sample apps that use Android for Cars App Library. Please find the library documentation at https://developer.android.com/training/cars/navigation.

Prerequisites

Build and Run From Android Studio

In order to build app APKs,

  1. Open the project in Android Studio: File -> Open -> Select this directory and click OK.

  2. Select a sample app directory (e.g. helloworld/mobile) in the Project Structure UI on the top left. Each sample app has two build targets, one for the mobile platform and the other for the automotive platform.

  3. Go to Build -> Make Module 'androidx.car.app.app-samples.<sample_app>.<platform>'. The apks will be generated in <sample_app>/<platform>/build/outputs/apk.

In order to install and run the apps,

  1. Open the AndroidX project in Android Studio.

  2. Go to Run -> Edit Configurations, select a sample app target (e.g. car.app.app-samples .helloworld-mobile). If you are building for the mobile platform, also select Launch: Nothing in General -> Launch Options. Click OK to close the dialog.

  3. Select Run -> Run <sample_app>, to run the app, which will just install it in the selected device.

Run From the Command Line

  1. Run ./gradlew :<sample_app>:<platform>:assemble to assemble the APKs. E.g.
./gradlew :showcase:mobile:assemble
./gradlew :showcase:automotive:assemble

The APK should be generated under the sample app’s build directory, e.g. <sample_app>/<platform>/build/outputs/apk/debug.

If you see this error during the build:

```shell
> SDK location not found. Define location with an ANDROID_SDK_ROOT environment variable or by
 setting the sdk.dir path in your projects local properties file at <project_path
 >/local.properties
```

Create local.properties file under the project directory, and copy the following line:

```
sdk.dir = <your android sdk directory path>
```
  1. Install the APK with ADB:
adb install <path_to_sample_app_apk>

Run the Mobile Apps in the Desktop Head Unit (DHU)

Follow the instructions in Test Android apps for cars to run the sample apps in the DHU.

In short, do the following:

  1. Enable the Android Developer Settings
  2. Enable Unknown Sources in Android Auto
  3. Run the DHU

Note: In Android Q, there is no Android Auto app in the launcher. The way to get to the settings in that case is through Settings -> Apps & Notifications -> See all apps -> Android Auto -> Advanced -> Additional settings in the app.

Important: The host component required to support car apps in the Automotive OS emulator has not yet been released, and hence these samples will not work in the Automotive OS emulator.