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FIRST Tech Challenge

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  • Your FTC Software Map
  • Install Android Studio and SDK Tools
  • Connect with the Android Studio ADB Plugin
  • Open and Build the FTC SDK Project

Install Android Studio and SDK Tools

Install Android Studio from the official source and confirm the SDK and Platform Tools are ready.

Workstation SetupSetup

In this lesson, you will:

  • Install Android Studio from the official Android Developers source.
  • Confirm the required Android SDK and Platform Tools components are installed.
  • Record the setup result without exposing personal paths or account information.
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Video transcriptRead or search the narration

All right, so now that you know what all these pieces do, let's actually install them. In this video, we're only getting Android Studio and the basic Android SDK tools set up. We're not connecting to a robot or building FTC code yet, but by the end, Android Studio should open, SDK Manager should work, and Platform Tools should be installed. We can start with the official Android Developers page, linked below the lesson, or you can just look it up, and download the current stable version for your operating system. I already downloaded it ahead of time. I'm not going to give you a version number in the video, because that will change. On a Mac, this is basically just opening the download and moving Android Studio into Applications. Windows and Linux look a little different, so follow the official instructions linked below the download. Okay, you don't need to change a bunch of advanced options here. Continue with the standard or recommended setup. Your screen may look slightly different depending on when you watch this, but the goal is just to let Android Studio install its normal SDK components successfully. That's all we're doing right now. Android Studio opens, SDK Manager works, and the basic tools are installed. We haven't tested ADB or connected to a Control Hub or anything yet. But next, we'll clear up what Java and the JDK are doing inside Android Studio, and we'll actually start getting into some stuff pretty soon.

Use the official installer and setup wizard

Confirm the current WRLP compatibility card before downloading. Install Android Studio for the correct operating system and architecture, then allow the setup wizard to install its recommended SDK components.

Know where the durable settings live

SDK Manager owns Android SDK components and Platform Tools. Android Studio already includes the runtime it needs to start. If the reviewed FTC project later reports a Java or Gradle compatibility error, use that exact error and the project requirement before changing or installing any JDK.

Do not add Java just in case

Do not install extra JDKs or change JAVA_HOME merely because an unrelated tutorial says to. Wait for a project-specific requirement or error, and keep personal paths, recent projects, account names, and notifications out of shared evidence.

Practice

Install Android Studio, open SDK Manager, and record the IDE version, operating system, architecture, SDK path with the personal portion redacted, and installed Platform Tools version. If something fails, save the first failed step and its exact message.

Checks

  • Android Studio launches without reopening the installer.
  • The installation came from the official Android Developers source.
  • SDK Manager is accessible and Platform Tools is installed.
  • The setup record contains no unredacted personal path or account information.

Lesson check

Check your understanding before moving on.

Where are Android SDK components and Platform Tools managed?
What should happen if a later FTC project build reports a Java or Gradle problem?

0 of 2 answered

References

Install Android StudioOfficial platform-specific installation and system requirements.FIRST Tech Challenge Programming ResourcesOfficial FTC programming downloads and supported resources.
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