# Android Implementation and Deployment Guide

Video Capture SDK .Net Video Edit SDK .Net Media Player SDK .Net Media Blocks SDK .Net

Android developers working with .NET technologies can leverage the powerful capabilities of VisioForge SDKs to integrate advanced media functionality into their applications. The SDKs provide robust solutions for media manipulation, playback, capture, and editing on the Android platform using .NET technologies.

The VisioForge SDK for Android offers powerful capabilities for video processing, capturing, editing, and playback, all optimized for the Android platform while maintaining a consistent cross-platform development experience.

The Android deployment process requires special consideration for package management, device compatibility, permissions, and performance optimization. This document provides detailed instructions to ensure your application runs smoothly on Android devices.

Before beginning your Android implementation and deployment process, ensure your development environment meets the following requirements:

• Android device running Android 10.0 or later
• ARM or ARM64 processor architecture
• Sufficient storage space for application assets and media processing
• Camera and microphone hardware (if using video/audio capture features)

• Windows, Linux, or macOS computer
• Visual Studio with .NET MAUI or Xamarin workloads installed, JetBrains Rider, or Visual Studio Code
• .Net 8.0 SDK or later (latest stable version recommended)
• Android SDK with appropriate API levels installed
• Java Development Kit (JDK) 11 or later
• Basic knowledge of .NET development for Android

The VisioForge SDK for Android provides native support for common Android device architectures:

• Optimized for modern Android devices
• Hardware-accelerated video processing
• Enhanced performance for media operations
• Primary target for most applications

• Compatibility with older Android devices
• Software fallbacks for hardware acceleration when needed
• Balanced performance and compatibility approach

Follow these steps to properly set up and deploy your VisioForge-powered Android application:

1. Create a new Android project in your preferred IDE (Visual Studio or JetBrains Rider recommended).
2. Add the required NuGet packages to your project (detailed in the next section).
3. Configure necessary permissions in your AndroidManifest.xml file.
4. Implement your application logic using the VisioForge SDK components.
5. Build, sign, and deploy your application to test devices.

The VisioForge SDK for Android is distributed through NuGet packages. Add the following packages to your Android project:

• VisioForge.Core.UI.Android - Contains UI controls specifically designed for the .Net Android platform, including video display components.
• VisioForge.CrossPlatform.Core.Android - Contains the redistribution components required for Android applications, including unmanaged libraries.

You can add these packages using the NuGet Package Manager in your IDE or by adding the following to your project file:

<ItemGroup Condition="$(TargetFramework.Contains('-android'))">
  <PackageReference Include="VisioForge.Core.UI.Android" Version="15.2.12" />
  <PackageReference Include="VisioForge.CrossPlatform.Core.Android" Version="15.2.12" />
</ItemGroup>

Note: Replace version numbers with the latest available releases.

Android applications using VisioForge SDK require a custom Java Bindings Library for proper functionality. This essential step ensures proper communication between the .NET framework and Android's Java-based environment.

Follow these detailed steps to integrate it:

1. Clone the binding library repository from our GitHub page
2. Based on your .NET version, add one of the following projects to your solution:
   • For .NET 9: VisioForge.Core.Android.X9.csproj
   • For .NET 8: VisioForge.Core.Android.X8.csproj
3. Add a reference to the helper library in your project's .csproj file:

<ItemGroup>
  <ProjectReference Include="..\AndroidDependency\VisioForge.Core.Android.X9.csproj" />
</ItemGroup>

Note: Make sure to adjust the relative path to match your project structure

The VideoView control is the primary interface for displaying video content in your Android application. To integrate it into your app, follow these steps:

1. Open your Activity or Fragment layout file (typically an .axml or .xml file)
2. Add the VideoView element as shown in the example below:

<VisioForge.Core.UI.Android.VideoView
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:minWidth="25px"
    android:minHeight="25px"
    android:id="@+id/videoView" />

After adding the VideoView to your layout, you'll need to initialize it in your Activity or Fragment code:

using VisioForge.Core.UI.Android;

namespace YourApp
{
    [Activity(Label = "VideoPlayerActivity")]
    public class VideoPlayerActivity : Activity
    {
        private VideoView _videoView;
        
        protected override void OnCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
        {
            base.OnCreate(savedInstanceState);
            SetContentView(Resource.Layout.your_layout);
            
            // Initialize the video view
            _videoView = FindViewById<VideoView>(Resource.Id.videoView);
        }
    }
}

Use physical Android devices for testing whenever possible. Simulators may not accurately represent real-world performance, especially for hardware-accelerated video operations.

For distributing your Android application, you need to sign it with a digital certificate:

1. Create a keystore file if you don't already have one:

keytool -genkey -v -keystore your-app-key.keystore -alias your-app-alias -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000

2. Configure signing in your project:

Add the following to your android/app/build.gradle file:

android {
    ...
    
    signingConfigs {
        release {
            storeFile file("your-app-key.keystore")
            storePassword "your-store-password"
            keyAlias "your-app-alias"
            keyPassword "your-key-password"
        }
    }
    
    buildTypes {
        release {
            signingConfig signingConfigs.release
            ...
        }
    }
}

For .NET MAUI or Xamarin.Android projects, configure signing in your .csproj file:

<PropertyGroup Condition="$(TargetFramework.Contains('-android')) and '$(Configuration)' == 'Release'">
    <AndroidKeyStore>True</AndroidKeyStore>
    <AndroidSigningKeyStore>your-app-key.keystore</AndroidSigningKeyStore>
    <AndroidSigningStorePass>your-store-password</AndroidSigningStorePass>
    <AndroidSigningKeyAlias>your-app-alias</AndroidSigningKeyAlias>
    <AndroidSigningKeyPass>your-key-password</AndroidSigningKeyPass>
</PropertyGroup>

1. Generate an AAB (Android App Bundle) for distribution:

dotnet build -f net8.0-android -c Release /p:AndroidPackageFormat=aab

2. Create a developer account on the Google Play Console if you don't already have one.

3. Create a new application on the Google Play Console.

4. Upload your AAB file to the production track.

5. Complete the store listing information.

6. Submit for review.

1. Missing Permissions: Ensure all required permissions are declared in the AndroidManifest.xml and requested at runtime.
2. Architecture Compatibility: Verify your application supports the target device's architecture (ARM/ARM64).
3. Memory Constraints: Monitor memory usage and implement proper resource management.
4. Performance Issues: Use hardware acceleration and optimize media operations for mobile devices.
5. Java Bindings Errors: When facing issues with Java bindings:
   • Confirm you're using the correct binding library version
   • Check for version mismatches between .NET and the binding library
   • Verify all dependencies are properly referenced

If you encounter issues with your VisioForge SDK deployment on Android, please consult:

• Online Documentation
• Support Portal
• GitHub Samples

Implementing and deploying VisioForge SDK applications to Android devices requires careful attention to platform-specific considerations. By following the guidelines in this document, you can ensure a smooth development and deployment process and deliver high-quality video applications to your Android users.

Remember to test thoroughly on target devices, especially for performance-intensive operations like video capture and processing. With proper implementation, the VisioForge SDK enables powerful media applications across the Android ecosystem.