docs/html/sdk/tools-notes.jd

page.title=SDK Tools Notes
@jd:body

<p>SDK Tools is a downloadable component for the Android SDK. It
includes the complete set of development and debugging tools for the Android
SDK.</p>

<p>This document provides version-specific information about SDK Tools
releases. To keep up-to-date on new releases, make sure that you view this page
at <a
href="http://developer.android.com/sdk/tools-notes.html">http://developer.
android.com/sdk/tools-notes.html</a>.</p>

<p>To install SDK Tools in your SDK environment (and replace the
existing tools), use the Android SDK and AVD Manager. For more information, see
<a href="{@docRoot}sdk/adding-components.html">Adding SDK Components</a>. </p>

<h2 id="4">SDK Tools, Revision 4</h2>

<p>December 2009. SDK Tools r4 provides several new features for developers and includes
fixes for several issues, as described below. </p>

<h3>Dependencies</h3>

<p>SDK Tools r4 is compatible with ADT 0.9.5 and later, but not
compatible with earlier versions. If you are developing in Eclipse with ADT, you
<strong>must</strong> update your ADT plugin to version 0.9.5 or higher if you
install SDK Tools r4 in your SDK. </p>

<h3>General notes</h3>
<ul>
<li>Launcher script now forces GDK_NATIVE_WINDOW=true (linux only), to fix a 
compatibility issue between GTK and SWT.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Android SDK and AVD Manager</h3>
<ul>
<li>AVD Launch dialog now shows scale value.</li>
<li>Fixes potential NPE in SDK Manager on AVD launch, for older AVD with no 
skin name specified.</li>
<li>Fixes XML validation issue in on older Java versions.</li>
<li>No longer forces the use of Java 1.5 on Mac OS X.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Emulator</h3>
<ul>
<li>No longer limits the size of the system partition.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Ant build tools</h3>
<ul>
<li>.apk packaging now properly ignores vi swap files as well as hidden files.</li>
</ul>


<h2 id="3">SDK Tools, Revision 3</h2>

<p>October 2009. SDK Tools r3 provides several new features for developers and includes
fixes for several tools issues, as described below. </p>

<h3>Dependencies</h3>

<p>SDK Tools r3 is compatible with ADT 0.9.4 and later, but not
compatible with earlier versions. If you are developing in Eclipse with ADT, you
<strong>must</strong> update your ADT plugin to version 0.9.4 or higher if you
install SDK Tools r3 in your SDK. </p>

<h3>Android tool</h3>
<ul>
<li>Adds new <code>android create test-project</code> and <code>android update
test-project</code> commands to allow for greater flexibility in the location of the
main and test projects.</li>
</ul>

<h3>DDMS</h3>
<ul>
<li>Adds a button to dump HPROF file for running appplications (app must be able
to write to the sdcard).</li>
<li>Button to start/stop profiling of a running application (app must be able to
write to the sdcard). Upon stop, Traceview will automatically be launched to
display the trace.</li>
<li>Fixed DDMS, Traceview, and the AVD Mananger/SDK Updater to run on Mac OS X
10.6.</li>
<li>Fixed screenshot support for devices running 32-bit framebuffer.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Android SDK and AVD Manager</h3>
<ul>
<li>Provides a new UI that lets you set options for controlling
the emulator skin, screen size/density, and scale factor used when launching 
an AVD.</li>
<li>Provides improved AVD creation UI, which lets you customize the hardware
properties of your AVDs.</li>
<li>Now enforces dependencies between platforms and tools components, and
between SDK add-ons and platforms.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Layoutopt, a new tool for optimizing layouts</h3>

<p>The SDK Tools r3 package includes <code>layoutopt</code>, a new command-line 
tool that helps you optimize your layout hierarchies. When run against your 
layout files, the tool analyzes their hierarchies and notifies you of 
inefficiencies and other potential issues. The tool also provides simple 
solutions for the issues it finds. For usage, see <a 
href="{@docRoot}guide/developing/tools/layoutopt.html">layoutopt</a>.
</p>