Debugging an Android Cordova/Phone Gap App

21. November 2016 patrick (0)

This post is a guide to debug a Cordova / Phonegap App on Android.

I use DevExtreme for Mobile (Cordova / Phonegap) Development. Regardless if you use Inoic or some other Phonegap related framework the basic steps are the same.

I. Get The Tools: You will need either the Android Debug Bridge (ADB). You do not require the  Android Development Kit for Cordova Development.  Just install the Minimal ADB Fastboot. Use this download link and read more about it on XDA Developers. 

After you install the ADB Fastboot you have to start the server. First run a command window as an Admin and start the ADP Server.

cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Minimal ADB and Fastboot
adb start-server

II. Creating a Debuggable App:  In Visual Studio while using DevExtreme you must tick the checkbox for Debuggable, the build the app.  Note: You cannot publish an debuggable app to an app store. 

Create your mobile app and deploy it to your device.  You must have Debugging option enabled on your device.  After the install start the app up.

III. Chrome Remote Debugging:  Using the Chrome Browser and Remote Debugging Tools you can debug your Mobile App.

A. Dev Tools: In Chrome go to More Tools > Developers Tools.  When the console comes up go into More Tools > Remote Devices. 

B. Your Device: You should now see your device. In this case I am debugging a Meditation App I wrote called "Meditation Mind Machine." 

To start debugging click Inspect.

After clicking Inspect you will see any messages in the Console Area. You can access the features of your app in the browser, or by using the features on your device. 

Disable Nexus 7 OTA/Upgrade, Root, and Install back to Android 4.4.4

22. June 2015 patrick (0)

Like many folks that have an Nexus 7 Tablet got burned by Google continually updating the OS up to Android 5. The Nexus 7 tablet cannot handle Android 5 and it hangs and hangs.  

 
I own other Android Tablets such as Samsung and they have some common sense and do not update beyond what it can handle.
 
The ZIP File at this link contains all the instructions (listed below) and everything you need to downgrade the tablet and root it.
 
Download & Instructions:  Android_Root_Nexus.zip  
Download: KingoRoot.zip  

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I. Setup - Flashing ROM to Nexus Tablet
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A. Run 02a_adb-setup-1.3.exe installer it will install to your C:\adb
 
B. Add  C:\adb to your windows environment variables. In Windows 10 go under control panel Control Panel\System and Security\ a
 
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II. Flashing the tablet
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A) Initial Setup...
** You Must Be in Developer Mode and connective via USB
** Go to Settings > About in your tablet and click the "Build Number" multiple times. It will tell you "You Are a Developer"
** Now go to Settings > Developer and enable debugging.
 
B) To Start This Process you need a DOS Command Window and run that in Admin Mode.
- Create a short cut on your desktop that calls cmd.exe
- Right-Click Run as Admin
- Change to directory cd adb
 
C) Running from DOS to flash (more details in III below)
- Running from DOS: 
- Type: adb devices <hit enter> you should see a serial number
- Type adb reboot-bootloader (it will now reboot)
 
D) Extract Android Image ZIP FILE
- Copy 02b_Android_4.4.4__nakasi-ktu84p-factory-2c6e4d6f.tgz to c:\adp
- Unzip it
- Cut the contents of the sub-folder and move it to  c:\adp
- Unzip one of the files that was in the zip: image-nakasi-ktu84p.zip
 
E) Flash the new ROM (in the DOS Window)
- Type: flash-all.bat <enter>
- This will run in the DOS Window for a bit
 
You may see: But it does not seem to matter.
archive does not contain 'boot.sig'
archive does not contain 'recovery.sig'
 
- Your table will reboot
 
F) Root The Device: This is required to stop the tablet from updating to Android 5.00-Follow_These_Instructions
http://www.kingoapp.com/root-tutorials/how-to-root-android.htm
 
- Install King Android Root for Windows
- Log into the tablet and enable USB Debugging (see above)
- Run Kingo Root and let it do it's thing...
 
G) Turn off Nexus 7 System Updates!!! --- STOP THE UPGRADE MADNESS!
http://forums.androidcentral.com/google-nexus-7-tablet-2012/228391-how-do-i-stop-nag-screen-4-2-update.html
 
- Go to Google Play and install Autorun manager
- Go to the Wrench and enable system settings and change system settings
- Go under the drop down to show system services
- Scroll down until you see "Google Services Framework"
- Uncheck all "com.google.android.gsf.update.SystemUpdateService..."
 
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III. These are the orginal Websites with instruuctions....
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A. Download Images: https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#nakasijzo54k
B. Download Fastboot: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=48915118#post48915118
C. Step by Step: http://forums.androidcentral.com/nexus-4-rooting-roms-hacks/299580-how-flash-4-3-factory-images-your-nexus.html
D. Unlock bootloader: http://forums.androidcentral.com/google-nexus-7-2012-rooting-roms-hacks/191477-guide-nexus-7-factory-image-rest
E: King Root: http://www.kingoapp.com/root-tutorials/how-to-root-android.htm 
 

Rename Android Package Name - SOLVED!

1. December 2012 patrick (0)

After many, many attempts to rename an Android Package Name and having it fail I finally found a solution.

If you have tried to rename an Android project and came up with all types of errors, or the actual package name did not change, or you had issues with Import statements, or R.JAVA problems, this is the answer.

FOLLOW THESE STEPS

1. Open your AndroidManifest.xml and rename the package here first.

 

2. Rename the Generated Java Files next. To me this did not make sense since these are generated files in the project, but Android uses the R.java class to compile. Frankly I do not get it, to me it should get generated on the compile, but I had enough of this so I am moving on.

 

3. Rename the package under src. Right click on the package name and refactor. Check everything, preview, then complete.

 

4. Rename the project (optional)

 

That's It!