Google has finally departed the traditional way to develop apps for its open source platform by ending support and development for the Eclipse Android Developer Tools. Instead, the search giant is now focusing on Android Studio that was debuted as the official IDE for Android ecosystem back in May 2013.
The new development emerged following the arrival of Android Studio 2.2.2 last month. Google considers that it is the “best time to switch” to its native offering.
“There has never been a better time to switch to Android Studio and experience the improvements we’ve made to the Android development workflow,” writes Jamal Eason, product manager for Android, Google, in a blog post.
Latest Android Studio brought complete transition
Google originally announced the ending of support and development for the Android Development Tools (ADT) in Eclipse in 2015. However, the latest Android Studio release helped the company complete the awaited transition.
Android Studio 2.2.2 includes features like DDMS, Trace Viewer, Network Monitor and CPU monitor to offer developers a close alternative to the Eclipse tools. Additionally, the fresh Android Studio version comes preloaded with better accessibility such as keyboard navigation enhancements and screen reader support to enable masses to develop Android apps easily.
Developers who would like to move their existing Eclipse ADT projects to Android Studio just need to download its updated version and then visiting the built-in ‘Import Project’ menu option. Google has also opened its support to enable bug filings and feature requests from the developer community.
Furthermore, enthusiasts and open source contributors can access the project page to uplift Google’s code for Android developments.
