Getting started with Apache Cordova using Fedora 20 for Android Development

Part 1: Setup Development Environment

1. Install required Software

• Download and install Java SE SDK from Oracle (http://www.oracle.com/java) or use OpenJDK
• Download the latest RPM. In my case it's jdk-7u51-linux-x64.rpm
• Install it running
  sudo rpm -ihv jdk-7u51-linux-x64.rpm
• Usually now you'll find your JDK here /usr/java/jdk1.7.0_51
• There are also symbolic links pointing to the latest and default Java version
• Install NodeJS and it's Package Mager npm:
  sudo yum install nodejs npm ant
• Install Cordova:
  sudo npm install -g cordova
• Download the Android Developer Tools Bundle for Linux from http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html

2. Prepare your Development Environment

2.1. Setup Android Developer Tools

• I've choosen ~/Development as my main directory for development purposes
• Create a directory for ADT:
  mkdir ~/Development/adt
• Move the ADT Bundle to your adt-Directory:
  mv ~/Downloads/adt-bundle-linux-x86_64-20131030.zip ~/Development/adt
• Unzip the Bundle:
  cd ~/Development/adt
  unzip adt-bundle-linux-x86_64-20131030.zip

2.2. Set Oracle Java as your default Java Installation

• Install Oracle Java as a new alternative:
• sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/java" "java" "/usr/java/latest/bin/java" 2
• sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/javac" "javac" "/usr/java/latest/bin/javac" 2
• Set Oracle Java as the used one:
• sudo update-alternatives --set "java" "/usr/java/latest/bin/java"
• sudo update-alternatives --set "javac" "/usr/java/latest/bin/javac"

2.3. Prepare your environment

• Open your ~/.bash_profile with your favourite text editor; i.e.
  vi ~/.bash_profile
• Add the following lines at the very bottom of the file:
  JAVA_HOME=/usr/java/latest
  export JAVA_HOME
  JDK_HOME=/usr/java/latest
  export JDK_HOME
  PATH=$PATH:$JAVA_HOME/bin
  PATH=$PATH:~/Development/adt/adt-bundle-linux-x86_64-20131030/sdk/platform-tools
  export PATH
• Run the following commando to apply your changed profile:
  . ~/bash_profile

3. Start Eclipse

• Run the following command to start Eclipse:
  ~/Development/adt/adt-bundle-linux-x86_64-20131030/eclipse/eclipse
• Now it's time to choose your workspace. In my case it's ~/Development/android-workspace
• After you've choosen your workspace Eclipse should be ready to start with your first Android project

Part 2: A Apache Cordova HelloWorld Application

to be continued... tomorrow ;)