Version 24 (modified by 11 years ago) (diff) | ,
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Porting modRana to Android
As there is currently no GTK port for Android and not even any project trying to do this, only the QML GUI is relevant for running modRana on Android.
Most of this is based on THP's excellent ''PySide for Android'' work.
Notes from THP's EuroPython 2012 talk
Prerequisites
Python
Python is needed as modRana is written in Python. The Python 2.6 binaries provided by THP can be used. This archive also contains PySide binaries.
To be usable, the a /data/python folder needs to be created on the Android folder, and the bin and lib folders need to be copied inside it (this can be easily done with the adb push command when the device is connected & in debugging mode).
Then according to the THP, the main Python binary needs to be made executable:
$ su # chmod 755 /data/python/bin/python
Building Python for Android (android-python27)
The Android-python27 project achieved not only to build Python for Android, generate custom APKs but also to build PyQt compatible with their build & Qt libraries provided by the Necessitas project.
README
README - build with PyQt
Building SIP
error: cannot find -lsupc++ Install:
Building Python for Android (Kivi)
Based on python-for-android documentation, built on Ubuntu 12.10 64-bit.
Install prerequisites:
sudo apt-get install build-essential patch git-core ccache ant python-pip python-dev
On a 64-bit distro:
sudo apt-get install build-essential patch git-core ccache ant pip python-dev
Ensure you have the latest Cython version:
sudo pip install --upgrade cython
Python for Android (the Kivi one) seems to build only with NDK-r7, so the NDK in current Necessitas SDK (NDK-r8b) can't be used. Just download the r7 NDK unpack it somewhere and set the NDK path.
wget http://dl.google.com/android/ndk/android-ndk-r7-linux-x86.tar.bz2 tar xvf android-ndk-r7-linux-x86.tar.bz2
The Android SDK from Necessitas can be used, just make sure API 14 is installed.
cd python-for-android export ANDROIDSDK="<path to some android SDK that has API 14>" export ANDROIDNDK="<path to android ndk>" export ANDROIDNDKVER=r7 export ANDROIDAPI=14 ./distribute.sh -m "pyjnius kivy" -f
Qt + QML
The Necessitas project provides Qt libriries with QML support. Due to Android lacking proper package management, there is an android application called Ministro that handles library installation requests from Necessitas using applications. When an application using Necessitas is started for the first time, it redirects the user to the Google Play store to install Ministro (or Ministro II). Once Ministro is installed and its service is running, the application calls this service to request the Qt Libraries it needs.
It seems that content of this request is governed by the libs.xml file in the Necessitas application package - if some libs are missing, this fil needs to be modified.
There are two Ministro versions:
- Ministro - provides Alpha 2 (0.2) libraries
- Ministro II - provides Alpha 3 libraries (cca 0.34)
The Alpha 2 Qt libraries provided by necessitas are suable, but have a few issues, for example:
- text both in Qt widgets and QML is rendered as rectangles unless it is set to italic
This is more of a technical overview as from the point of view of the Python application, all this (making sure Ministro is installed & requesting Qt Libraries) is handled by the PySide Launcher and the application does'n need to be even aware of it.
PySide
To work, PySide binaries need to be compatible with the installed Python & Qt versions.
Compiled PySide binaries are part of the Python tarball provided by THP.
PySide Launcher
PySide programs can't be currently launched from the shell and have to use a special launcher application that makes sure all needed libraires are avalable and provides the application with acces to the screen.
There is a PySide Launcher APK on THPs site, but it doesn't work with QtDeclarative due to missing dependency on libQtOpenGL.
As a result, the PySide launcher source needs to be slightly modified and a new APK created.
Modified Pyside Launcher
Software prerequisites:
- ant
- Necessitas Qt SDK
Modifying the PySide Launcher project
get the source from Gtihub:
git clone https://github.com/thp/pyside-launcher-android.git
Then in in: pyside-launcher-android/android/res/values/libs.xml
The qt_libs section should look like this:
<array name="qt_libs"> <item>QtCore</item> <item>QtGui</item> <item>QtDeclarative</item> <item>QtOpenGL</item> </array>
This file is used to request Qt libraries from Ministro - if you need more libraries, add them there. Don't forget to omit the lib prefix.
List of libraries available from Ministro (Alpha 2):
http://files.kde.org/necessitas/qt/android/armeabi-v7a/objects/0.21/lib/
Rebuilding the APK
First, change in pyside-launcher/android/local.properties path to the sdk.dir to poin to the Android SDK inside the Necessitas SDK, for example:
sdk.dir=/home/user/necessitas/android-sdk
Then run ant like this inside the android folder
cd pyside-launcher/android and debug
(adb complains about the package created by ant release due to missing certificates, but likes the package created by ant debug just fine)
If ant complains about outdated project, update the project using the android tool, which is normally available in the tools directory in the Android-sdk.
android update project -p pyside-launcher/android/
Qt Components
There are at least two Android ports of Qt Components.
The koyinings one based on the Symbian Qt Components:
https://gitorious.org/~koying/qt-components/android-qt-components
And the one that is based on MeeGo? Qt Components by Filip Brcic:
https://qt.gitorious.org/~brcha/qt-components/qt-components-android
I've been able to successfully compile both component sets. As my applications are using the MeeGo? based components on Fremantle & Harmattan, I'll start with those.
Compiling Qt Components with Necessitas
Clone the android Qt Components Git repository and make sure you are on the android branch:
git clone git://gitorious.org/~brcha/qt-components/qt-components-android.git cd qt-components-android checkout android-master-stable
Then add the Necessitas Qt libraries & the Necessitas NDK to your PATH:
export ANDROID_NDK_ROOT=<path to folder with the Necessitas SDK>/necessitas/android-ndk export ANDROID_TARGET_ARCH=armeabi export QTDIR=<path to folder with the Necessitas SDK>/necessitas/Android/Qt/482/armeabi export PATH="$QTDIR/bin:$PATH"
Setting the ANDROID_TARGET_ARCH is optional, it can be set either to armeabi or to armeabiv7 for some improved (?) ABI with floating point acceleration (?).
And configure the Qt components against them.
./configure --android
Then just run make (using -j is fine):
make -j6
After the compilation finishes, the results are inside the imports folder.
Compiling the other Qt Components with Necessitas
Compiling the Symbian-based Qt Components (from ~koying) is very similar to the MeeGo? based components.
git clone git://gitorious.org/~koying/qt-components/android-qt-components.git cd android-qt-components checkout 1.1-android
The environmental variables for the build are the same:
export ANDROID_NDK_ROOT=<path to folder with the Necessitas SDK>/necessitas/android-ndk export ANDROID_TARGET_ARCH=armeabi export QTDIR=<path to folder with the Necessitas SDK>/necessitas/Android/Qt/482/armeabi export PATH="$QTDIR/bin:$PATH"
The configuration step is a bit different. QtMobility? needs to be disabled or else the build will fail & there is no --android
./configure -no-mobility
Then:
make -j6
Results are again in in the imports folder. Even the importa statement is the same:
import com.nokia.android 1.1
Qt Components Theme
Qt Components need a theme to work correctly. Without a theme, not only would most elements be transparent but also the layout is quite broken.
There are multiple sources for a working theme:
- taking it from the Qt SDK
- from an N9 filesystem
- from the Fremantle Qt Components theme package
- from Nemo
Updated Prerequisites
While the above mentioned combination works, it could be improved by using more up to date software packages.
Python
As modRana and Mieru run just fine with Python 2.5, Python version is really not a limiting factor. Any Python version that compiles on Android and is compatible with other prerequisites will do.
Qt + QML
The currently used Necessitas Qt version (0.2 -> Alpha 2) is outdated and causes quite a few issues - most being, that all text is rendered as rectangles, unless it is set to be itallic.
As a result, it should be a priority to start using the Necessitas Alpha 3 (0.34+-) as soon as possible.
To do this, the following is needed:
- a Python distribution compiled for Android
- compiling PySide against this Python version & the Necessitas Qt
- an updated PySide Launcher that uses Ministro II (which provides the Alpha 3 libraries)
PySide
At least version 1.0.5 should be used, as this is the version that is running Fremantle CSSU, without any issues. Some older version on vanilla PR 1.3 Fremantle is known to cause issues, namely with multiple decorators for a single method.
Qt Components
FAQ
error: insufficient permissions for device
First do:
adb stop-server
Then as root do:
adb start-server
Show live log from Android
adb shell logcat
Necessitas import and plugin paths (Ministro I.)
/data/data/eu.licentia.necessitas.ministro/files/qt/imports /data/data/eu.licentia.necessitas.ministro/files/qt/plugin