Best Android Development Tools for Building Exceptional Apps in 2024

In 2024, Android development is focused on creating unique, multifunctional, and adaptive apps. This emphasizes the need to use technologies and tools that have proven to be the most effective in this direction.

In this article, we will explore a range of Android app development tools that app developers choose to meet the growing needs of 2.5 billion users of the operating system in 190+ countries.

Essential IDEs for Android Development

Mobile apps for Android are created using Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), where testing, configuration, and deployment are also performed.

Android Studio

A free development environment from Google, based on IntelliJ IDEA. It can be called the best Android app development software because its capabilities make it easy to edit code, test, and troubleshoot any issues intuitively.

Key features:

• Dynamic layout editor

• APK analyzer

• Intelligent code editor

• Emulator for testing apps on various Android devices

• Support for multiple programming languages: Java, Dart , Kotlin

• Real-time app performance measurement tools

One drawback of the program is its excessive use of system memory resources, which can reduce the speed of PC operation.

IntelliJ

JetBrains created this Android IDE. It allows writing programs and applications in multiple programming languages. It features integrated tools such as advanced refactoring, smart auto-completion, built-in support for J2EE technologies, testing mechanisms, code checks, and optimization.

Among the capabilities of the solution:

• Reorganization of app source texts

• Creation of simple and concise graphical interfaces

• Support for popular testing frameworks

The use of professional IntelliJ tools is only possible on a paid basis. The All Products Pack (including 10 IDEs, 3 extensions, 2 profilers, and collaboration service) for organizations is available for $77.90 per month. For individual users, these features cost $28.90 per month.

Debugging and Monitoring Tools

During app development software for Android, effective debugging tools are employed, each with its own advantages and features.

Charles Proxy

A cross-platform tool that is indispensable for developers and testers. You can monitor SSL/HTTPS and HTTP traffic between the application and the server. The tool provides a proxy server between the remote site and the Android device. This is necessary for debugging HTTP connections and behaviors specific to the device, such as debugging issues with streaming video.

This is an excellent traffic analysis assistant that helps intercept errors and make corrections to requests.

There are two types of licenses: User License and Site License. The first allows the use of the solution on one computer. The second provides access to the tool for all company employees and allows its use on any PC at one site (or on multiple sites if there is a Multi-Site License).

For example, a license for 1-4 users costs $50; for 5+ users - $40 (20% discount); for 10+ users - $30 (40% discount). A Site License costs $400, and a Multi-Site License costs $700.

Stetho

An open-source library for Android devices developed by Facebook. It is designed for quick app debugging and provides access to Google Chrome browser settings, allowing the user to:

• Access the user interface of Chrome DevTools network panel

• Configure the dumpapp command-line plugin

• Visualize the database and browse the application hierarchy

• Track network activity

• Check SQLite databases

An important advantage of this tool is its free distribution.

Sure, here is a similar text about Firebase Crashlytics and Chucker:

Firebase Crashlytics

A crash reporting tool offered by Google's Firebase platform. It automatically collects crash reports from Android and iOS apps, helping developers identify and fix bugs quickly. Crashlytics provides valuable insights such as:

• The exact line of code that caused the crash
• Real-time crash reports
• User details like device model and OS version
• Ability to group similar crashes for easier analysis

Firebase Crashlytics integrates seamlessly with other Firebase services, making it a comprehensive solution for mobile app developers.

Chucker

An open-source HTTP client for Android, developed by Netflix. It simplifies network debugging by allowing developers to:

• Inspect all network requests and responses made by the app

• View request and response headers and body content

• Add custom network payloads for testing purposes

• Simulate different network conditions (e.g., latency, errors)

Chucker provides a user-friendly interface that displays network activity in a clear and concise manner. It's a lightweight library that can be easily integrated into existing Android projects.

Both Firebase Crashlytics and Chucker are valuable tools for mobile app developers. While Crashlytics focuses on identifying and fixing crashes, Chucker helps with debugging network-related issues. 

Collaboration and Version Control Tools

In software for Android app development, the use of web services for hosting IT projects is essential.

GitHub

It is not only a cloud platform with the Git version control system but also the largest social network for developers, providing a collaborative environment for teams.

Key features:

• Personal code repository storage

• Access to other developers' projects and showcasing individual skills

• Tools for automated testing, CI/CD, etc.

• Forking a repository for individual project management

• Project team collaboration

• Vulnerability scanning and tracking

The platform's advantages are its universality, integration with other software, and robust search functionalities. Users can choose from three pricing plans: Free, Team, or Enterprise.

GitLab

An integrated environment that combines the resources of a cloud code repository and a DevOps platform. The user-friendly interface lets you create efficient software products for rapid customer service.

GitLab, with container support for many developers, offers:

• Individual local environment

• Continuous integration for compilation, testing, and new software verification

• A plethora of development tools

• Codebase protection

• Continuous communication and performance analytics through Jira and Trello systems

It provides free access for personal projects, Premium for multiple teams ($29), and Ultimate for large-scale projects (custom pricing).

API Testing and Monitoring Tools for Android Developers

The need for API testing is rising as it reduces time-to-market and enhances code error tracking.

Postman

The Postman platform enables the creation, testing (both manual and automatic), documentation, publication, and maintenance of application programming interfaces (APIs).

Key features:

• Repository for storing and sharing API artifacts

• Constructor for organizing the design process using OpenAPI, GraphQL, and RAML

• Numerous tools for running, testing, documentation, and monitoring

• Workspaces for efficient developer collaboration

Postman suits small teams and large companies, covering thousands of developers. The basic plan costs $14 per user per month, Professional is $29, and Enterprise Essentials is $49.

Swagger

Swagger is a suite of open-source tools that support the entire API lifecycle, from design to documentation and maintenance. Similar to Postman, it helps developers create reliable and user-friendly APIs.

Key features:

• OpenAPI Specification: Swagger uses the OpenAPI Specification (formerly known as the Swagger Specification) to describe APIs. This widely adopted format allows you to clearly define endpoints, parameters, responses, and other important details of your API.

• Swagger Editor: The Swagger Editor is a browser-based tool that makes it easy to write OpenAPI specifications. It offers intelligent code completion, style validation, and instant API visualization.

• API Documentation: Swagger automatically generates interactive documentation based on your OpenAPI specification. This documentation helps developers understand how to use your API and easily find the endpoints they need.

• API Testing: Swagger allows you to test your APIs both manually and automatically. You can send requests to your API, inspect responses, and write tests to verify the behavior of your API.

• API Mocking: Swagger can be used to create virtual versions of your APIs (mocks), which allows you to test your applications without the need to interact with the real API.

• Centralized API Management: SwaggerHub is a centralized platform for storing, managing, and publishing your API specifications. It allows development teams to collaborate on APIs, track changes, and easily deploy new versions.

• Integrations: Swagger integrates with various development tools and CI/CD platforms, allowing you to automate the API lifecycle.

Overall, Swagger is a powerful toolkit that helps you create, document, test, and maintain reliable and user-friendly APIs.

Apigee

Apigee is an effective solution for creating reliable, secure, and scalable projects. It is designed for managing Google Cloud APIs and supports various API architectural styles and deployment environments.

Key features include:

• Secure data storage, including local, cloud, or hybrid storage

• Embedded security features: authorization, authentication, and client verification

• Comprehensive set of management tools

• API fault monitoring

• Options for platform analysis and optimization

The cost depends on business needs: Pay-as-you-go pricing allows selecting only necessary features, while Subscription pricing includes Standard, Enterprise, and Enterprise Plus. There is a 60-day free trial version.

Automation and Continuous Integration Tools

These tools aim to simplify and speed up integration, build, test, and deployment processes. The team can merge changes into the main repository and initiate automated tests.

Jenkins

Jenkins is a cross-platform CI/CD tool based on Java with open-source code, essential for executing continuous integration processes.

Key features:

• Easy "out-of-the-box" setup for Windows, Linux, and macOS.

• Enhanced functionality through 1800+ plugins.

• Quick configuration through a web interface.

• Workload distribution across multiple PCs for process optimization.

• Integration with third-party services and tools.

Jenkins has open-source code and is available for free use.

CircleCI

Similar to Travis CI (Github), CircleCI is designed for building and deploying, making it easier to automate the processes of building, testing, and deploying software. 

Features:

• Operates on Linux, macOS, Windows, and Android.

• Complex pipeline configurations for enhanced performance.

• SSH access option to expedite task execution.

• Build analysis and monitoring system.

• Integration with AWS, Slack, Atlassian, and numerous other services.

CircleCI offers the following plans: Cloud (Free, Performance for $15 per month), Scale for $2000 per month, and Self-hosted with custom pricing.

UI/UX Software for Android App Development

The range of Android apps development tools also includes the ones designed to enhance the creation of user interfaces. They should be part of every developer's arsenal.

Zeplin

When aiming for an appealingly designed mobile app, the Zeplin service becomes indispensable. It facilitates seamless communication between designers and developers, directly impacting project execution speed.

Key features include:

• Clear code for layout.

• Support for graphic editors such as Sketch, Photoshop, Figma, and Adobe XD for automatic generation of design, XML and CSS code snippets, styles, and more.

• Chat functionality for communication among app development contributors. 

Zeplin is available for free on one project, and there are three pricing plans: Team ($8 seat/month for 12 projects), Organization ($16 seat/month, 12 seat minimum for an unlimited number of projects), and Enterprise (custom pricing).

Adobe XD

As part of the Adobe suite, Adobe XD is one of the most useful tools for UI/UX development, supporting web layouts and vector graphics.

Main features include:

• Extensive design development capabilities.

• Preparation of layouts and wireframes for iOS and Android.

• Access to the interactive part of the prototype design.

• Collaborative project development with the development team.

The program doesn't operate in a cloud storage, requiring installation on a PC. You can use Adobe packages for free, but there is also a paid version. 

Final Thoughts

We've outlined some software for various tasks in the Android development process. IT teams choose tools individually, considering the focus, goals, and needs of each digital project.