Apps Emulator versus USB to real Phone

[matt72yard]

Hello,
I am trying to learn Android development from some online tutorials, but on my main computer (Win7), I get errors and can't use an Intel based emulator because my computer does not support HAXM.

So, I am wondering if I can get by using my smartphone and a USB connection? I have a Samsung Galaxy S3.

Or is the preferred method using an emulator?

Thanks!

 

[ProjectLiquid]

You can use your phone as a emulation device. When you plug your phone in to your pc, via usb, make sure the "USB debugging" setting in the developer options is checked as well.

After you have gotten windows to recognize your phone. In eclipse, you should now see that you have an option in the AVD menu to set the connected phone as the target device.

or you can try a different emulator
Genymotion

 

[matt72yard]

Thanks for the reply. I am aware that I *can* USB debug with my actual phone.

What I want to know is, is this going to be ok for getting started? Is it buggy, slow, or a PITA to the point where a week from now I will be saying "why didn't I get the emulator going!!!"

Are there actual developers that primarily use their phones to debug? Or is the emulator your "go to" weapon?

(I am aware that before I release an app -- far, far away from where I am now! -- I will want to test it on a lot more than just my phone. But is my phone good enough to get started?)

Thanks!

 

[ProjectLiquid]

Your physical device will always beat the emulator. So if you have no problem testing apps on your phone, definitely do that. Just beware that when you test on your phone, there may be files that end up in weird places cus you don't know what your doing lol

I have an older android phone lying around that I use as well as an emulator and a newer phone. Obviously the more devices you have access to, to test on the better.

If your just starting out with really basic stuff, the emulator is good enough. You can leave it running in between builds of your app so you don't have to wait for it to load every time.

 

[matt72yard]

Ok thanks! I have my phone attched and working. It is very fast. Getting it hooked up was not straightforward, but I got Hello World going on it, so I am happy.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[out of ideas]

I go with an actual phone 100% of the time over an emulator. Much quicker and gives you a better idea of real world operations.

 

[imberest]

Hello matt72yard,
I am new to Android application development too, only a week or so. Personally i am using my old Samsung galaxy ace, its peace of s*, but it is many times quicker that emulator and as out of ideas said it gives you better idea for real world.