Appendix B: Installing Mobile Build Tools

Due to the way that mobile applications are compiled, they require additional tools and packages for testing or installation on devices. In this appendix, we’ll learn how to set up the additional components for iOS and Android development.

Preparing for Android

To develop apps for Android, we will require additional development tools. Development follows the same process as we have seen in the earlier chapters of this book, and the same Fyne APIs are available for your application – it’s just the build/package phase that changes. Here are the necessary steps that we need to follow:

1. Firstly, you will need to install the Android SDK. The easiest way to do this is by installing Android Studio, which is available at developer.android.com/studio. Tap the download button on that website and follow the installation instructions for your type of computer.
2. Once the installation has completed, you will also need to install the Native Development Kit (NDK), which is managed through the SDK Manager. This can be accessed through Android Studio by accessing the Tools menu and choosing SDK Manager. If you are not using Android Studio, then the same functionality can be seen by running the sdkmanager application...

Preparing for iOS and iPadOS

Building apps for Apple mobile devices is a little different from compiling your applications for macOS (desktop computers). Firstly, this must be done on an Apple Macintosh computer (iMac, MacBook Pro, and more) due to licensing restrictions.

Secondly, you must have Xcode tools installed (this is somewhat optional for desktop app creation). Lastly, if you want to test on physical devices or distribute to the store, you will need to be signed up to the Apple developer program, which carries an annual cost.

The Xcode installation is described in the Apple macOS section of Appendix A: Developer Tool Installation. If you have previously done iOS development, this will already be set up.

Next, you will need to have an Apple developer account. If you have not done so already, you can sign up at developer.apple.com/programs/enroll/. There is an annual fee, and if you publish apps but fail to renew your membership, they will be removed from the store...