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Android Setup

Set up your development environment and build your first Android app with Claude.

Before You Start
Before You Start

Create Your Activity Repository
Create Your Activity Repository

Once your repository has been created, clone it and open the folder in Android Studio. Do not use the Android Studio new project wizard — your cloned repository is your project. Claude Code will set up the Android project structure for you in the next step.

If you’re not sure how to clone a repository, ask Claude at claude.ai — it can walk you through the Git commands step by step.

Work Through the Installation Guide
Work Through the Installation Guide

Follow the installation guide step-by-step to install Git, Android Studio, and Claude Code. If you’ve already completed the installation guide, skip to the next step.

If you run into errors during installation, copy and paste the error message into claude.ai and ask what went wrong. Claude can diagnose most installation and configuration issues and suggest fixes specific to your operating system.

Build a Hello World App
Build a Hello World App

Time to verify everything works by building your first app with Claude.

  1. Open the Terminal panel in Android Studio (bottom of the window)
  2. Run claude to start Claude Code
  3. Ask Claude to create a simple Hello World Android app in your chosen language (Java or Kotlin) that displays “Hello, World!” in large text centered on the screen
  4. Once Claude makes the changes, build and run the app in the emulator (click the green play button)
  5. Verify that “Hello, World!” appears on the emulated phone screen

If the emulator hasn’t been set up yet, Android Studio will prompt you to create a virtual device — follow the defaults.

If the build fails, copy the error output and paste it into claude.ai. Build errors during Android setup are common and Claude can usually identify the fix — whether it’s a missing SDK component, a Gradle configuration issue, or something else.

Verify Session Logging
Verify Session Logging

After your Claude session ends, confirm that session transcripts are being saved:

  1. In Android Studio, open the Terminal panel (bottom of the window)
  2. Run: ls .claude-sessions/
  3. You should see one or more .jsonl files — these are your saved Claude session transcripts

If the directory is empty, try ending your Claude session (close the Claude panel or type /exit) and checking again. The session logging hook runs when the session ends.

Having trouble with session logging? Ask claude.ai to help you check whether the logging hook is configured correctly.

Running Out of Time?
Running Out of Time?

If you don’t finish during the activity period, that’s OK — complete the remaining steps on your own time. You’ll need a working Android Studio setup with Claude Code for the independent project, so don’t skip any steps. Remember that claude.ai can help you troubleshoot any issues you run into outside of class.

Attendance
Attendance

Once you have your Hello World app running in the emulator and session logs in .claude-sessions/, show both to a staff member. They’ll scan your QR code for attendance.

Feedback
Feedback