Google has released version 2.2 of Android Studio, the integrated development environment (IDE) software that developers use to create Android apps from the ground up. Current users can install the new software by checking for updates in their existing software settings, while interested newcomers can grab the latest version from the official download page.
On an Android Developers Blog post detailing the release, Jamal Eason, product manager of Android, cited “speed, smarts, and Android platform support,” as the major focuses of the release.
The most immediately noticeable change is the new layout editor, which now allows coders to “quickly construct the structure of your app UI with the new blueprint mode and adjust the visual attributes of each widget with new properties panel.”
Google has also updated "Instant Run", a part of the Android Emulator. The blog claims that it “has significantly improved the edit, build, run iteration cycles for many developers,” in addition to making “many stability and reliability improvements.” Instant Run first appeared in version 2.0 of Android Studio and aims to make development processes fast and lightweight.
Other noticeable additions to Android"s upgraded IDE include the ability to use virtual sensors in the Android Emulator to test the accelerometer, the ambient temperature and magnetometer of devices. Improved C++ support as well as a new constraint layout, which integrates the Android Framework and the traditional IDE framework, to round out the list of features.
The blog post notes, "Android Studio 2.2 includes support for all the latest developer features in Android 7.0 Nougat, like code completion to help you add Android platform features like Multi-Window support, Quick Settings API, or the redesigned Notifications, and of course, the built-in Android Emulator to test them all out."
Google started rolling out the official release of Android 7.0 Nougat to its mobile devices on August 22. In addition, at least two new devices from Google, the Pixel and the Pixel XL, are rumored to launch on October 4, and will reportedly ship with Android 7.1.
Source: Android Developers Blog