Android Device Monitor

Android Device MonitorAndroid Device Monitor is a stand-alone tool that provides a graphical user interface for several Android application debugging and analysis tools. The Monitor tool does not require installation of an integrated development environment, such as Eclipse.

History & AvailabilityThe Device Monitor is included in the standard Android SDK.

It was recently updated to incorporate a more Eclipse-like visual format.

Other Monitoring Tools

There aren’t any other tools advertised specifically as Android monitoring tools. Though some other tools included with the Android SDK are used for monitoring.

Sustainability and Performance

Because the Monitor tool is included as part of the Android SDK, it is kept updated by Google.

Benefit / Cost

Since it’s free, and already installed on your computer, there is no cost to using it for Android debugging.

Running the ToolThe tool can be run from the /tools directory in the android sdk folder.

Just type ‘monitor’ from the command line to run the ‘monitor.bat’ file.

Running the Tool

Practical Use

The tool can be used to monitor apps on any running emulators, or connected debuggable device.

Practical UseThe Monitor tool encapsulates 5 main tools:● DDMS● Tracer for OpenGL ES● Hierarchy Viewer● Systrace● Traceview

Practical Use - DDMS● DDMS is integrated

into Eclipse, and ifyou’ve done any Android develop-ment before, you’ve probably used this tool.

Practical Use - Tracer for OpenGL ES

The Tracer tool tapsinto the rendering back-end of the device, whenyou start a selected app, it takes a seriesof screenshots.

Practical Use - Hierarchy Viewer

The Hierarchy tool is perhaps the most useful part of the Monitor program: it allows you to view a tree-based diagram of any selected activity from your emulator/connected device.

Practical Use - Hierarchy Viewer

Practical Use - Systrace/Traceview

The Systrace tool can take a ‘snapshot’ of your device’s running processes and execution times, as well as disk activity and application threads.

The Traceview tool can be used to graphically view the execution logs after they are recorded.

Practical Use - Systrace/Traceview

The results of thetrace are formattedinto an HTMLreport. Which can be read by Traceview

ThoughtsThe Android SDK ships with many powerful tools, and I don’t think that many developers are aware of the many applications of said tools.That being said, I haven’t personally used them much, so I can’t tell for sure if they’re worth the trouble.