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I know that this is a pretty basic question. But I am new to native android development and I am having trouble wrapping my head around what is what.

I am using the Android Standalone SDK and not using Android Studio so please guide be accordingly.

Let's say that I want to build my app for API level 19. what level of platform tools and build tools do I need to install.

This is what I have currently

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As I want to build for API 19, which I have installed. Do I need to have version 19 of Android SDK build tools or they can be higher?

Kindly please explain to me what each term means as well in laymen's terms.

-Thanks

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  • 1
    duplicate of this
    – Navas pk
    Commented Jan 17, 2017 at 12:09

2 Answers 2

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Build-Tools is a component of the Android SDK required for building Android apps. It's installed in the /build-tools/ directory

So, build tool is to build your android app. That is like the makefile for C projects. Output is an APK file.

Android SDK Tools is a component for the Android SDK. It includes the complete set of development and debugging tools for Android. It is included with Android Studio.

So, Platform tool is where all the tool to interact with the android device you have, such as fastboot and adb. For example, to install your apk into the devices, run it, debug it, and grep some file from it, you need to first connect your device to adb bridge and run all those command on it.

Let's say that I want to build my app for API level 19. what level of platform tools and build tools do I need to install.

Basically, you should have all the latest thing here. If you are deploying for a API 19 device, you should also have the Android SDK platform 19.

I haven't touch those things in a while, because I install all those things anyway, so I'd appreciate correction.

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Android SDK Build-Tools is a component of the Android SDK required for building Android apps. It's installed in the /build-tools/ directory. It includes the complete set of development and debugging tools for the Android SDK like emulator, sdcard, sqlite and apk builder etc.

For more details check Android SDK Build-Tools

Platform-tools are used to support the features for the current android platform including adb which is acting like a bridge to communicate with emulator or device.

You can also know more about this topic by clicking here

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  • Okay so If I want to build for API 19, do I need to have Android SDK Build-Tools version 19 or can I build using version 25
    – krv
    Commented Jan 17, 2017 at 12:13
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    @krv if you want to build for API 19 then you can use any version greater than or equal to 19.
    – Pankaj Lilan
    Commented Jan 17, 2017 at 12:15

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