Recommended Linux Distro for Android Development Workstation

Question

I am trying to determine which is the best / preferred / recommended linux distribution for Android's own development?

I am looking at Ubuntu now, but also considering CentOS (I always liked RedHat).

I assume that at a bearish low the OS should

• Support for the latest JDK (Android SDK required)
• Launch Eclipse (this means you also need a desktop package like GNOME or KDE).

At work, I design windows using a mono-visual studio, but now that I got 4.2.2 loaded onto my fire, I really want to start doing some native Android stuff (which I hope will help my Monodroid debugging skills).

Update: Make Kindle Fire HD 8.9, since my battery started to expand so much (I caught it earlier, it gets worse), pushing the side trim a few millimeters, Amazon sends an updated replacement.

Thanks.

Answer 1

For developing Android applications using the SDK, this is not a big deal. However, if you want to create or modify lower-level components in Android, the official recommendation is Ubuntu [1] :

The Android build is routinely tested in house on recent versions of Ubuntu LTS (10.04), but most distributions should have the required build tools available. Reports of successes or failures on other distributions are welcome. 

Keep in mind that to create an Android system and kernel for new versions of Android (> 2.3) you will need a 64-bit (amd64) distribution. I compiled the Android source on Ubuntu 13.04 amd64 without any problems.

You do not need that for clean application development. Use whatever you prefer.

Literature:

• How to configure Ubuntu 13.04 Raring Ringtail to compile Android disks

Answer 2

I would say with one of them the biggest support. Right now, it will be Ubuntu. Cent OS for servers. If you are not going to start the server, I would not recommend it. Linux Mint is in second place, but it is from Ubuntu. So, Ubuntu is the final answer. new android studio is also supported, but Ubuntu