Using an alternate emulator with App Inventor 2 - YES YOU CAN

[Natraj Ram]

All,

I want to share this invaluable way I found to use an alternate emulator for App Inventor 2. 

As you know the App Inventor 2 emulator, works, but takes way too long to load and screen switching is very slow.  It also crashes often, and has limited screen size.

Here is how you can use an alternate Emulator

1. Create your choice of Emulator using Andriod Studio's AVD tool

2. Start the Emulator from Android Studio

3. Install the MIT App Inventor 2 Companion App on the emulator by doing an "adb install .....".  Make sure you dont have any empty spaces in the file name.  You should be able to download the apk for the MIT App Inventor 2 from the MIT website.

4. Start aiStarter 

5. Connect to App Inventor interface (your project)

6. Click on Emulator for the connection

7. You project will open in your emulator!  

It is much faster with the local server and you can see the effects of your changes seamlessly  . 

Please contact me if you have any questions.  It saved me a ton of time and frustration.

You can also install your app apk onto the Andriod Studio's emulator using the "adb install....". You will of course need to build the apk and download to your computer first.

I have also done this with AIUltimate (the local server option).  It is much faster with the local server and you can see the effects of your changes seamlessly  .   

[Toni Schuh]

Thx for sharing :)

[Hal Abelson]

A lot of people (e.g., Enis) prefer using Genymotion with App Inventor.

Here is some documentation that we are about to add to the App Inventor site:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hg5z5uAesOftdu3vbk69yTtzJrZVxCYi6DQIs1AnCTs/edit

[Gagan Khanna]

Hi,

I am unable to load my one project on emulator as i get error to force stop.

Other two project are tunning fine on emulator.

Can you please help.

[SteveJG]

@ Gagan....   an answer for you to consider is here  https://groups.google.com/forum/#!category-topic/mitappinventortest/4JdFOKhc3J8   since other projects work.

It is very probable you have coding issues or issues with too large sound files or images or many screens.

You do not need to double post.  The forum members "hear" you.

Regards,

Steve