[Android Software Development] HooloovooUK:
I'm new to Android development. I am familiar with C++ and PHP and a few other languages, but I've never used Java. I've just got a new Galaxy Nexus so I thought I would download the SDK and have a go at running the hello world app.

I've managed to get it running, it but only uses the bottom left hand quarter of the screen.

I am running Fedora 16 and just using the command line tools to develop and compile.

I have downloaded everything for Android 2.2 (API 8) and Android 4.0 (API 14).

When I run "android list targets" I get

Available Android targets:
----------
id: 1 or "android-8"
Name: Android 2.2
Type: Platform
API level: 8
Revision: 3
Skins: QVGA, WQVGA400, WQVGA432, HVGA, WVGA854, WVGA800 (default)
ABIs : armeabi
----------
id: 2 or "Google Inc.:Google APIs:8"
Name: Google APIs
Type: Add-On
Vendor: Google Inc.
Revision: 2
Description: Android + Google APIs
Based on Android 2.2 (API level 8)
Libraries:
* com.google.android.maps (maps.jar)
API for Google Maps
Skins: WVGA854, WQVGA400, HVGA, WQVGA432, WVGA800 (default), QVGA
ABIs : armeabi
----------
id: 3 or "KYOCERA Corporation:DTS Add-On:8"
Name: DTS Add-On
Type: Add-On
Vendor: KYOCERA Corporation
Revision: 1
Description: DTS Add-On
Based on Android 2.2 (API level 8)
Libraries:
* com.kyocera.dualscreen (dualscreen.jar)
Dual Screen optional platform library
Skins: DTS400 (default), WVGA854, WQVGA400, HVGA, DTS800, WQVGA432, WVGA800, QVGA
ABIs : armeabi
----------
id: 4 or "LGE:Real3D Add-On:8"
Name: Real3D Add-On
Type: Add-On
Vendor: LGE
Revision: 1
Description: Real3D add-on
Based on Android 2.2 (API level 8)
Libraries:
* com.lge.real3d (real3d.jar)
Real3D library
Skins: WVGA854, WQVGA400, Optimus3D (default), HVGA, WQVGA432, WVGA800, QVGA
ABIs : armeabi
----------
id: 5 or "Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.:GALAXY Tab Addon:8"
Name: GALAXY Tab Addon
Type: Add-On
Vendor: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Revision: 1
Based on Android 2.2 (API level 8)
Skins: WVGA854, WQVGA400, GALAXY Tab (default), HVGA, WQVGA432, WVGA800, QVGA
ABIs : armeabi
----------
id: 6 or "android-14"
Name: Android 4.0
Type: Platform
API level: 14
Revision: 3
Skins: QVGA, WQVGA400, WQVGA432, HVGA, WXGA720, WSVGA, WVGA854, WVGA800 (default), WXGA800
ABIs : armeabi-v7a
----------
id: 7 or "Google Inc.:Google APIs:14"
Name: Google APIs
Type: Add-On
Vendor: Google Inc.
Revision: 2
Description: Android + Google APIs
Based on Android 4.0 (API level 14)
Libraries:
* com.android.future.usb.accessory (usb.jar)
API for USB Accessories
* com.google.android.maps (maps.jar)
API for Google Maps
Skins: WVGA854, WQVGA400, WSVGA, WXGA720, HVGA, WQVGA432, WVGA800 (default), QVGA, WXGA800
ABIs : armeabi-v7a

I created a project using target 1 which should be android-8 (Android 2.2).

create project --name helloandroid --target 1 --path ./ --activity helloandroid --package com.example.helloandroid

Here is my "res/layout/main.xml"

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<TextView xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="@+id/textview"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="fill_parent"
android:text="@string/hello"/>

Here is my "res/values/strings.xml"

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
<string name="hello">Hello, Android! I am a string resource!</string>
<string name="app_name">helloandroid</string>
</resources>

I have added the following to my "AndroidManifest.xml"

<supports-screens android:resizeable="true"
android:smallScreens="true"
android:normalScreens="true"
android:largeScreens="true"
android:xlargeScreens="true"
android:anyDensity="true"/>

But my Galaxy Nexus still doesn't make the app fill the whole screen and use text big enough to read.

I think I need to use skin WXGA720 for the 1280x720 screen on the Galaxy Nexus. But of course this isn't available on Android 2.2. Do I need to compile for "android-14" (target 6) instead? But presumably if I did that I wouldn't be able to run the app on an older device.

So how do I tell Android to scale up to fill the whole screen on my Galaxy Nexus?

I assume I am doing something stupid and making a totally obvious mistake.

I'd be grateful if someone could point out what it is for me.:)

Thanks!