# Set up an Android application for profiling

## In this learning path

- [Introduction](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/mobile-graphics-and-gaming/ams/)
- [Set up Arm Performance Studio](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/mobile-graphics-and-gaming/ams/ams/)
- [Set up an Android application for profiling](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/mobile-graphics-and-gaming/ams/setup_tasks/)
- [Interpret an example Arm Streamline report](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/mobile-graphics-and-gaming/ams/streamline_example/)
- [Use Arm Streamline to capture data for your application](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/mobile-graphics-and-gaming/ams/streamline/)
- [View an example Performance Advisor report](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/mobile-graphics-and-gaming/ams/pa_example/)
- [Create a Performance Advisor report for your application](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/mobile-graphics-and-gaming/ams/pa/)
- [Analyze your application with Frame Advisor](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/mobile-graphics-and-gaming/ams/fa/)
- [Debug your application with RenderDoc for Arm GPUs](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/mobile-graphics-and-gaming/ams/renderdoc/)
- [Analyze shader program performance with Mali Offline Compiler](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/mobile-graphics-and-gaming/ams/malioc/)
- [Next Steps](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/mobile-graphics-and-gaming/ams/_next-steps/)

## Before you begin
Complete the following prerequisites:
1. Install [Android Debug Bridge (adb)](https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb). `adb` is available with the Android SDK platform tools, which are installed as part of Android Studio.
2. Performance Advisor uses a Python script to connect to your device. To run this script, you’ll need [Python](https://www.python.org/downloads/) 3.8 or later installed.

## Build your application
Compile the application with debug enabled, as well as additional options to facilitate call stack unwinding by Streamline.
- To set [Unity](https://unity.com/) applications to be debuggable, enable **[Development Build](https://docs.unity3d.com/6000.0/Documentation/Manual/android-BuildProcess.html)** in **Build settings**.
- In Android Studio, use a build variant that includes `debuggable true` (`isDebuggable = true` in Kotlin scripts) in the build configuration.
- In Unreal Engine, open **Project Settings > Project > Packaging > Project**, and ensure that the **For Distribution** checkbox isn’t set.
- For instructions to compile your C++ or Java applications with the right options, see the [Target setup guide for Android](https://developer.arm.com/documentation/101813/latest/Target-Setup/Compile-your-application).

> **Tip**: To assist with readability and add context, you can optionally include [annotations](https://developer.arm.com/documentation/101816/latest/Annotate-your-code/Add-annotations-to-your-code) in your code, which are then displayed in Streamline.

## Set up the Android device
To set up your Android device, follow these steps:
1. On the device, ensure that **[Developer Mode](https://developer.android.com/studio/debug/dev-options)** is enabled.
2. Enable **USB Debugging** under **Settings > Developer options**. If your device asks you to authorize connection to your computer, confirm the connection.
3. Connect the device to the host through USB and approve the debug connection on the device when prompted.
4. To test the connection, run the `adb devices` command in a terminal. If successful, this returns the ID of your device:
   ```
   adb devices
   List of devices attached
   ce12345abcdf1a1234       device
   ```
   If you see that the device is listed as `unauthorized`, try disabling and re-enabling `USB Debugging` on the device, and accept the authorization prompt to enable connection to the computer.
5. Install the [debuggable](https://developer.android.com/studio/debug) application on the device.

## What you’ve accomplished and what’s next
You’ve now set up your Android device and built the application you’ll use for profiling.

Next, you’ll look at an example Arm Streamline report to understand the Streamline component of Arm Performance Studio.