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page.title=Program Overview
page.metaDescription=Welcome to the Android M Developer Preview, a program that gives you everything you need to test and optimize your apps for the next version of Android.
page.image=images/cards/card-preview_16-9_2x.png
page.tags="preview", "developer", "android"
@jd:body
<div class="cols" style=
"background-color:#ffebc3; padding: 5px 0;margin-bottom:1em; text-align:center;">
<h3>
Developer Preview 2 is now available
</h3>
<ul class="dac-section-links">
<li class="dac-section-link">
<a href="{@docRoot}preview/support.html#preview2-notes">
<span class="dac-sprite dac-auto-chevron"></span>
Read the Notes</a>
</li>
<li class="dac-section-link">
<a href="{@docRoot}preview/support.html#preview2-get">
<span class="dac-sprite dac-auto-chevron"></span>
Get the Update</a>
</li>
<li class="dac-section-link">
<a href="https://code.google.com/p/android-developer-preview/">
<span class="dac-sprite dac-auto-chevron"></span>
Report Issues</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>
Welcome to the <strong>Android M Developer Preview</strong>, a program that gives you
everything you need to test and optimize your apps for the next version of
Android. It's free, and you can get started right away just by downloading
the M Developer Preview tools.
</p>
<div style="background-color:#eceff1;padding:1em;">
<div class="wrap">
<div class="cols">
<div class="col-4of12">
<h5>
Hardware and emulator system images
</h5>
<p>
Run and test your apps on Nexus 5, 6, 9, and Player (for TV), as well
as emulator.
</p>
</div>
<div class="col-4of12">
<h5>
Latest platform code
</h5>
<p>
We’ll provide multiple updates during the Preview, so you’ll be testing
against the latest platform changes.
</p>
</div>
<div class="col-4of12">
<h5>
Updates delivered by OTA
</h5>
<p>
You can get updates over-the-air, once you’ve flashed a
device to the initial preview.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="cols">
<div class="col-4of12">
<h5>
New behaviors and capabilities
</h5>
<p>
Start work early to support new platform behaviors such as
the new runtime permissions model and power-saving features.
</p>
</div>
<div class="col-4of12">
<h5>
Priority window for developer-reported issues
</h5>
<p>
During the first several weeks we’ll give priority to developer-reported
issues, so test and give feedback as soon as possible.
</p>
</div>
<div class="col-4of12">
<h5>
Feedback and support
</h5>
<p>
Report issues and give us feedback using our <a href=
"https://code.google.com/p/android-developer-preview/">issue tracker</a>.
Connect with other developers in the <a
href="http://g.co/dev/AndroidMDevPreview">M&nbsp;Developer Community</a>.
</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!--
<p>
With the M Developer Preview, you'll get an early start on testing your apps,
with enough time to make adjustments before the public platform release later
in the year. We'll provide several updates to the Preview tools in the weeks
ahead, so you can keep in sync with the latest changes as the platform moves
toward launch.
</p>
<img src="{@docRoot}preview/images/m-preview-timeline.png" alt=
"Preview program timeline" id="timeline">
<p>
You can help us improve the platform by <a href=
"https://code.google.com/p/android-developer-preview/">reporting issues</a>
through our feedback channels. This is especially
critical in the first month of the preview, when we’ll be giving priority to
developer-reported issues and feedback.
</p> -->
<h2 id="timeline">
Timeline and updates
</h2>
<img src="{@docRoot}preview/images/m-preview-timeline-crop.png" alt=
"Preview program timeline" id="timeline">
<p>
The M Developer Preview runs from May 28 until the final Android M SDK, which
we’ll release shortly before the public release during Q3
2015.
</p>
<p>
At key development milestones, we’ll deliver updates for your test devices.
The tentative milestones are
</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong><a href="{@docRoot}preview/download_mp1.html">Preview&nbsp;1</a></strong> (available).
</li>
<li>
<strong><a href="{@docRoot}preview/download.html">Preview&nbsp;2</a></strong> (available).
</li>
<li>
<strong>Preview&nbsp;3</strong> (near final, late July).
</li>
</ul>
<p>
These updates culminate in the <strong>final SDK</strong> (later in Q3),
which delivers the official APIs for the new version of Android, as well
as the final system behaviors and features.
</p>
<p>
As you test and develop on Android M, we strongly recommend <strong>keeping
your development environment up-to-date</strong> as Preview updates are released.
To make the process easier, we'll deliver <strong>updates over-the-air
(OTA)</strong> to devices already flashed to a Preview build, as well as
providing system images that you can download and flash manually.
</p>
<p class="note">
<strong>Note:</strong> The final SDK and system images can not be delivered
by OTA, but will instead need to be <strong>flashed manually</strong> to
your test devices.</strong>
</p>
<p>
Well notify you when Preview updates are available via the <a href=
"http://android-developers.blogspot.com/">Android Developers Blog</a>, as
well as this site and the
<a href="http://g.co/dev/AndroidMDevPreview">Android M Developer Community</a>.
</p>
<h2 id="preview_tools">
Whats in the Preview?
</h2>
<p>
The M Developer Preview includes everything you need to test your existing
apps on a variety of screen sizes, network technologies, CPU/GPU chipsets,
and hardware architectures.
</p>
<h4>
SDK tools
</h4>
<p>
You can download these components through the SDK Manager in <a href=
"{@docRoot}sdk/installing/adding-packages.html">Android Studio</a>:
</p>
<ul>
<li>M Developer Preview <strong>SDK tools</strong>
</li>
<li>M Developer Preview <strong>emulator system image</strong> (32-bit &amp;
64-bit)
</li>
<li>M Developer Preview <strong>emulator system Image for Android TV</strong>
(32-bit)
</li>
</ul>
<h4>
Hardware system images
</h4>
<p>
You can download these hardware system images for Nexus devices from the
<a href="download.html">Downloads page</a>:
</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Nexus 5</strong> (GSM/LTE) hammerhead device system image
</li>
<li>
<strong>Nexus 6</strong> shamu device system image
</li>
<li>
<strong>Nexus 9</strong> (Wi-Fi) volantis device system image
</li>
<li>
<strong>Nexus Player</strong> (Android TV) fugu device system image
</li>
</ul>
<h4>
Documentation and sample code
</h4>
<p>
These documentation resources help you learn about the Preview:
</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="setup-sdk.html">Set Up the SDK</a> has step-by-step instructions
for getting started.
</li>
<li>
<a href="{@docRoot}preview/testing/guide.html">Testing Guide</a> and <a href=
"behavior-changes.html">Behavior Changes</a> point you to key areas to test.
</li>
<li>Documentation of new APIs, including an <a href="api-overview.html">API Overview</a>,
downloadable <a href="{@docRoot}preview/download.html#docs">API Reference</a>, and detailed developer guides on
key features such as
<a href="{@docRoot}preview/features/runtime-permissions.html">permissions</a>,
<a href="{@docRoot}preview/backup/index.html">app backup</a>, and others.
</li>
<li>
<a href="{@docRoot}preview/samples.html">Sample code</a> that demonstrates how to support
permissions and other new features.
</li>
<li>
<a href="{@docRoot}preview/support.html#release-notes">Release notes</a> for the current version
of the M Developer Preview, including change notes and diff reports.
</li>
</ul>
<h4>
Support resources
</h4>
<p>
Use these support resources as you test and develop on the M
Developer Preview:
</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://code.google.com/p/android-developer-preview/">M
Developer Preview Issue Tracker</a> is your <strong>primary feedback
channel.</strong> You can report bugs, performance issues, and general
feedback through the issue tracker. You can also check for <a
href="https://code.google.com/p/android-developer-preview/wiki/KnownIssues">known issues</a>
and find workaround steps.
</li>
<li>The <a href="http://g.co/dev/AndroidMDevPreview">Android M Developer
Community</a> is a Google+ community where you can <strong>connect with
other developers</strong> working with Android M. You can share
observations or ideas or find answers to questions about Android M.
</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="preview_apis_and_publishing">
Targeting, preview APIs, and publishing
</h2>
<p>
The Android M Developer Preview is a development-only release and
<strong>does not have a standard API level</strong>. If you want to opt out
of compatibility behaviors to test your app (which is strongly recommended),
you can target the M Developer Preview by setting your app's <code><a href=
"/guide/topics/manifest/uses-sdk-element.html">targetSdkVersion</a></code>
to <code>“MNC”</code>.
</p>
<p>
The Android M Developer Preview delivers <strong>preview APIs</strong>
&mdash; the APIs will not be official until the final SDK is released,
currently planned for the third quarter of 2015. This means that you can
<strong>expect minor API changes</strong> over time, especially during
initial weeks of the program. We’ll provide a summary of changes to you with
each update of the Android M Developer Preview.
</p>
<p class="note">
Note that although preview APIs may change, underlying system behaviors such
as runtime permissions and power-saving features are stable and ready for
testing right away.
</p>
<p>
In terms of publishing, Google Play <strong>prevents publishing of apps
targeting the M Developer Preview</strong>. When the Android M final SDK is
available, you’ll be able to target the official Android M API level and
publish your app to Google Play. Meanwhile, if you want to distribute an app
targeting Android M to testers, you can do so via email or by direct download
from your site.
</p>
<h2 id="get_started">
How to get started
</h2>
<p>
To get started testing your app:
</p>
<ol>
<li>Review the <a href="{@docRoot}preview/api-overview.html">API Overview</a>
and <a href="{@docRoot}preview/behavior-changes.html">Behavior Changes</a> to get an
idea of what's new and how it affects your apps. In particular, learn about
the new <a href="{@docRoot}preview/features/runtime-permissions.html">runtime
permissions</a> model, power-saving features, and auto backup.
</li>
<li>Set up your environment by following the instructions for
<a href="{@docRoot}preview/setup-sdk.html">Setting up the Preview SDK</a>
and configuring test devices.
</li>
<li>Follow the <a href="https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images">
flashing instructions</a> to flash the latest M developer preview system image
for Nexus 5, 6, 9, and Player. Once you've flashed your development device,
Preview updates will be delivered through over-the-air (OTA) updates.</a>
</li>
<li>Download the <a href="{@docRoot}preview/download.html#docs">M Preview API
Reference</a> and <a href="{@docRoot}preview/samples.html">M Preview
samples</a> to gain more insight into new API features and how to use them in
your app.
</li>
<li>Join the <a href="http://g.co/dev/AndroidMDevPreview">Android M
Developer Community</a> to get the latest news and connect with other
developers working with the new platform.
</li>
</ol>
<p>
Thank you for your participation in the Android M Developer Preview program!
</p>