Publishing your app to the market

Publishing your app to the market


right click on project
android tools
export signed application package


a key store 
or it will create one for you

Read this if you want to understand self signed jar files

Read this to understand signing using keytool

These are my notes when I wrote a chapter on Titanium for Mobile for the 2nd edition of Pro Android. This link has a section on how to use the Keytool from java directly. 


Name and location for a key store
a password for a key store


-alias mykey //name of the key
  -keystore c:\somekeystore.store //location of a store
  -storepass abc //password
  -keypass abc //password
  -validate for how many years

Looks like commas are not allowed in organization names. Here is a post

incorrect ava format from keytool

Search for: incorrect ava format from keytool

Search for: android apk market key expiration limit

Don't forget to read this on signing for production from Google

?If you plan to publish your application(s) on Android Market, the key you use to sign the application(s) must have a validity period ending after 22 October 2033. The Market server enforces this requirement to ensure that users can seamlessly upgrade Market applications when new versions are available 


compile in release mode
sign with the key
zip align

You can upload that apk file to any website and put a link on a web page such as your blog page. Or email a link to a friend with an android phone. when you browse to that link with the android browser and clicks on it android will then download that file and once downloaded it will ask you if you would like to install it.

Android will prompt you to take to the settings to allow application install from unknown sources. You will need to turn this on to be able to install that app.

you can also go to this setting directly 

home
search
settings
go to settings app
go to applications
turn on "unknown sources"