What is the use of ARM EABI v7a System image in android?

Question

What for do we need ARM EABI v7a System image in Android development? What is the purpose of that particular image?

Fauman

Answer 1

if you work with the NativeDK, without that image the emulator is not able to simulate the execution of ARMv7 code (like multicore-instructions and NEON floating-point-unit)

Nianiabi

If I don't use NDK, should the system image still be installed? – Frazzle

It's not fancy - takes lots of space... I just wonder why we have to install all of these system images under one version... e.g. Andorid L (api 20) has : 4 images. And my emulator just fine before installing them somehow - at least it didn't cry with errors. Now machine is running out of space and too slow - images are in progress... don't you think it's quite inefficient? – Vaginectomy

So, I don't really need this image when I don't use the ARM emulator? – Unthinking

Answer 2

It is the kernel image. You must install it, otherwise the image won't start, failing with

ERROR: This AVD's configuration is missing a kernel file

Transcript

Answer 3

The system image is used by the emulator to virtualize the Android OS so Apps can be tested/debugged on a PC without the need to upload the App to a phone whenever a change in the code is made. This speeds up the development process and allows testing for phones that aren't physically available.

Midships

Answer 4

This package is responsible for faster floating point operations

Civil

Answer 5

That's the emulator image supporting ARMv7-A profile hardware, which is true for all new Android phones.

Since ARMv7-a is backward compatible with ARMv5, it is the only supported image with later system images.

Cobble

Answer 6

The only line I know,

I believe you need to use the Android SDK Manager, ARM EABI v7a System image to add that ARM EABI processor support to your local SDK.

Othella