Android development: Visual Studio + Java. Is it possible (worth a try)?

Question

I know there are (expensive) framework which let you write android apps in VS C# and compile it to android apk.

I also know, that it is possible to write Java application in VS (link).

Is it possible, maybe even not harder than in Eclipse, writing android apps in Visual Studio using some free plugins/frameworks/tools? Is it possible to compile androids apps, and debug it in phone/virtual device?

In the near future I think using Android Studio would be best choice.

Answer 1

I find myself in the same situation as you: Visual Studio is my main IDE, but I'm currently working on an Android project.

I suggest that you give Eclipse another try. The Android SDK integrates very nicely into Eclipse: for example, you have a graphical UI editor, which feels similar to the WPF editor in Visual Studio. Yes, Eclipse takes getting used to, and switching between both will be a hassle, due to subtle differences in the keyboard shortcuts (Jump to Definition is F3 in Eclipse and F12 in VS; IntelliSense Autocomplete is Enter in Eclipse and Tab in VS, etc.), but you will be rewarded by using "the right tool for the task".