1page.title=Getting Started with the NDK
2@jd:body
3
4<p>The Native Development Kit (NDK) is a set of tools that allow you to leverage C and
5C++ code in your Android apps. You can use it either to build from your own source code, or to take
6advantage of existing prebuilt libraries.</p>
7
8<p>The NDK is not appropriate for most novice Android programmers, and has little value for many
9types of Android apps. It is often not worth the additional complexity it inevitably brings to the
10development process. However, it can be useful in cases in which you need to:</p>
11
12<ul>
13   <li>Squeeze extra performance out of a device for computationally intensive applications like
14   games or physics simulations.</li>
15   <li>Reuse your own or other developers' C or C++ libraries.</li>
16</ul>
17
18<p>This guide gives you the information you need to get up and running with the NDK. It starts by
19explaining the <a href="{@docRoot}ndk/guides/concepts.html">concepts</a> underpinning the NDK, and
20how to <a href="{@docRoot}ndk/guides/setup.html">set it up</a>. Next, it continues with information
21about targeting <a href="{@docRoot}ndk/guides/arch.html">different hardware platforms</a> in your
22builds. Then, it explains how to use
23the NDK to <a href="{@docRoot}ndk/guides/build.html">build</a> and
24<a href="{@docRoot}ndk/guides/debug.html">debug</a> your app. Finally, it discusses how to use your
25own and other prebuilt <a href="{@docRoot}ndk/guides/libs.html">libraries</a>.</p>
26