So you want to be a Google Glass developer?
In this post I will explain how to start on developing Glassware for the Google Glass. I will tell you what software I used and how to setup your system to be able to deploy your first Glassware.
What do you need?
First of all you will need the Android SDK and Eclipse + ADT plugin.
You will need the Glass Development Kit (GDK), you will develop Glassware with this development kit.
You will need a google account, in the past this needed to be an american account. This isn’t necessary anymore.
A Google Glass plugged in to your computer.
(Optional) The MyGlass application on a mobile device, it’s possible to cast the screen to your mobile phone. Some settings (like connecting to WIFI) can be done easily with the MyGlass application. MyGlass is not necessary but saves a lot of time.
Let’s start!
Step 1 – Download and extract Eclipse ADT
The Android SDK and Eclipse ADT can be found on the Android Developers page.
Extract the files and open Eclipse.
Step 2 – Install required SDK tools
First you will need to install API 19, this can be done by opening the Android SDK Manager in “Eclipse > Window > Android SDK Manager”. Select all Android 4.4.2 (API 19) items and the Google USB Driver that is located under Extras.
Install all API 19 files
Now press Install [nr of chosen packages] packages.. to install the files.
Step 3 – Disable Driver Signature Verification
The driver signature verification needs to be disabled so that you can install an unsigned driver. As far as we know this is the only way to get your system to recognize your Google Glass.
The following example is based on Windows 8.1, here you can find how to disable Driver Signature Verification. If you are running a different version of Windows we suggest to find how to disable this on your own OS. WARNING – if you have Bitlocker on your system you should suspend Bitlocker before disabling the Driver Signature Verification, otherwise you will get your hard drive locked.
Step 4 – Update Driver
Go to Device Manager (Control Panel) and look for the Google Glass (It should be located under Other Devices under the name Glass1 or something like that…), it will have a warning saying that there are no drivers found and/or installed. You will need to open the properties of this device and copy the Hardware IDs.
Copy the Hardware IDs
Now open the folder where your SDK is located and go to “extras > google > usb_driver > android_winusb.inf” and insert the Hardware IDs under the following blocks:
Google.NTx86 and Google.NTamd64
Do this under the following format:
;Google Glass (rev0216)
%SingleAdbInterface% = USB_Install, USB\VID_18D1&PID_9001&REV_0216&MI_01
%CompositeAdbInterface% = USB_Install, USB\VID_18D1&PID_9001&MI_01
Save the file and go back to the Device Manager.
Right click the device and press Update Driver Software, and choose to browse.
Go to the usb_driver folder where we just changed the android_winusb.inf file and when asked choose: Install this driver software anyway.
Go to platform-tools (this is located in your sdk folder) and run adb.exe in the command line by using the command: “adb devices”. If everything went well you should see your Google Glass in the list of devices.
WARNING – after installing the driver you will need to enable Driver Signature Verification, this can be done on the same way as disabling. (Step 3)
Step 5 – Ready to go!
Now everything should be working as it should, you are now ready to deploy your first Glassware to the Google Glass!
Command line Mike 