Eclipse Java: Define final variable based on build configuration

Question

I want to have a final variable that is true when I run the Debug version of my project, and false when I run the Run version. I understand I can do this with build configurations but have no idea how to set this up in Eclipse. There don't appear to be any tutorials or questions on Stack Exchange regarding defining variables specifically.

I'm compiling Java in Eclipse Classic 4.2, creating an Android app using the ADT plugin.

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EDIT: Per @Xavi, I set up the following:

    try {
        String line = null;
        java.lang.Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("getprop debugging");
        BufferedReader input = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(p.getInputStream()));
        while ((line = input.readLine()) != null) {
            Log.d("Property:", line); //<-- Parse data here.
        }
        input.close();
    } catch (IOException e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }

And in the "Additional Emulator Command Line Options" field of the Target tab of the Debug Configurations window, I've entered:

-prop debugging=true

Unfortunately it looks like this only works in emulator mode. It doesn't print anything when running on my phone. (It works fine running on an emulator.)

---

EDIT: Per @Sharks I found some links that seem relevant, but I don't know how to apply them to my situation:

• Android - use ant to create build configurations that change configuration values
• http://www.bonobolabs.com/fuck-the-android-build-process/

Answer 1

If you're working in Eclipse with ADT then you can check variable BuildConfig.DEBUG. It's generated automatically and placed in the gen/<package>/BuildConfig.java:

if (BuildConfig.DEBUG) {
   variable = true;
}

Answer 2

In addition to @Yury's answer, you could use -prop debugging=true in Additional Emulator Command Line Options and check it at runtime by means of Runtime.getRuntime().exec("getprop debugging")

Also, you might find the following question useful: Android: Release and testing mode?

Answer 3

Ok so since command-line arguments don't really work for you; the Eclipse ones don't work for you so why not try something like this

• put a config file in your APK's assets.
• read the file in a static block before your variable assignment

• assign your debug value accordingly to what you read in the file...

  private ByteArrayOutputStream getAssetFileAsByteArrayOutputStream(String filename)
  {
  AssetManager assetManager = this.getAssets();
  ByteArrayOutputStream byteStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();//  OutputStream(helper);
  try
  {
      final InputStream assetFile = assetManager.open(filename, AssetManager.ACCESS_RANDOM);
      byte readBuffer[] = new byte[1024 * 64];    //64kB
      int byteCount;
      while ((byteCount = assetFile.read(readBuffer)) > 0)
          byteStream.write(readBuffer, 0, byteCount);
      byteStream.flush();
      //          copiedFileStream.close();
  } catch (IOException e)
  {
  }
  return byteStream;
  }
  

Then before you initialize your final (const) value either put a static block

  static 
  {
       //read file
       //get the value you want
  }
  public final static Variable myVar = valFromFile ? "DEBUG" : "NORMAL";

or just move the initialization of the finalized variable to the constructor, you can initialize final vars in there.