What is the Difference Between Android Studio and Eclipse?

The main difference between Android Studio and Eclipse is that Android Studio is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) specifically developed for Android app development, while Eclipse is a general-purpose IDE widely used for Java-based application development services. Here are some key differences between the two:

• Purpose: Android Studio is the official IDE for Google's Android operating system, while Eclipse supports Android through the Google ADT extension.
• Build Tool: Android Studio has an inbuilt Gradle build tool, while Eclipse has a build tool by default that is ANT, which is considered outdated.
• Flexibility: Android Studio is more flexible than Eclipse, with features like build variants and multiple APK file generation.
• Layout Editor: Android Studio has a rich layout editor, which Eclipse lacks.
• Code Completion: Both Android Studio and Eclipse provide Java code auto-completion support, but the code completion feature in Android Studio is considered better than that in Eclipse.

In summary, Android Studio is generally considered the better choice for Android app development due to its specific features and tools tailored for Android development. However, Eclipse is a more general-purpose IDE with a strong ecosystem of plugins and a long history of use in Java development.

Comparative Table: Android Studio vs Eclipse

Here is a table comparing the differences between Android Studio and Eclipse:

Both Android Studio and Eclipse provide automatic Java code completion support, a great graphical user interface, support for Java coding for applications, and help in writing neat, clean, and error-free code[^3^]. They are both capable of developing Android applications[^3^]. However, Android Studio is considered better for mobile app development due to its native Android IDE, inbuilt Gradle build tool, easy layout design, and higher-end auto code completion[^3^].