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Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:

Android Studio

Version 3.1.4 or higher

Java Development Kit

JDK 8 or higher

Android SDK

API Level 22 (Lollipop) minimum

Firebase Account

Free tier is sufficient

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Step 1: Install Android Studio

1

Download Android Studio

Download Android Studio from the official website.
The Sales Management App uses Android Studio 3.1.4 with Gradle 3.1.4. Newer versions should work but may require dependency updates.
2

Install SDK Components

Launch Android Studio and install the following SDK components:
  • Android SDK Platform 26 (Oreo)
  • Android SDK Build-Tools 27.0.3
  • Android Support Repository
  • Google Repository
Navigate to Tools > SDK Manager to install these components.
3

Configure SDK Path

Verify your SDK path is correctly set:
# Linux/Mac
export ANDROID_HOME=$HOME/Android/Sdk
export PATH=$PATH:$ANDROID_HOME/tools:$ANDROID_HOME/platform-tools

# Windows
setx ANDROID_HOME "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk"

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Step 2: Configure Gradle Dependencies

The project uses specific Gradle configurations. Here’s the complete setup:

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Project-Level build.gradle

buildscript {
    repositories {
        google()
        jcenter()
    }
    dependencies {
        classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:3.1.4'
        classpath 'com.google.gms:google-services:4.0.1'
    }
}

allprojects {
    repositories {
        google()
        jcenter()
        maven {
            url 'https://maven.google.com'
        }
    }
}
The project uses compile instead of implementation for some dependencies. While deprecated, this is intentional for compatibility with the project’s Gradle version.

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Key Dependencies Explained

  • firebase-core: Analytics and core Firebase functionality
  • firebase-database: Real-time database for chat, inventory, and user data
  • firebase-storage: Cloud storage for profile images and attachments
  • firebase-auth: Email/password authentication
  • firebase-ui-storage: UI components for Firebase Storage
Powerful charting library used for:
  • Line graphs showing salesperson progress over time
  • Pie charts for manager profit analysis
  • Customizable chart styling and animations
Image loading and caching library with automatic:
  • Image compression before Firebase upload
  • Memory and disk caching
  • Placeholder and error image handling
Custom ListView implementation enabling swipe gestures for:
  • Deleting inventory items
  • Managing chat conversations
  • Quick actions on list items

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Step 3: Firebase Configuration

Firebase powers authentication, database, and storage. Follow these steps to set up your Firebase project:
1

Create Firebase Project

  1. Go to Firebase Console
  2. Click Add Project
  3. Enter project name (e.g., “sales-management-app”)
  4. Accept terms and click Create Project
2

Add Android App

In your Firebase project:
  1. Click the Android icon to add an Android app
  2. Enter package name: project.avishkar.salesmanagement
  3. (Optional) Add app nickname: “Sales Management”
  4. Click Register App
The package name must match exactly as defined in app/build.gradle’s applicationId.
3

Download google-services.json

  1. Download the google-services.json file
  2. Place it in your project’s app/ directory:
your-project/
├── app/
│   ├── google-services.json  # Place here
│   ├── build.gradle
│   └── src/
├── build.gradle
└── settings.gradle
Never commit google-services.json to version control if it contains production credentials. Use different files for development and production.
4

Enable Authentication

In Firebase Console, navigate to Authentication > Sign-in method:
  1. Click Email/Password
  2. Enable both toggles:
    • Email/Password
    • Email link (passwordless sign-in)
  3. Click Save
MainActivity.java:126
// The app uses Firebase Authentication
auth.signInWithEmailAndPassword(email, password)
    .addOnCompleteListener(MainActivity.this, new OnCompleteListener<AuthResult>() {
        @Override
        public void onComplete(@NonNull Task<AuthResult> task) {
            if (task.isSuccessful()) {
                // Authentication successful
            }
        }
    });
5

Set Up Realtime Database

Navigate to Database > Realtime Database:
  1. Click Create Database
  2. Choose location (e.g., us-central1)
  3. Start in Test Mode for development
  4. Click Enable
The app expects this database structure:
{
  "Manager": {
    "userId1": {
      "email": "[email protected]",
      "name": "John Manager",
      "phone": "+1234567890"
    }
  },
  "Salesperson": {
    "userId2": {
      "emailId": "[email protected]",
      "name": "Jane Sales",
      "phone": "+0987654321"
    }
  },
  "Inventory": {
    "itemId1": {
      "itemName": "Product A",
      "total_available": 100,
      "sold": 25,
      "profit": 75
    }
  }
}
6

Configure Firebase Storage

Navigate to Storage:
  1. Click Get Started
  2. Use default security rules for development
  3. Click Done
The app uses this storage structure:
Constants.java:4
public static final String STORAGE_PATH_UPLOADS = "uploads/";
public static final String DATABASE_UPLOADS = "uploads";
Profile images and attachments are stored in the uploads/ directory.

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Step 4: Repository Setup

The project requires JitPack and Maven Central for third-party libraries: 
repositories {
    maven { url "https://jitpack.io" }
    mavenCentral()
    google()
    jcenter()
}
If you encounter build errors, try:
  1. File > Invalidate Caches / Restart
  2. Run ./gradlew clean from terminal
  3. Sync Gradle files again

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Step 5: Verify Installation

Run these commands to verify everything is set up correctly: 
# Check Gradle wrapper
./gradlew --version

# Build the project
./gradlew build

# List available tasks
./gradlew tasks

# Run tests
./gradlew test
Expected output: 
> Task :app:compileDebugJavaWithJavac
> Task :app:mergeDebugResources
> Task :app:processDebugManifest

BUILD SUCCESSFUL in 45s

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Troubleshooting

Problem: “Failed to resolve: com.google.firebase:firebase-core:16.0.1”Solution:
# Add Google Maven repository
# In build.gradle (Project)
allprojects {
    repositories {
        google()  # Must be first
        jcenter()
    }
}
Problem: “File google-services.json is missing”Solution:
  1. Ensure file is in app/ directory (not root)
  2. Check filename is exactly google-services.json
  3. Verify package name matches Firebase configuration
Problem: “Failed to find Build Tools revision 27.0.3”Solution:
# Install via SDK Manager or command line
sdkmanager "build-tools;27.0.3"
Problem: Device API level too lowSolution: The app requires API 22 (Android 5.1) minimum. Use an emulator or device with Android 5.1 or higher.

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Next Steps

Quick Start Guide

Now that your environment is configured, learn how to clone the repository and run the app for the first time.

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