SurfaceView Example

Question

So I've spent about two days trying to get a working SurfaceView. Tutorials I am following online aren't working even when followed to the letter. I normally get an entirely black screen.

In order to help teach myself how it works I need a working SurfaceView program.

I'm looking for a program that has the SurfaceView generated in a separate class. I would be very grateful if someone is able to post full code (XML and Java) for a SurfaceView program that simply turns the entire screen Red or White.

Thank you for any help!

(Any explanations along with the code would be amazing!)

Answer 1

Try this link

Ansroid SurfaceView Example

I followed this tutorial example. It works fine.

Edit

Simple Code for SurfaceView

Layout xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:id="@+id/container"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical">

    <SurfaceView
        android:id="@+id/surfaceView"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="0dp"
        android:layout_weight="1" />
</LinearLayout>

Java Activity Code

import android.graphics.Color;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.util.DisplayMetrics;
import android.view.SurfaceView;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.view.WindowManager;

public class Main2Activity extends AppCompatActivity{


  SurfaceView surfaceView;

  @Override
  protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main2);

    surfaceView = (SurfaceView) findViewById(R.id.surfaceView);
    //Method for making the activity full screen
    //With SurfaceView
    makeItFullScreen();
  }
  
  private void makeItFullScreen(){
    getWindow().setFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_FULLSCREEN, WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_FULLSCREEN);
    getSupportActionBar().hide();
    //Changing SurfaceView background color
    surfaceView.setBackgroundColor(Color.RED);

    DisplayMetrics displayMetrics = new DisplayMetrics();
    getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay().getMetrics(displayMetrics);

    ViewGroup.LayoutParams videoLayoutParams = surfaceView.getLayoutParams();
    videoLayoutParams.width = displayMetrics.widthPixels;
    videoLayoutParams.height = displayMetrics.heightPixels;

    ViewGroup.LayoutParams videoParams = surfaceView.getLayoutParams();
    videoParams.width = displayMetrics.widthPixels;
    videoParams.height = displayMetrics.heightPixels;
  }

}

Edit2

If you use custom SurfaceView xml will be like this..

<customClassPackageName.CustomSurfaceViewClassName
    android:id="@+id/surfaceView"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="0dp"
    android:layout_weight="1" />

Code inside Activity

  .......
  customClassPackageName.CustomSurfaceViewClassName surfaceView;

  @Override
  protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main2);

    surfaceView = (customClassPackageName.CustomSurfaceViewClassName) findViewById(R.id.surfaceView);
    .......

Answer 2

SurfaceView

In Android, all simple layout views are all drawn on the same GUI thread which is also used for all user interaction. So if we need to update GUI rapidly or if the rendering takes too much time and affects user experience then we should use SurfaceView.

The Android SurfaceView provides a dedicated drawing surface embedded inside of a view hierarchy. You can control the format of this surface, however, the SurfaceView takes care of placing the surface at the correct location on the screen.

Check this sample