sfdk-emulator-install

Install an emulator

$ sfdk emulator install [name]

$ sfdk emulator remove [name]

$ sfdk emulator list [[-a|--available]]

$ sfdk emulator list

sfdk-emulator-install

The `sfdk-emulator-install` command is a utility primarily used within the Salesforce Mobile SDK development ecosystem. Its main function is to automate the installation and configuration of emulator environments that are required for testing and debugging mobile applications built with the Salesforce Mobile SDK. This typically involves setting up Android emulators (using the Android SDK) or iOS simulators (using Xcode on macOS).

The command simplifies the often complex and time-consuming process of manually downloading, installing, and configuring the necessary SDK components and emulator environments. It streamlines the development workflow by providing a single command to get the necessary emulator components in place, allowing developers to rapidly iterate on their mobile applications and test them on various simulated devices. It typically handles dependencies and path configurations required by the Salesforce Mobile SDK during the development phase. This command is essential for developers creating native or hybrid mobile apps that integrate with Salesforce.

This command typically requires the Salesforce Mobile SDK development environment to be properly configured beforehand. It relies on the availability of tools like the Android SDK and Xcode. It is highly dependent on the version of Salesforce Mobile SDK being used.

The `sfdk-emulator-install` command generally performs the following steps:
1. Checks Dependencies: Verifies that the necessary SDKs (Android SDK, Xcode) are installed and accessible.
2. Downloads Components: Downloads any missing emulator images or system images that are required for the target platforms.
3. Configures Emulators/Simulators: Creates or configures emulator/simulator instances with appropriate settings for testing Salesforce Mobile SDK applications.
4. Sets Environment Variables: Updates environment variables to ensure that the emulators/simulators are correctly recognized by the Salesforce Mobile SDK tools.

Developers usually run this command after setting up their Salesforce Mobile SDK development environment to create a usable emulator instance. It is commonly executed within a project directory created by the `forceios` or `forcereact` command, which are also part of the Salesforce Mobile SDK tooling.

adb(1), emulator(1)