Installation

This section covers the installation and setup requirements for TrigDroid.

Note

TrigDroid is designed for defensive security research and malware analysis only. Only test applications you own or have permission to analyze.

Requirements

System Requirements

  • Python 3.9+ - Required for running TrigDroid

  • Node.js 16+ - Required for building TypeScript Frida hooks

  • Android SDK with ADB - For Android device communication

  • Android Device or Emulator - With USB debugging enabled

Optional Dependencies

  • Frida 16.0+ - For runtime instrumentation (recommended)

  • Android Studio - For managing emulators and SDK components

Quick Installation

Basic Installation

Install TrigDroid with basic functionality:

pip install -e .

Development Installation

Install with all development tools and features:

pip install -e ".[full,dev]"

Feature-Specific Installation

Install with specific features only:

# Frida support only
pip install -e ".[frida]"

# Development tools only
pip install -e ".[dev]"

Android SDK Setup

Android Studio Installation

  1. Download and install Android Studio

  2. Launch Android Studio and complete the initial setup

  3. Install the Android SDK and build tools through the SDK Manager

Setting up an Emulator

  1. Open Android Studio

  2. Go to Tools > AVD Manager

  3. Click Create Virtual Device

  4. Select a device definition and system image

  5. Configure the AVD settings and click Finish

  6. Start the emulator from the AVD Manager

Adding ADB to PATH

Add the Android SDK platform-tools to your system PATH:

Linux/macOS:

export PATH="$HOME/Android/Sdk/platform-tools:$PATH"
# Add to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc for persistence

Windows:

set PATH=%LOCALAPPDATA%\Android\Sdk\platform-tools;%PATH%

Device Configuration

Physical Device Setup

  1. Enable Developer Options on your Android device:

    • Go to Settings > About Phone

    • Tap Build Number 7 times

  2. Enable USB Debugging:

    • Go to Settings > Developer Options

    • Enable USB Debugging

  3. Connect your device via USB and accept the debugging authorization

Emulator Setup

  1. Start your Android emulator

  2. Verify ADB connection:

adb devices

You should see your device/emulator listed.

Verification

Test Your Installation

Verify that TrigDroid is installed correctly:

# Check TrigDroid installation
python -c "import trigdroid; print('TrigDroid installed successfully')"

# Test CLI access
trigdroid --help

# List connected devices
trigdroid devices

Build TypeScript Hooks (Optional)

If you plan to use Frida instrumentation:

cd frida-hooks
npm install
npm run build

Quick Start Test

Run a basic test to verify everything works:

# Test with a system app (replace with actual package)
trigdroid -p com.android.settings

# If you have a test app installed
trigdroid -p com.example.testapp --timeout 30

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

ADB not found:

Ensure Android SDK platform-tools are in your PATH

No devices found:

  • Check USB debugging is enabled

  • Run adb devices to verify connection

  • Try adb kill-server && adb start-server

Permission denied:

  • Check USB debugging authorization on device

  • Try different USB cable or port

Frida installation issues:

  • Install Frida server on your device/emulator

  • Ensure Frida version compatibility

Import errors:

  • Verify Python version (3.9+)

  • Try pip install -e ".[full]" for all dependencies

For more detailed troubleshooting, see the Troubleshooting section.

Next Steps

Now that TrigDroid is installed, you can: