Android Applications Demystified
Android Applications Demystified
Android Applications Demystified
Android is a software platform for mobile devices. It is complete with operating system, middleware and applications. Google, Inc acquired the company in 2005, and owns the Android App Market, which has a large community of programmers who write applications. Other competitive platforms include Symbian, Apple iOS and Windows Phone 7. Among these platforms, Android was met with much attention due to its growing market of applications, like Doodle Jump and Angry Birds. Convinced? Android programming is not as hard as it sounds.
I wrote this article for people who already know programming, at least the basics. Android applications are written in Java programming language, so I strongly recommend picking up a few books on Java. So before we start, why choose Android?
Android comes with a feature-packed application framework, allowing developers to build rich and secure applications. This enables development to be reusable and enhancement of components. Running on a Dalvik virtual machine, it enables Android applications to be platform independent. Packed with the latest database and graphics libraries, it also offers a rich development environment for device testing and debugging.
This article aims to get you on your feet. So, you can follow these steps and start creating applications right away!
Note: If you have not studied Java yet, then do that first. (seriously)
Step 1: Get Eclipse for Java
First of all, you will need an IDE. An IDE contains all the tools you will need in writing applications. Again, let me remind you that Java is a must learn to write Android applications. I recommend using Eclipse IDE, it is one of the best free Java IDE's around, and it is used everywhere. Another popular choice would be Netbeans.
Step 2: Install Android Development Tools
Developing applications for Android devices will need a specialized set of tools, which are provided by the Android SDK. If you are using Eclipse IDE, just install the Android Development Tools plug in. This is the main reason why I recommend Eclipse.
Step 3: Set Up Android Devices
After developing android applications, you will want to install the application on a hardware device. A more efficient choice is the use of virtual devices, so you no longer need to configure hardware devices, everything will be run on your computer. A simple emulation device will help you test your Android application.
Step 4: Create an Android Project
Creating an Android project is the same as creating any other projects, source codes will be included in the package. The project is built into an .apk package that you install to your Android devices.
Step 5: Integration Testing
The Android SDK contains various tools for testing your program, complete with emulators that help test your applications with various virtual devices. The Eclipse IDE also comes with a compatible debugger, which is a big plus.
Android Programming is becoming even more popular at this moment. With each single day, hundreds of apps are developed and released. I recommend visiting forums and groups for the latest updates and tools for Android application development.
Thank you very much for reading this article and good luck with writing Android Apps!
For more info, visit the official Android website.
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