Becoming an Android Developer

Oct 20, 2014 in Blog / Android on Android, Development

• Programming Languages
• Tools
• Getting Started
• Resources
• Tips

If you are interested in creating your first Android application, I have listed some resources below to get you started:

Programming Languages

Android apps are primarily written in a programming language called Java. Before diving into your first app, you should become familiar with the language. Below are some excellent resources for learning Java:

• Effective Java (2nd Edition)
• Java Tutorial (Extensive Tutorial)
• Getting started with Java - “A beginner’s guide to Java Programming”
• Introduction to Java Programming - Lars Vogel
• Introduction to Programming in Java (MIT Course)
• Video - Learning Java: Part 1: Basic Introduction
• Free Interactive Java Tutorial
• Java Beginner Tutorial
• Thinking in Java by Bruce Eckel
• JSF Tutorial: An Introduction to JSF

Other programming languages that will be useful to know are XML, JSON, SQL, and Bash.

Tools

To start developing your first Android app, you will need to install the Java JDK and select an IDE ( Android Studio, Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, etc.). You can find more instructions on setting up your development environment on developer.android.com. Other useful Android developer tools include:

• Android Debug Bridge (ADB)
• AVD Manager
• Device Monitor
• Draw9Patch
• ProGuard
• Genymotion
• Android Asset Studio

Getting Started

Once you have a grasp on Java and have successfully setup your development environment you are ready to create your first app. The Android developer team has put together some great resources on helping you start. Start small and work your way up to larger projects. If you get stuck, use stackoverflow.com and github.com for help and code examples. I strongly suggest that new developers go through the “Getting Started” section on developer.android.com. This will take you through developing your first “Hello World” application and help you become familiar with Android APIs.

Resources

• Official Android Resources
  • Official Android Documentation
  • Android Open Source Project (AOSP)
  • Android Tools Project Site
  • Google Play Services
  • Android Developers Blog
  • Android on StackOverflow
  • Google’s own Udacity course on Android Fundamentals
• Other
  • Android Arsenal - My personal favorite site for finding third party libraries.
  • Fragmented Podcast - An Android Developer Podcast
  • Android Cheatsheet for Graphic Designers
  • Android Niceties - User interface inspiration for Android

Tips

Android development can feel overwhelming at first. Don’t give up! If you are truly passionate about your idea then make it become a reality. Get involved with the Android community. You can find instant help on #android-dev (IRC via irc.freenode.net) and from other popular developers found on both Twitter and Google+.

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Sources: reddit