Becoming an Android Developer

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 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)
• Free Interactive Java Tutorial
• Java Beginner Tutorial
• Thinking in Java by Bruce Eckel
• JSF Tutorial: An Introduction to JSF

Other languages worth knowing: XML, JSON, SQL, and Bash.

Tools

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

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

Getting started

Once you have a grasp on Java and a working development environment, you are ready to create your first app. The Android developer team has put together some great resources to help you start. Begin small and work your way up to larger projects. If you get stuck, stackoverflow.com and github.com are gold mines for help and code examples. I strongly suggest that new developers go through the Getting Started section on developer.android.com — it walks through your first "Hello World" application and gets you 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 Udacity course on Android Fundamentals
• Other
  • Android Arsenal — my favorite site for finding third-party libraries.
  • Fragmented Podcast — an Android developer podcast.
  • Android Cheatsheet for Graphic Designers
  • Android Niceties — UI 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 — there's instant help on #android-dev (IRC via irc.freenode.net) and from other developers on Twitter and Google+.

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Source: reddit.