MOBILE PROGRAMMING

ANDROID

SESSION 1 - TOPICS

What is Android ?
Why Android ?
Why develop for android ?
Android Versions
Features of Android
Architecture of Android
Setting the environment
Anatomy of Android applications

WHAT IS ANDROID ?
Is a mobile operating system, middleware and set
of key applications
Is originally owned by a start up of the same
name, now by Google
Is based on the Java Platform and Linux Kernel
Runs on phones, tablets, watches, TVs ...

WHY ANDROID?
Ships in Advantages of the Linux Kernel (Security
Models, Hardware abstraction Layers, I/O
management, etc)
Ships in Advantages of the Java Platform (write
once, run anywhere! , multiple language support
that can eventually turn in to java byte code)
Open Source

 Growing market shares

Minimal Learning Curve (for a java developer :
JavaSE Swing/AWT + Android API)
Offers unified approach to application
development
Large developer community

WHY DEVELOP FOR ANDROID ?

Why not just write a website? Android has a
browser
better, snappier UI with a more consistent user
experience
able to use different kinds of widgets/controls than in a
web page
more direct access to the device's hardware (camera,
GPS, etc.)
users highly prefer apps over mobile web browsing

WHY NOT IOS?

Why not write apps for iOS, which runs on
iPhones and iPads?
familiar programming language
(Java instead of Obj-C or Swift)
free developer tools
(Apple charges $$$ for theirs)

more liberated app store

can make an app and put on your phone or others, may need
to jail break your iPhone
Android is the choice for corporate mobile apps

Android has a larger install base

VERSIONS
0.9 5.1 and counting

FEATURES OF ANDROID

Storage (uses SQLite)

Connectivity (supports GSM/)
Messaging (supports both SMS and MMS)
Web browser (based on WebKit, together with Chromes
V8 Javascript Engine)
Media Support (supports )
Hardware Support (Accelerometer Sensor, Camera, Digital
Compass, Proximity Sensor and GPS)
Multi-touch (supports multi-touch screen)
Multi-tasking (supports multi-tasking applications)
Flash Support
Tethering (supports sharing of internet via hotspot)

ARCHITECTURE

SETTING THE ENVIRONMENT

Using Eclipse IDE

Install the JDK (Java Development Kit)

Download Eclipse IDE for mobile
Download the ADT (Android Development tools)
Download the SDKs for the platforms of your choice
(preferably all)
Create AVD (Android Virtual Device / Emulator )

Using Android Studio

Install the JDK
Download and install the Android Studio
Follow the same procedures after wards

APPLICATION ANATOMY

Src: contains the java sources

Included libraries
Gen: contains generated files
Assets: assets such as html, text files,
databases,
Res: drawables, layouts, values
AndroidManifest.xml: is your application
configuration file, here you specify permissions,
activities, intent-filter,