Android Application Development For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Android Application Development For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Released October 2012
Publisher(s): For Dummies
ISBN: 9781118387108

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

Bring your big ideas to the small screen with this one-of-a-kind guide to creating amazing Android applications

The Android OS continues to rapidly expand offering app developers access to one of the largest platforms available, and this easy-to-follow guide walks you through the development process step by step. In this new edition of the bestselling Android Application Development For Dummies, Android programming experts Michael Burton and Donn Felker explain how to download the SDK, get Eclipse up and running, code Android applications, and share your finished products with the world.

Featuring two sample programs, this book explores everything from the simple basics to advanced aspects of Android application development.

  • Walks you through all the steps in developing applications for the Android platform, including the latest Android features like scrollable widgets, enhanced UI tools, social media integration, and new calendar and contact capabilities

  • Starts off with downloading the SDK, then explains how to bring your applications to life and submit your work to the Android Market

  • Includes real-world advice from expert programmers Donn Felker and Michael Burton, who break every aspect of the development process down into practical, digestible pieces

Whether you're new to Android development or already on your way, Android Application Development For Dummies, 2nd Edition is the guide you need to dig into the app dev process!

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Title Page
  4. Introduction
    1. About This Book
    2. Conventions Used in This Book
    3. Foolish Assumptions
    4. How This Book Is Organized
    5. Icons Used in This Book
    6. Where to Go from Here
  5. Part I: The Nuts and Bolts of Android
    1. Chapter 1: Developing Spectacular Android Applications
      1. Why Develop for Android?
      2. Android Development Basics
      3. Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Jelly Bean Features
      4. Hardware Tools
      5. Software Tools
    2. Chapter 2: Prepping Your Development Headquarters
      1. Developing the Android Developer Inside You
      2. Assembling Your Toolkit
      3. Tuning Up Your Hardware
      4. Installing and Configuring Your Support Tools
      5. Getting the Java Development Kit
      6. Acquiring the Android SDK
      7. Getting the Total Eclipse
      8. Navigating the Android SDK
      9. Targeting Android Platforms
      10. Using SDK Tools for Everyday Development
  6. Part II: Building and Publishing Your First Android Application
    1. Chapter 3: Your First Android Project
      1. Starting a New Project in Eclipse
      2. Deconstructing Your Project
      3. Setting Up an Emulator
      4. Creating Launch Configurations
      5. Running the Hello Android App
      6. Understanding Project Structure
      7. Closing Your Project
    2. Chapter 4: Designing the User Interface
      1. Creating the Silent Mode Toggle Application
      2. Laying Out the Application
      3. Developing the User Interface
      4. Adding an Image to Your Application
      5. Creating a Launcher Icon for the Application
      6. Adding a Toggle Button View
      7. Previewing the Application in the Visual Designer
    3. Chapter 5: Coding Your Application
      1. Understanding Activities
      2. Creating Your First Activity
      3. Working with the Android Framework Classes
      4. Installing Your Application
      5. Uh-Oh! (Responding to Errors)
      6. Thinking Beyond the Application Boundaries
    4. Chapter 6: Understanding Android Resources
      1. Understanding Resources
      2. Working with Resources
    5. Chapter 7: Turning Your Application into a Home Screen Widget
      1. Working with App Widgets in Android
      2. Working with Pending Intents
      3. Creating the Home Screen Widget
      4. Placing Your Widget on the Home Screen
    6. Chapter 8: Publishing Your App to the Google Play Store
      1. Creating a Distributable File
      2. Creating a Google Play Developer Profile
      3. Pricing Your Application
      4. Getting Screen Shots for Your Application
      5. Uploading Your Application to the Google Play Store
      6. Watching the Number of Installs Soar
  7. Part III: Creating a Feature-Rich Application
    1. Chapter 9: Designing the Task Reminder Application
      1. Reviewing the Basic Requirements
      2. Creating the Application’s Screens
      3. Completing Your List Fragment
      4. Identifying Your Intent
    2. Chapter 10: Going a la Carte with Your Menu
      1. Understanding Options and Context Menus
      2. Creating Your First Menu
      3. Creating a Context Menu
    3. Chapter 11: Handling User Input
      1. Creating the User Input Interface
      2. Getting Choosy with Dates and Times
      3. Creating an Alert Dialog Box
      4. Validating Input
    4. Chapter 12: Getting Persistent with Data Storage
      1. Finding Places to Put Data
      2. Creating Your Application’s SQLite ContentProvider
      3. Resolving ContentProvider URLs
      4. Creating and Editing Tasks with SQLite
    5. Chapter 13: Reminding the User with AlarmManager
      1. Seeing Why You Need AlarmManager
      2. Asking the User for Permission
      3. Waking Up a Process with AlarmManager
      4. Rebooting Devices
    6. Chapter 14: Updating the Android Status Bar
      1. Deconstructing the Status Bar
      2. Using the Notification Manager
      3. Updating a Notification
      4. Clearing a Notification
    7. Chapter 15: Working with Android's Preferences Framework
      1. Understanding the Android Preferences Framework
      2. Understanding the PreferenceActivity Class
      3. Creating Your Preferences Screen
      4. Working with the PreferenceActivity Class
      5. Working with Preferences in Your Activities at Runtime
  8. Part IV: Tablets
    1. Chapter 16: Developing for Tablets
      1. Considering the Difference Between Phones and Tablets
      2. Tweaking the Task Reminder App for Tablets
    2. Chapter 17: Porting Your App to Android Tablets
      1. Configuring a Tablet Emulator
      2. Updating the AndroidManifest File
      3. Programming Activities for Tablets
      4. Working with Fragments on Tablet Applications
    3. Chapter 18: Moving beyond Google
      1. Working Around Google Features
      2. Setting Up Your Kindle Fire or Emulator
      3. Publishing to Amazon Appstore for Android
  9. Part V: The Part of Tens
    1. Chapter 19: Ten Free Sample Applications and SDKs
      1. The Google I/O 2012 App
      2. LOLcat Builder
      3. Amazed
      4. API Demos
      5. HoneycombGallery
      6. K-9 Mail
      7. Agit
      8. Facebook SDK for Android
      9. Replica Island
      10. Notepad Tutorial
    2. Chapter 20: Ten Tools to Simplify Your Development Life
      1. droid-fu and ignition
      2. RoboGuice
      3. Translator Toolkit
      4. Draw 9-patch
      5. Hierarchy Viewer
      6. UI/Application Exerciser Monkey
      7. zipalign
      8. layoutopt
      9. Git
      10. Paint.NET and GIMP
  10. Cheat Sheet

Product information

  • Title: Android Application Development For Dummies, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: October 2012
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9781118387108