Android in Practice

Chapter 2. Android application fundamentals

In this chapter

• Core building blocks
• The application manifest
• Working with resources, layouts, views, and widgets
• Adapters, intents, and intent filters

I’d take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.

Douglas Adams

To build solid Android applications you need to start with the basics. It’s the same with learning any technology, skill, or sport. This is the point where a basketball coach would give the speech about learning to dribble and pass, before trying to perfect the alley-oop. Advanced techniques will come, but they’re built on a basis of mastering the fundamentals.

To that end, in this chapter we’ll focus on the core building blocks of Android application development. ...