Compatibility and Android Programming

The delay in upgrades combined with regular new releases makes compatibility an important issue in Android programming. To reach a broad market, Android developers must create apps that perform well on devices running KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow, Nougat, and any more recent versions of Android, as well as on different device form factors.

Targeting different sizes of devices is easier than you might think. Phone screens are a variety of sizes, but the Android layout system does a good job at adapting. Tablets require more work, but you can use configuration qualifiers to do the job (as you will see in Chapter 17). However, for Android TV and Android Wear devices (both of which also run Android), ...

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