API Levels
The LruCache class mentioned above is a good example of why you need to know what API level you are going to target. A new version of Android is released approximately every six months, with new APIs only available from that release. Any attempt to call an API that does not exist results in a crash, bringing not only frustration for the user but also shame to the developer. For example, calling Log.wtf(TAG, “Really?”) on an Android 1.5 device crashes the application, as Log.wtf was introduced in Android 2.2 (API level 8). What a terrible failure indeed that would be. Table 1-1 shows the performance improvements made in the various Android versions.
However, your decision to support a certain target should normally not be based on ...
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