Android programming slide

• Traditionally to program Android powered devices you would use such tools as “Eclipse”, a Java IDE or “App Inventor” a web based development tool.. Android Programming• Problem is five

Android Programming

Dr Michael A Stachiw

Computers on the Farm – February 2012

Android Programming

• The Android operating system is

widely used in:

• Traditionally to program Android powered devices

you would use such tools as “Eclipse”, a Java IDE

or “App Inventor” a web based development tool

• “App inventor” has been dropped by Google

• Each of these tools are “free” and use “open the

open source” licensing

Android Programming

Android Programming

• Problem is five fold:

– Learning new development tools

– Learning new paradigms & vocabulary

– Developing user interface without visual tools – Learning new programming language

– Pain getting developed software to actual

device

Android Programming

• An easy to learn, and easy to use “new”

programming tool for Android powered devices is

“Basic4Android”

• Uses a Visual Basic (© Microsoft) like language

• IDE with visual design of GUI in both virtual

device, emulator & actual device

• Costs $49 USD (Standard), $99 USD for Enterprise

version

Android Programming –

Basic4Android

• Free evaluation version can be used for 30 days

• Very robust downloadable manual & user support

forum

• RAD tool of choice

Android Programming

-• General Features:

– Simple and powerful tool

– IDE and programming language 100% focused

on Android development

– Compiles to native byte-code No runtime

libraries are required Created APK files are exactly the same as APK files created with Java / Eclipse

– Performance is similar to applications written

with Java

– Event driven programming language similar to

Android Programming

-• General Features:

– Event driven programming language similar to

Visual Basic with support for objects and code modules

– No need to write any XML files

– Highly extensible with support for custom Java

libraries

– Large, active and friendly community of

developers Over 18,000 registered developers!

– The only available true WYSIWYG visual editor

for Android The visual editor supports multiple screens and resolutions

Android Programming

-• General Features:

– All Android phones and tablets starting with

Android 1.6 and up to 4.0 are supported

– Modern IDE with auto-complete, built-in

documentation, internal index New! and other advanced features

– Powerful step-by-step debugger

– Screen Capture Tool

• Supports all Android core features including:

– SQL databases

– GPS

– Home screen widgets and live wallpapers

– Background services and broadcast listeners – Bluetooth (serial ports)

– Phone features: phone calls, sms, contacts,

call logs and others

– USB host and accessory modes

– Web services

– Camera

– XML, JSON and CSV

Android Programming

-• Supports all Android core features including:

– Views animations

– Multi-touch gestures

– Networking (TCP, UDP, FTP, SMTP and POP3) – Push notifications (C2DM) New!

– Text to speech and voice recognition

– AdMob ads and other ads platforms

– OpenGL

– Graphics and charts

Android Programming

-• Supports all Android core features including:

– Sensors

– Files I/O

– Integrate with services such as: Parse, Google

services, Twitter, Facebook and others

– Objects serialization

– Sip / Voip

Android Programming

-View of the Basic4Android Tools

Note: Developing applications and using

the emulator to test is fine, but you must have access to a real Android device(s) and test You should always test against the type of devices that your software is targeted.

Android Tablet

USB Cable

Micro SD memory Card

7” Tablet

Phone

Android Programming

• Challenges (to name a few):

– Orientation – Landscape vs Portrait – Screen Size – Various sizes

– Device Capabilities – GPS and camera

PUBLISHING YOUR ANDROID APP

Also Required:

•APK file

•XML manifest file

PUBLISHING YOUR ANDROID APP Market Places:

Additional Resources:

• www.basic4ppc.com

• Android Application Development for Dummies;

Donn Felker

• App Inventor for Android: Build Your Own Apps –

No Experience Required; Jason Tyler

• Beginning Android; Mark L Murphy

Additional Resources:

• Android Application Development; Rick Rogers,

John Lombardo, Zigurd Mednieks & Blake Meike

• Hello, Android; Ed Burnette

• Android Programming Tutorials; Mark L Murphy

Dr Michael Stachiw

10715 Kahlmeyer Dr.

St Louis, MO 63132

Phone: 314-428-3156 Fax: 314-428-4102 Dr.Mike@FeedDealer.com www.FeedDealer.com