Learning Java for Android

I really enjoy writing tutorials on Android development, particularly where the aim is to provide a foundation for future learning and where the reader may have little or no previous programming experience. I love programming and believe anyone can learn to do it - the opportunity to ignite the same excitement in other people makes it a real privilege.

I've been thinking recently about writing an eBook on Android development, perhaps on learning Java for Android application development. There seem to be one or two on the eBook market already covering the topic, but they either don't focus specifically on it or go into a lot more detail than I think is really necessary to get someone started using Java to create Android apps.

To get started in Android development with no prior Java experience, there are a few key concepts and techniques to learn, but you should be able to create your first Android app fairly quickly. For this reason, I'm thinking I might publish a small-ish eBook (probably for Kindle) on getting to grips with the essential features of Java necessary for creating initial Android apps.

The eBook would probably not cover advanced Java programming topics, focusing instead on learning what's necessary to get a good start on the Android platform. I would also try to restrict the content to what you need to get started creating basic apps, steering away from the more professional aspects, hopefully making it more accessible/ less intimidating and obviously a little lower in cost than most of the existing titles.

Topics would include the basics of object oriented development, expanding on what I covered in this post: Object Oriented Concepts for Android Development in Java. I would also cover the main Java classes Android beginners are likely to use on the platform, as well as essential features of the language such as control structures and data storage. Ideally the eBook would make Android development accessible to people with no Java experience at all, and hopefully even to people who don't have any background in programming or development.

Although there is of course more to Android development than Java programming, the other technologies used on the platform (XML, SQL etc) involve a lot less complexity and are therefore easier to pick up. Java is best learnt with a conceptual approach, which can benefit from textual explanation more than some other programming topics.

It seems that the resources dedicated to getting people started in Android development focus exclusively on the Java syntax and structures necessary to create apps rather than on the conceptual side of things. Learning these features of Java can have an enormous impact on your ability to build apps efficiently and have a rewarding experience while you're at it. Learning only the parts of a language that are necessary is also a recipe for poorly built applications as well as a frustrating development process.

If anyone who reads or comes this blog has any input in terms of what they feel would be a useful topic for an eBook, topic to cover in an eBook or even in a blog post on Android development, please do feel free to leave comments. Any feedback is appreciated.

Android Developer Tutorial Websites

I've been pretty disappointed by the lack of Android developer tutorials online and have often spent ages trying to find out how to do something that I thought would pop up instantly after a quick Google.

Learning how to program for Android can be quite a task depending on your own background, so access to decent educational material is vital. From Android widget development to standard Android software app development and getting to grips with the Android SDK, there's potentially a lot to learn.

Anyway, here are some of the better sources for Android developer tutorials I've come across. If I find any more I'll add them to the list, feel free to add comments with any you've discovered yourself!

Android Developer Resources - Tutorials
OK, it may seem obvious but there are so many different ways to browse the official developer guide for Android that I find it useful to have several different parts of it bookmarked...

Vogella - Android Tutorials
Lars Vogel's site is one I find myself returning to again and again. The tutorials are detailed and the techniques always best practice. Thoroughly recommended.

IBM DeveloperWorks
The IBM site has loads of useful resources for many different types of development, and Android is no exception.

anddev.org
The anddev.org site is a must-bookmark for anyone getting started with Android development in my view. I've found information here on numerous occasions that I couldn't find anywhere else.

Hello Android
It's a bit of an arbitrary mix but some of the tutorials on the Hello Android site are really useful.

Mobiletuts+
The tutorials on the Tuts+ network all tend to be very detailed and in-depth, and the mobile site has quite a few good Android guides.

Romain Guy
This is a personal blog by an Android software engineer and has a really good range of Android developer tutorials on different topics.

Android Guys
A lot of the articles in the Tips and Tools section of Android Guys are aimed at users rather than developers, but there are a few development topics in there.

Talk Android
Mostly news-focused but with some guides, Talk Android is always worth a look.

---

Finally, here are links to some of mine on different sites:

• Smashing Magazine - Getting Best Use Out of Eclipse for Android Development
• Mobiletuts: Various
• Tuts+ Marketplace

That's it for the moment, if I remember or discover any more I'll add them.