How did you learn Android development?

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martinv

19 posts

Geek

#271959 3-Jun-2020 16:13

I have been teaching myself Android development part time for the last few weeks, mainly from on-line video courses. I have discovered a gulf between the introductory hello world apps and the real world app I want to develop.

My relevant background is in systems, C/C++, assisting with Swift development, Perl, that sort of thing. I purposely never learnt Java.

So I'm looking at coming up to speed with Android Studio and Kotlin. I'm fine with the new language, but I am finding the whole Android framework daunting. Particularly the seemingly large number of function calls and parameters seem overwhelming. I can follow what they do, but I have no idea how I am supposed to know that a particular call is required in the first place. I think I need a better overview - some decent documentation or a real person that explains more in depth. Kind of like Stevens does in UNIX network programming, or Horowitz and Hill do in The Art of Electronics.

Has anyone taken a course (I'm in Christchurch) and had good experience, or have any other suggestions?

...super.iAmNotHavingAGreatTime.FiguringOut(what, i, am).doingHere!!.eek!

NPCtom

430 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2497620 3-Jun-2020 19:43

I'm learning Java on Codecademy. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any courses here in Palmy :(

tchart

2380 posts

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#2497689 3-Jun-2020 21:15

Does it have to be Android Studio?

Are you doing this for a hobby or for job prospects?

Have a look at this; https://www.b4x.com/b4a.html

As per many of the testimonials on there you could spend weeks fiddling with Android Studio or you could knock something out in B4A quickly. I've been using it for 6 or 7 years - even when it wasn't free.

Eclipse and Android Studio are just not easy to learn.

BTW I do know Java but I just can't be bothered with Android Studio

tchart

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#2497690 3-Jun-2020 21:18

Also just on the job prospects thing, you'll find most big IT companies are windows/.net shops. They'll likely be using Xamarin or some other cross platform tool.

netspanner

343 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2497928 4-Jun-2020 08:57

There are a couple of other avenues you can follow.

Try Xamarin, which is Microsoft's wrapper for Android. Its far easier to learn and in C# a nicer language.

Instead of making an android app, create a Webapp using React, Vue or any other web language. Apparently you can access the phone as well.

Webapps are easier, if you don't need to use much of the functionality of the phone itself.

I can help you with the Xamarin side if you like, and i know a webapp programmer who can help with the React/Vue side. Just give me your phone number. We are in CHCH as well.

TwoSeven

1630 posts

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#2498460 4-Jun-2020 18:44

I must admit, these days I just use Xamarin

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martinv

19 posts

Geek

#2499164 5-Jun-2020 15:53

Thanks everyone for the replies. This is a project at my work and commercially sensitive so I cannot say much at all about it. Suffice to say, after looking at a number of options I chose the Android Studio + Kotlin combination as most likely to be able to do what we want. So that's really what I'm needing to pick up.

On the other hand even if Android Studio + Kotlin can do the (non-trivial) stuff I want to do, if I can't figure out how to do it then that's a poor choice too. LOL.

I wish I had a bit more experience in this area so I'd have a better chance of choosing the right framework etc. first time. There is so much new to pick up. I am reminded of a Farside greeting card that said something along the lines of "Dr. Aldeberg was often criticised for his approach to treating multiple phobias at once," and a drawing of a man confined in a small, dark wooden box while being held high above the ground and into which snakes were being dropped.

I'm not sure it bodes well when development work inspires this image, LOL.