To all the wise self taught know how to get it done programmers out there, if you had to tell someone how to start with no base knowledge or computer science classes how to learn to build roms and apps for android where would you direct them..is there a list of books or what can i study to help me. Ive unrooted a few phones and done a few things with the help of well written guides and great forums, but im done not understanding how these process work , please point me in whatever direction i need to start for building my base understanding so i can build for android in the future....help me obi-wan...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1415284
If you want to develop apps you must learn programming, object oriented concepts and software design/architecture. The general concepts can be learned with every language but for Android is Java a good start.
For the technical stuff you should know general Linux stuff at first, development of drivers, how compilers work...
My ToDo list would look like this:
1. Learn general programming in Java: address book app,
2. Use the Eclipse IDE, SVN usage, code styles, design patterns
3. Understand the architecture of Android and the Android SDK: App Lifecycle?
4. Play with the Android Samples; write simple apps
5. Look into the Android source and try to tweak/modify some OS related parts
6. There are also open source custom roms you can take as reference
1. Learn some Linux stuff; shell commands;
2. Hardware related topics...(not my world either
All in all it's just a lot of experimenting and learning by doing, but always do small steps in your development process and don't expect miracles.
Hey guys,
so this is applicable to all devices and its android specific therefore I think this is the best place to ask these question/s. I learned coding with Python for a few months last year and really enjoyed it. Now I am thinking since I have an android phone that is claimed by most "unbrickable" and I am probably stuck with it for another year I decided to learn android programming and contribute to this awesome community and hopefully make my phone awesome myself. Before I can do all that I have a few questions. Most of the development guides I saw after google searching, referred to how to create apps ( now I know there are guides to creating roms here). If I learn with those guides how to make apps will it be a similar process when I wan't to make custom roms? Also how to start? Start with Java SDK, with eclipse? Point to some guides plox
early thanks
There are guides for building apps... and guides for building ROMs... but AFAIK, guides for customising ROMs don't really exist... ROM customisations are generally just done following the API or using someone's work as a reference point....
craigacgomez said:
There are guides for building apps... and guides for building ROMs... but AFAIK, guides for customising ROMs don't really exist... ROM customisations are generally just done following the API or using someone's work as a reference point....
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Click to collapse
I think I worded that wrong. I know there are guides for building apps and building roms but I was asking If I use one of those guides to build app + learn to build app using a book or something will it help me build roms later? And for the custom rom thing, I meant like theres hellfire ics cm9 then theres eaglesblood ics cm9 for same device but by different people so I when I said custom rom I mean like my own ics cm9. but anyway thanks for your answer.
First and last bump
Making ROM's is different then making apps, while the skills you learn using Eclipse and Java JDK will only teach you Java, XML and ADB at most, when making ROM's you need to know many different things. While you can make custom ROM's with little programming experience to be a true master of making custom ROM's you need to know Java and XML, for modifying and creating your own custom apps you can include in your ROM, C and C++ for tweaking the kernel to truly optimize performance, Shell for creating scripts to automate tasks and performing other functions in your ROM, Photoshop/GIMP for image editing and creation in order to customize the look of your ROM, as well as patience to debug any problems you may run into and a couple other skills as well.
If you want to learn how to compile CM9 check out these guides:
[TUTORIAL]Setting up and compiling CM9/CM10 from source
Galaxy Nexus (GSM): Compile CyanogenMod 9 (Linux) It's for the Galaxy Nexus but it's still a very good place to start with to learn how to compile CM9 from source.
For learning basic customization of ROM's check out these great videos:
Let me know if you still have questions .
shimp208 said:
Making ROM's is different then making apps, while the skills you learn using Eclipse and Java JDK will only teach you Java, XML and ADB at most, when making ROM's you need to know many different things. While you can make custom ROM's with little programming experience to be a true master of making custom ROM's you need to know Java and XML, for modifying and creating your own custom apps you can include in your ROM, C and C++ for tweaking the kernel to truly optimize performance, Shell for creating scripts to automate tasks and performing other functions in your ROM, Photoshop/GIMP for image editing and creation in order to customize the look of your ROM, as well as patience to debug any problems you may run into and a couple other skills as well.
Okay that makes sense. So if I learn to make apps since thats what most guides are, I will learn to work with JDK and XML but creating ROMs requires much more knowledge. I am okay with just being able to compile source codes/porting roms from similar devices and what not. I am pretty decent with Photoshop so thats a win Thank you sir
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Hi
I'm Italian and my english is so bad , sorry..
I would ask you what the language is recommended to develop android's app :
Java , C or C++ ? Anothrer doubt but C is used for android app ? mmm ..
There isn't a android native language , right ?
Coult I ask you to suggest me a web site's link where can I see how does android work ?
Sorry for my english , I'm studing english but there are too many word to say same thing
Thanks
dude its ok your english is fine and hear the language important is programming language how much good you are at will lead you to be a good developer and for learning android and how it works and all go to developers.android.com/training you will get whatever you want and browse on google and go to 4shared and find books on Android you get a huge and youtube.com/thenewboston 200 tutorial videos with great explaination and please first make sure you are very good at your oop concepts in java keepitup
devalex from Bolt A67
aeroxr1 said:
Hi
I'm Italian and my english is so bad , sorry..
I would ask you what the language is recommended to develop android's app :
Java , C or C++ ? Anothrer doubt but C is used for android app ? mmm ..
There isn't a android native language , right ?
Coult I ask you to suggest me a web site's link where can I see how does android work ?
Sorry for my english , I'm studing english but there are too many word to say same thing
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Java is the main language to develop Android's app. C or C++ can be used through the NDK to write parts of the app (but only some part, not the whole app) which are heavily CPU-demanding. Java's what you need to learn.
I suggest you start from developer.android[dot]com/training/basics/firstapp/index.html
dev.hinge086 said:
dude its ok your english is fine and hear the language important is programming language how much good you are at will lead you to be a good developer and for learning android and how it works and all go to developers.android.com/training you will get whatever you want and browse on google and go to 4shared and find books on Android you get a huge and youtube.com/thenewboston 200 tutorial videos with great explaination and please first make sure you are very good at your oop concepts in java keepitup
devalex from Bolt A67
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Click to collapse
Thanks a lot
Do you suggest me one particular book or is indifferent ? Aniway I Will begin to study from the link that you give me
Andreaaaaa said:
Java is the main language to develop Android's app. C or C++ can be used through the NDK to write parts of the app (but only some part, not the whole app) which are heavily CPU-demanding. Java's what you need to learn.
I suggest you start from developer.android[dot]com/training/basics/firstapp/index.html
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The program in android works on the java virtual machine ? Ok
I would ask you One last thing
I have galaxy nexus , and on xda we can find lot of kernel ad rom , but I have one doubt :/
For the kernel the language used is C ?
And for the rom ? Java and C ?
Where can i find the kernel's source and factory image's source ?
O.t : Wich operating system do you use ? Now on my new laptop run window 8 and I ask to my self if is good choice .. For programming kernel,rom and app linux is the best ? or the operating system does not matter ? mmm..
If you want to learn to make a few apps, here is how I would start again:
Learn the Activity lifecycle and they methods ( the srceen ui )
Learn to make layout.xml without the ui editor. - it takes a few weeks.
Learn to use the AsyncTask to be able to make HTTP POST, GET and others stuff.
Only after this learn the Service, for background operations.
Broadcast receivers to listen system events: like boot completer internet connection lost, gps is on and so on.
With those sets you can earn a living at a company, which usually make applications client - Server side. Not really need to know more.
There are optimisations, but not at learning: some part of your code need to handle a lot of calculations, drawing, physics, AI, encryption, decryption: move that code part to NDK and start having problems with NDK development.
If you are a web developer and want to make some web based apps, than there is the webview and its the easiest case, at least virtually. For beginning / learning it is.
Game developers aren't covering they cost at least 80% of they so think about twice if you want to set up a full development cycle with NDK + OpenGL + animation, wasting like 5000 man hours. Depends on complexity of course, but those with 10 million downloads aren't made within 200 hours, for sure.
aeroxr1 said:
Thanks a lot
Do you suggest me one particular book or is indifferent ? Aniway I Will begin to study from the link that you give me
The program in android works on the java virtual machine ? Ok
I would ask you One last thing
I have galaxy nexus , and on xda we can find lot of kernel ad rom , but I have one doubt :/
For the kernel the language used is C ?
And for the rom ? Java and C ?
Where can i find the kernel's source and factory image's source ?
O.t : Wich operating system do you use ? Now on my new laptop run window 8 and I ask to my self if is good choice .. For programming kernel,rom and app linux is the best ? or the operating system does not matter ? mmm..
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Click to collapse
The Kernel is Linux, so it's written in C. I don't know about the ROM, I guess it's only Java, but there could be C parts, it's just guess-work.
Here you can find how and where to download and, if you want to, to build your android kernel, while here you can find AOSP (which stands for Android Open Source Project) code.
I personally use Linux (more precisely, elementaryOS, which shares its core with Ubuntu) and haven't used Windows for a long while. I don't know how good/comfortable Android development is under Windows.
It must be noted that getting Java running under Linux is not a one-click thing, but nothing that couldn't be solved by a simple tutorial on the Internet. On the other hand, Linux is way more light-weighted than Windows, which comes handy when you're running on little RAM as I do.
"I would ask you what the language is recommended to develop android's app : "
I would ask you what the language is recommended to develop android's app :
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Click to collapse
He is asking to develop Android application, not Android Rom, not Android kernel.
Please open your eyes!
matheszabi said:
He is asking to develop Android application, not Android Rom, not Android kernel.
Please open your eyes!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my last post I Also asked for the kernel and rom's code and Language
Andreaaaaa said:
I personally use Linux (more precisely, elementaryOS, which shares its core with Ubuntu) and haven't used Windows for a long while. I don't know how good/comfortable Android development is under Windows.
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Click to collapse
I have a doubt of window or linux because on the link that you have posted there are a "tutorial" for source download on Linux but not on Window .. So I try to find another window's tutorial through google search but no result.
P.s : few weeks ago I'm using linux , but on the new laptop there is window 8 and I have to do a backup before install a dual boot for a future restore in case of warranty assistance -.-"
Thanks a lot All You are the best!
I use Windows for Android development. I don't think it makes much of a difference. I use Eclipse as the IDE, which is written in Java, and is pretty much the same for Windows and Linux.
Thought I'd chime in, though the thread has been quiet for two weeks.
Learning Android application development is going to point you first to Java and only Java.
Despite other posts, and Android documentation INSISTING otherwise, developers (myself in particular) DO write applications for Android entirely in C++, using the NDK. It's an advanced technique.
If you were already a C++ developer you would want to avoid Java, and you'd pursue the NDK and C++. However, if you're not a C++ programmer already, Java is a much easier introduction. C++ is a wonderful language, but it's full of complications. It's my personal favorite, and I have decades of experience using it an C, but it is not for beginners. Used correctly, the results can be many times faster than Java applications (despite Android documentation claiming otherwise).
Also, there are a wide range of targets for which C++ is entirely NOT suitable. Simple applications are typical of that.
One reason seasoned developers prefer C++ is portability. Despite a reputation to the contrary, C++ is the only language you can use to write applications for iOS, Android, Tizen, Blackberry and the non-mobile platforms like Linux, Windows and Mac - from a common base of code.
Since I've not been a beginner for decades, I can't really suggestion any great text, but I can say that Java is your language for Android as a beginner.
Kei here
hmm, can't be believe I'm posting my first reply on something like this, I didn't really want to reply but I know your peril.
I'm a mechatronics student and we're more on g-codes and robotics programming but software programming became my hobby, the first book (not the first book but the first book that I related too) I read was "An Introduction into C++" by Diane Zak (there might be a mistake, just google it, I read the book some couple of years ago).
To directly answer your question,
"Libraries written in C and other languages can be compiled to ARM, MIPS or x86 native code and installed using the Android Native Development Kit." (Wikipedia) but you can also use Java or C++, I personally prefer C++.
I'm going to make an example of a c++
------------------------------------------------------
#include iostream
(etc etc)
using namespace std;
.h estuffus
etc etc
\\ Variable section start
int game = 1;
float letterHead = 2
char appleButter = 'A';
\\ Variable section end
then recall the main function bla bla
{
if (letterHead == appleButter)
{appleButter = 'B';
cout << appleButter << endl; \\common misconception within beginners is that they think that cout would display text, it only works on a \\console window
}
else
{
appleButter = 'A';
cout << appleButter << endl;
}
then stop the application
------------------------------------------------------------
It's pretty straightforward once you grasp the basics, If you are making a game... well I kinda regularly dabble with Unity, I'm not advertising, but it's another straightforward engine, you could finish builds and it would then be processed into an apk file.
Don't hesitate to ask me, I could make you a tutorial on scripting, my current goal is to help people understand this area.
HAPPY SCRIPTING :> oh and for the last, I recommend C++ )
It Actually Depends On What You Are Interested in developing.
Let me Explain you one by one:
C
C is the mother of all programming languages.Unix Operating System is built on C.So Stable It is.
So If You are interested in Kernel or System Level Development , U must surely drink the depths of Ocean Of C Language.
C++
Provides advanced Libraries and can be now a days be used for anything right from System Level Programming to Complex Sockets.
Right From Native Android to Network Designing.
Java:
Has Millions Of Classes and is used for anything and everything.You Choose a Topic And The Java Language has an Inbuilt class for your Designed function.
Its a trend nowadays to do android coding in java ..
If you want you can change the trend by using C++ for android using NDK(Native Development Tools).
I would just like to say choose the right language for you and just gain the expertise to the right depths for your designed application. .
you should use Java by default, its a lot easier and Android sdk framework is for Java.
Furthermore java already calls a lot of c native components through jni.
You will only need c/c++ if you need specific native components that are not available by default in Android framework
Main development language for android is Java. For time consuming operation you can consider to use C++ via NDK.
Go with Java.
Learn C/C++ only when you know under the hood. But this is like 'chicken or the egg paradox' because probably you'll never know under the hood without learning C/C++
Java is the language used for Android programming.
I am not sure whether you want to learn Android programming or just look at some applications made in Android. So here are2 sources I found best suitable for you to learn step by step Android programming.
Courses from developer.android.com and udemy.com are worth implementable once.
Regards,
Derrick Spencer
Mobile App Strategist
AppsFlair.com
Hi.
If you only want to develop apps, the system does not matter. However, if you wish to do some kernel development stuff, you must use Linux since Android kernel is a modified Linux.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
.
Main language is java for android app.But if you want a complex calculator and secure your code,you need C++ and NDK
In my experience I faced a situation when I could not use Java because guys from Google(or somewhere else) simply forgot to include a proper wrapper for a C function =D
I prefer doing everything in Java(because it's super comfortable), but when it comes to calculation speed I switch to C++(up to 10x boost sometimes). For image processing I use OpenGL - it's lightning fast(except some rare operations)
Gi guys,
Thus is my first post.
---------- Post added at 12:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------
I've built web based database application for my personal purpose.
If I want it can be accessed via android app which language is more stable and comfortable to be used?
Your suggestion would be appreciated. Thank you.