Developer question - HTC Droid DNA

Recently I've been looking into checking out this online school for Android development. My question is to any and all developers is a school like this worth the time and effort do learn how to develop because it something I'm interested in learning how to do I just don't know if something like this is actually going to benefit me in any way.
sent from my DNA

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Well if this is your first time programming then yes. It opens your mind in a new way.... Pay to learn? No. Go and learn java. Then android development will be easy to just pick up. For roms it's much easier to learn just picking apart mods and looking up xda tutorials
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I also had a similar question like this. Right now I'm looking to go into coding and developing as a profession. In my high school I picked my classes for next year and two classes I picked were computer sciences a and b. The course description said learning how to code in Java. So this would help with android? Obviously it will probably be vary basic but I figured it would look good on a college application and what not.
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I believe you need to learn at least Java and C programming language.
This thread has some usefull links http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2056596

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This is kind of a big discussion and not as simple as you think.
There are some really important and big concepts you need to know for development of any kind - not just Android:
1. Theories - nearly all programming languages apply the same theories, they just have different syntax.
2. Data structures and algorithms will make you extremely efficient and powerful in coding.
That being said, I started off as a Software Engineer major, only to find out that I really don't care much for core coding - I learned that I loved scripting (Python, LUA, Shell, etc).
Scripting is different because instead of manipulating the core system, you work with what other software engineers have done and code as if you are writing a script for a play. There are SDKs that take advantage of scripting such as Corona SDK.
Either way, the best way to go (IMHO):
1. C programming
2. Python
3. C++
4. Data Structures and Algorithms
5. Java and or what ever other language you want to learn.
most online/regular universities will teach along this schedule I believe. Best of luck to you! I hope this helped a little.

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Python won't help them at all with android
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Dri94 said:
Python won't help them at all with android
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Maybe not directly, but if he's learning how to program from scratch, python is a gentle way to get introduced to OOP and other programming concepts useful for java.
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Eriknors, so is the info helpful? I can't wait for your new pron app with one-legged women.

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wakkadojo said:
Maybe not directly, but if he's learning how to program from scratch, python is a gentle way to get introduced to OOP and other programming concepts useful for java.
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Honestly it'd be easier to just start with java. The basics are pretty simple to understand and there are great tutorials for it.
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orangechoochoo said:
Eriknors, so is the info helpful? I can't wait for your new pron app with one-legged women.
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Honestly I'm still not clear as where to start. C programming, C++ isn't that the same thing? I've d/l an introduction to C++ but I feel like a guy who can't read walking into a library with this stuff. As much as I wanna learn android developing it seems like all I can find on all these topics throws u into the pool with no floaties and expects you to just know how to swim.
I've always thought I've been pretty knowledgeable on android aside from the whole developing aspect. I'm always the go to guy when it comes to an issue with my friends phones eg: rooting or trouble shooting. But after trying to see what all goes into developing I feel like they must feel when they ask me questions.
sent from my DNA

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eriknors said:
Honestly I'm still not clear as where to start. C programming, C++ isn't that the same thing? I've d/l an introduction to C++ but I feel like a guy who can't read walking into a library with this stuff. As much as I wanna learn android developing it seems like all I can find on all these topics throws u into the pool with no floaties and expects you to just know how to swim.
I've always thought I've been pretty knowledgeable on android aside from the whole developing aspect. I'm always the go to guy when it comes to an issue with my friends phones eg: rooting or trouble shooting. But after trying to see what all goes into developing I feel like they must feel when they ask me questions.
sent from my DNA
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Start with java. Simple as that. Java is an easy language. It's what android is based off of. Don't worry about c for now. There are many java lessons online for free also. Download eclipse as the ide. It's great for beginners and explains things for you when a problem arises which helps alot
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Hey, i'm a cs student so in my opinon the order of language is best if you learn.
1. Intro to programing aka Intro to Computer Science (with C++ or python)
2. Data Structures (with C++ or python)
3. Object Oriented Programing (withJava)
3.5 learn some java api for Android
If you are really willing to learn by yourself, MIT puts up it's lectures so you can follow along and maybe post questions on a forum for learners?
open course ware(free mit lectures): http://goo.gl/BXpY
good luck!

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atishpatel2012 said:
Hey, i'm a cs student so in my opinon the order of language is best if you learn.
1/2. C++/python (i just did C++ but i understood it really easily so i stuck with it. (just now learning python))
3. Java
If you are really willing to learn by yourself, MIT puts up it's lectures so you can follow along and maybe post questions on a forum for learners?
open course ware(free mit lectures): http://goo.gl/BXpY
good luck!
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Both one and two don't pertain to android however
*source, im cs student also
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Dri94 said:
Both one and two don't pertain to android however
*source, im cs student also
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Yes they don't pertain to android but learning java from point 0 does not really help understand programing really well. 1/2 help people understand basics of programing then taking something like data structures helps learn more strategies to make program efficient. After you have those steps covered, learning about objects makes sense. You shouldn't start learning about objects off the start because then you'd be like wtf i'm lost or not know exactly what you are doing. correct? Java also doesn't let the user know anything about memory. if i'm not correct then i guess a lot of colleges need to rethink the way they teach cs eh?
but thank you. I will edit my post to include data structures.

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atishpatel2012 said:
Yes they don't pertain to android but learning java from point 0 does not really help understand programing really well. 1/2 help people understand basics of programing then taking something like data structures helps learn more strategies to make program efficient. After you have those steps covered, learning about objects makes sense. You shouldn't start learning about objects off the start because then you'd be like wtf i'm lost or not know exactly what you are doing. correct? Java also doesn't let the user know anything about memory. if i'm not correct then i guess a lot of colleges need to rethink the way they teach cs eh?
but thank you. I will edit my post to include data structures.
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1, teaching someone programming for cs is completely different than teaching someone who just wants to program android apps.
2, in the past couple of years a lot of colleges have started teaching java first, because it is actually a good starting point.
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Bigandrewgold said:
1, teaching someone programming for cs is completely different than teaching someone who just wants to program android apps.
2, in the past couple of years a lot of colleges have started teaching java first, because it is actually a good starting point.
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Mine included. Data structures is actually sophomore year for us. We learn java for a year first, making our own data typesn such
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Bigandrewgold said:
1, teaching someone programming for cs is completely different than teaching someone who just wants to program android apps.
2, in the past couple of years a lot of colleges have started teaching java first, because it is actually a good starting point.
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Yes, my teachers debated on why that was and wasn't a good option..and the first thing that pops up is java takes care of way too many things. if you do that, the people who learn from java get super confused when they go to other language. Its the same reason beginners don't use IDEs like eclipse because it does half the work for you... also teaching someone cs makes them a much better programer...and the first two courses are basically for most engineers...and for people learning coding...
think about it. you start with basic coding like loops..then you are like what now? what if i want a big program that is fast and memory efficient when dealing with bigger data...well you need data structures...okay cool now what? i can make a program that will run once or so and process information...well what if i want to write a giant program that has multiple things happening independent of the other.
well objects would be cool cause they can hold their own information...object oriented programing bam...now i can basically make any program/app with those skills if you try (i guess AI would be hard but thats a higher level CS topic)
if you just know java and Android's api, its not going to help you build your own program...syntax isn't everything
btw i'm not being sassy or mad. i really enjoy this debate

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atishpatel2012 said:
Yes, my teachers debated on why that was and wasn't a good option..and the first thing that pops up is java takes care of way too many things. if you do that, the people who learn from java get super confused when they go to other language. Its the same reason beginners don't use IDEs like eclipse because it does half the work for you... also teaching someone cs makes them a much better programer...and the first two courses are basically for most engineers...and for people learning coding...
think about it. you start with basic coding like loops..then you are like what now? what if i want a big program that is fast and memory efficient when dealing with bigger data...well you need data structures...okay cool now what? i can make a program that will run once or so and process information...well what if i want to write a giant program that has multiple things happening independent of the other.
well objects would be cool cause they can hold their own information...object oriented programing bam...now i can basically make any program/app with those skills if you try (i guess AI would be hard but thats a higher level CS topic)
if you just know java and Android's api, its not going to help you build your own program...syntax isn't everything
btw i'm not being sassy or mad. i really enjoy this debate
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Cs would definitely be better if he was trying to code graphic intense or heavy programs. But most likely he will start basic. I liked starting with eclipse because the program kept me from making those really simple mistakes that take hours to find (forgetting a closing parentheses and such... <-- see what i did there lol .. But no really. Learning methods and how to build data types isn't that hard either. May be confusing at first glance but princeton has there book online and so is the complete FIT java 1002 course. Which teaches all the concepts like recursion, bubble sort, selection sort n more... While i do recommend he learn data structures. I think that those who can't handle jumping into java aren't going to be great jumping in cs later in the courses.... Lol no worries i like debates too
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Dri94 said:
Cs would definitely be better if he was trying to code graphic intense or heavy programs. But most likely he will start basic. I liked starting with eclipse because the program kept me from making those really simple mistakes that take hours to find (forgetting a closing parentheses and such... <-- see what i did there lol .. But no really. Learning methods and how to build data types isn't that hard either. May be confusing at first glance but princeton has there book online and so is the complete FIT java 1002 course. Which teaches all the concepts like recursion, bubble sort, selection sort n more... While i do recommend he learn data structures. I think that those who can't handle jumping into java aren't going to be great jumping in cs later in the courses.... Lol no worries i like debates too
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i see what you did there
Not using IDEs is part of the experience of learning! using text based editor that highlights stuff would be much better...think about it like teaching kids multiplication with calculators when they first learn. its not good. when they to something they need to do mental math in, they suck at it. Your intro class should probably not use an IDE in my opinion. You are correct if the op just wants to make a simple app once or twice, but i assumed the op actually wanted to learn programing and making good apps. I guess we'd need the op to clarify. I don't agree with you on the java statement. If you want to get a deeper understanding of what java does behind the scenes, you need to know about pointers and classes and objects beforehand. Yes you can just try to learn java and do stuff other people do and try to modify things, but if you don't want to waste a bunch of time getting frustrated and settling for lesser things because you don't understand how things work in the language, you can just go for java as first language...I guess our debate is moot unless we know what the op is looking for. proper programing or some dirty programing to use for a smaller task. i'm curious. did you find it hard to get into c++ if you learned java first? i'd think most people would get annoyed cause java takes care of so much even though it is bytecode thus slower.
btw i'm ironically in my java class right now xD

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Your best bet is to go beyond that. Anyone can make a rom, build a kernel, or even a AOSP build. Tons and tons of people build new kernels for their home boxes every day. It just takes time to learn how to deal with the compiling errors, and fix the bugs in your new kernel. Anyone that can use winzip can build a rom.
What we need are people with the skills to tear down locked devices and make them unlockable.