-
After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.
Apps Becoming a developer
- Thread starter dglowen23
- Start date
C
caustic
Guest
Hmmm well it depends on a lot of things. Answer a few qualifying questions:
What do you want to develop? Games? Applications that only work on the phone itself, or ones that use the web (data connection)?
What's your programming experience? Have you ever programmed before, and do you know and java?
What do you want to develop? Games? Applications that only work on the phone itself, or ones that use the web (data connection)?
What's your programming experience? Have you ever programmed before, and do you know and java?
C
caustic
Guest
Step one, learn Java
Here's my recommendation:
1. You need to get an IDE to write your programs, I recommend downloading Eclipse Classic.
2. Download and Install the Android SDK and Eclipse ADT plugin onto your system. Here are the instructions.
3. Learn Java! I recommend the free book Thinking in Java. Here's a link to the source webpage (html version recommended!), and here's a link to a PDF version of the book..
4. Start reading the Android Developer's Guide to get an idea of how Android programs work while you're learning Java.
5. While you're reading the Dev Guide (in Step 4), start writing your first programs. Start with the Android Hello World! program.
6. Go through the Hello Views examples to learn the basics of layouts. And remember, with the SDK downloaded, you actually have all the examples on your computer. You just have to import them. The samples are located in your SDK directory at: [Install Directory]\android-sdk-windows\platforms\android-X.X\samples
7. To actually publish an application, you'll have to register with Google and pay $25 (a one time fee).
8. Be patient (if you're not familiar with Java or programming at all, expect to spend several weeks to several months learning just the basics of writing a program) Experiment and enjoy!
And, if you ever need any help, you have a whole forum of people here to help!
1. You need to get an IDE to write your programs, I recommend downloading Eclipse Classic.
2. Download and Install the Android SDK and Eclipse ADT plugin onto your system. Here are the instructions.
3. Learn Java! I recommend the free book Thinking in Java. Here's a link to the source webpage (html version recommended!), and here's a link to a PDF version of the book..
4. Start reading the Android Developer's Guide to get an idea of how Android programs work while you're learning Java.
5. While you're reading the Dev Guide (in Step 4), start writing your first programs. Start with the Android Hello World! program.
6. Go through the Hello Views examples to learn the basics of layouts. And remember, with the SDK downloaded, you actually have all the examples on your computer. You just have to import them. The samples are located in your SDK directory at: [Install Directory]\android-sdk-windows\platforms\android-X.X\samples
7. To actually publish an application, you'll have to register with Google and pay $25 (a one time fee).
8. Be patient (if you're not familiar with Java or programming at all, expect to spend several weeks to several months learning just the basics of writing a program) Experiment and enjoy!
And, if you ever need any help, you have a whole forum of people here to help!
KlaymenDK
Android Expert
Slow down there, cowboy. 
At least take a couple of walks before endeavouring to scale Mount Everest.
Programming is pretty hard work - not so much the writing part but the thinking part. That is to say, you gotta have the right head for it, you gotta know how to think. And have patience. Lots of it.
Start off with a few simple things, such as an app that asks you your name and then says "Hi Jim". I know this sounds daft, but baby steps is really the way to go. First you need to learn the right idea, then you need to learn the structure of the platform, then you need to learn the syntax, then you can start designing, and then you can start making programs.
Even simple games such as Tetris are surprisingly complex when viewed from the inside (there are timers, animation, collision detection, block management, scoring, et cetera), so a bluetooth-enabled file manager is way way too hard as a first project.
At least take a couple of walks before endeavouring to scale Mount Everest.Programming is pretty hard work - not so much the writing part but the thinking part. That is to say, you gotta have the right head for it, you gotta know how to think. And have patience. Lots of it.
Start off with a few simple things, such as an app that asks you your name and then says "Hi Jim". I know this sounds daft, but baby steps is really the way to go. First you need to learn the right idea, then you need to learn the structure of the platform, then you need to learn the syntax, then you can start designing, and then you can start making programs.
Even simple games such as Tetris are surprisingly complex when viewed from the inside (there are timers, animation, collision detection, block management, scoring, et cetera), so a bluetooth-enabled file manager is way way too hard as a first project.
jonbonazza
Android Expert
You can use any website... Some people even use google.com lol
As for where to start, that has pretty much been covered eventually. Once you understand everything aforementioned, then you will be able to start making your own programs. To become a successful developer, you not only must have the right mind for it, you must also have the passion and willingness to jump head first into a concept and figure problems out as they come. No matter how much thought you put into the design of a project, it will ALWAYS throw you curve balls. With this said, you MUST understand the concepts described above, as well as--and I can't stress this enough--have the right mind for the job. Programming is NOT for everyone. There is a lot of logical processes one must endeavor and requires one to think in ways a lot of people cannot. This is not to discourage you, however. Give it a shot and you will quickly realize if it is right for you.