This document provides an introduction to Android development. It outlines the development environment including Java, the Android SDK, and Eclipse IDE. It then demonstrates a worked example of an Android app and discusses other useful aspects like services, content providers, and widgets. The document concludes with tips on supporting multiple Android releases, testing layouts, and using meaningful names. It also provides questions and links to additional Android resources.

1. Introduction to Android Development
Ben Hardill
© 2009 IBM Corporation

2. Introduction to Android
Programming
● Development Environment
● Worked Example
● Other useful stuff
– Services
– Content Providers
– Widgets
● Tips
● Questions
● Resources and Links

3. Development Environment
● Java
● Android SDK
● Eclipse IDE

4. Worked Example
src from demo http://www.hardill.me.uk/XKCD-demo-android-app.zip
● Image from http://xkcd.com/662/

5. Other usefull stuff
● Services
– Like Activities but no GUI
● Content Providers
– Data stores for content so it can be shared with
other apps
● Widgets
– Much the same as activities

6. Tips
● Don't just support the latest release
– Most popular release still 2.2.x/2.3.x
● Use the android support library
● Test each different layout to make sure they all
match
● Use meaningful names for GUI components
● Use the x86 emulator if you can as it's a lot
quicker than the ARM version

7. Questions
?

8. Resources and Links
● Android Developers home page
– http://developer.android.com/
● Information on release popularity and screen
size
– http://opensignal.com/reports/fragmentation.php

9. Speaker
Ben Hardill
IBM ETS
Emerging Technology
Specialist
Hursley, UK
@hardillb
http://www.hardill.me.uk/wordpress/