The document discusses the management of intents and dependencies within Android applications, emphasizing the importance of creating new intents that allow for interoperability among developers. It introduces the concept of a dependency manager that aids in the resolution of dependencies and enables a light-weight, late-binding approach to component interactions. The content is rooted in the open-source principles of the Open Intents project, promoting collaboration and sharing of resources among developers.

1. Intents and
Dependency Management
Friedger Müffke
@fmdroid
#openintents
www.openintents.org support@openintents.org droidcon.belgium,
2 April 2010

2. Android Platform

3. Holiday App

4. No monoliths ..
but interconnected
components
All apps are equal!

5. Holiday App (2)

6. Create new intents
Every developer can create their own new intents:
VIEW SHOW
DISPLAY
EXHIBIT
EXPOSE
REVEAL
The Tower of Babel by Pieter Brueghel the Elder (1563)

7. Intent registry
www.openintents.org
Browse and find
intents, actions,
applications, URIs,
extras
Promote your own
intents and applications
As of April 2010:
>50 registered intents
Reuse components!
Don't reinvent the wheel!

8. Dependency Manager (1)
● Intents create dependencies
between components
● Standard implementation:
– run-time dependency check
late binding
– nearly constantly connected
– Programs handles missing components
e.g. direct user to app store or
explain missing feature

9. Dependency Manager (2)
● Components (that rely on dependent components)
– Light-weight, late binding still possible
– Helper library
– Declaration in Manifest.xml
<meta-data android:name =
"org.openintents.dm.dependency-client"
android:resource =
"@xml/mandatory"/>
● Dependency Manager (resolution helper with UI)
– Interface to various sources, e.g. app stores,
personal listings, etc.

10. Dependency Manager (3)
Demo
code contribution by
Jens Finkhäuser

11. Dependency Manager (4)
Participate!
Android is open as are these issues
– Issue 4716: Support package dependency
through uses-intent in Manifest
– Issue 3217: Support
PackageManager.GET_INTENT_FILTERS
– Issue 4159: Market should allow developers to list
extension points for their apps

12. OpenIntents.org
●
Discussion group since 2007
●
All about open applications and interoperability
●
Open source
●
List of Android libraries
●
Intents registry
●
Backed by OpenIntents UG
(haftungsbeschränkt)
– Closed source apps
– Organizer of droidcon

13. More info
Web site:
www.openintents.org
Developer group:
http://groups.google.com/group/openintents
Code repository:
http://openintents.googlecode.com
droidcon 2010, 26/27 May, Berlin
All information at www.droidcon.de
Free barcamp and Conference
Participate as speaker, sponsor or attendee