The document discusses how to build an Android app that relies on the Android platform for common tasks like user authentication, data synchronization, and data storage. It recommends using the AccountManager for user authentication, SyncManager for data synchronization between the app and server, and ContentProvider to store structured local data. Loaders are also suggested to asynchronously load data into activities and fragments. The app's business logic would be decoupled from these tasks and the platform services would handle authentication, synchronization, and local data storage.

1. R.A.P.
Rely on Android Platform

2. DISCLAIMER

3. @ibai_iturricha
● NFC
● Android
● Django
CTO en Aditium

4. Why should I
RAP?

5. My app …
manages user accounts
loads/pulls data from/to server
works without connection
and ...

6. I want to be a winner!

7. Decouple authentication from business logic

8. Isolate synchronization strategy

9. Offline first

10. Modular UI Components

11. http://rapgenius.com/discussions/12681-New-version-of-the-last-supper
Time to RAP homies!

12. Android Platform crew
Account Manager manages user credentials
Sync Manager keeps data up to date
Content Provider stores structured data
Loaders make data available

13. Account Manager
“Account Manager provides access to a
centralized registry of the user's online
accounts”
Android developers

14. Android Platform
Account
Manager
Your App
Service
AbstractAccountAuthenticator
AccountAuthenticatorActivity

15. Android Platform
Account
Manager
Your App
Service
AbstractAccountAuthenticator
AccountAuthenticatorActivity
Your app
Add account Get auhtToken
Delete account

16. AbstractAccountAuthenticator

17. Sync
Manager/Adapter
“The ability of the system to
help you synchronize
remote and local content”
Virgil Dobjanschi (Google IO 201)

18. App 1 App 2 App 3 App 4
Perform a sync → Network request, parceling, DB operations, etc...

19. Sepherd wanted!

20. Sync Manager Framework
App 1 App 2 App 3 App 4
App 1 App 3 App 4 App 2

21. Android Platform
Sync
Manager
Your App
Service
AbstractThreadedSyncAdapter

22. Synchronization Strategy Selection
● On demand
○ E.g. User press button ‘refresh’
● Regular interval
○ E.g. Each hour
● When network connection available
○ E.g. Sync automatically when connected
● When device data changes
○ E.g. Every time my database changes
● When server data changes
○ E.g. Every push message received

23. Android Platform
Sync
Manager
Your App
Service
AbstractThreadedSyncAdapter
Your app
PerformSync
On demand example

24. Android Platform
Sync
Manager
Your App
Service
AbstractThreadedSyncAdapter
Your app
PerformSync
Server push sync
Your server

25. AbstractThreadedSyncAdapter

26. Content provider
“Content providers manage access
to a structured set of data”
Android developers

27. Android Platform
Content
Resolver
Your App
ContentProvider
SQLiteOpenHelper
SQLite

28. Android Platform
Content
Resolver
Your App
ContentProvider
SQLiteOpenHelper
SQLite
Your app
Query Insert
Delete
Update
Bulk

29. ContentProvider

30. SQLiteOpenHelper

31. Loaders
“Loaders make it easy to asynchronously
load data in an activity or fragment”
Android developers

32. Android Platform
Loader
Manager
Your App
ContentProvider
SQLiteOpenHelper
SQLite
Fragment | Activity
implements LoaderCallbacks<Cursor>
Query

33. UI thread Background thread
1. getLoaderManager().initLoader(...)
2. onCreateLoader(...)
query specific code
4. onLoadFinished(...)
swap adapter
3. Execute query on DB

34. LoaderManager.LoaderCallbacks<Cursor>

35. Conclusion

36. Your app
Account Provider Sync Model
Android Platform
Activities & Fragments & Loaders

38. Demo time

39. Server side
PLAIN API
POST api/v1/account/new/ Creates new account and returns auth_token
POST api/v1/account/login/ Validates username & password tuple and returns auth_token
AUTHORIZED API
GET api/v1/spots/ Returns spots on the database
→ auth_token
→ position
→ limit