How to start developing for Android. A selection of free courses on mobile application development: lessons and step-by-step guides Lessons in programming for creating mobile applications
Hello. Today I came across a post about an Android programming course on the Linux Foundation website, and along with it, a lot of comments about what I would like to see and the translation of these lessons. Since I now, after four years of development for microcontrollers, began to study programming for mobile devices, then in parallel I decided to translate the first part of the lesson.
Android programming for beginners. Part 1
Android smartphones and tablets are increasingly found in our bags and pockets, and Android programming is also becoming more popular. It's a great development platform - the API is well documented and easy to use, and it's just fun to build something you can run on your smartphone. Initially, you can do without it by creating and testing the code using an emulator on your Linux PC. The first of two parts of this introduction explains how to create a simple timer app and gives you an introduction to the Android API. The course assumes a basic understanding of Java, XML and programming technologies, but nevertheless feel free to try it even if you have a very vague idea about it.Getting Started and Development Environment
A little about versions: latest version Android is 4.2 (Jelly Bean), but as you can see from this diagram, it's not widely used yet. It is best to start developing for one of the versions: 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or 2.3 (Gingerbeard), especially considering that android versions support backwards compatibility (i.e. your code for version 2.3 will work on 4.2), and applications developed for a later version will not always work on the old one. The code shown here should work on versions 4.0 and 2.3.The easiest way to get a development environment is to install the Android Bundle, which can be downloaded from . You will also need JDK 6 (not just JRE). Don't forget that Android is not compatible with gcj. If you are already using Eclipse or another IDE, then you can try customizing it for Android. How to do this is described. Now create a project named Countdown using Eclipse , or from the command line . I set BuildSDK 4.0.3 and minimum SDK 2.2 in settings, and (in Eclipse) used the BlankActivity template.
My first Android project: interface
Our first Android program will be a timer that counts down from 10 seconds after pressing a button. Before writing code, we need to create an interface - what the user will see when running our application. You need to open res/layout/activity_countdown.xml and create an XML template - using the Eclipse editor or a text/XML editor, enter the following:Congratulations, you have just created your first Android app. In the second part of this introduction, we will take a closer look at the structure of the Android application, and make some improvements to our program: the countdown time input, the Stop button, and the menu. We will also run it on real device, not on the emulator.
Android is a popular platform: four out of five smartphones run on Android different versions according to Gartner. and applications for Android smartphones will not remain without a piece of bread and butter.
If you want to know if you like to write in Java for Android, but you are just starting to program, give it a try. Developers are like gourmets: they like one thing and hate the other. But all these impressions are based solely on personal experience - until you try the dish yourself, you will not be able to appreciate its taste. It’s the same with development: until you do something personally, it will be impossible to determine whether this direction is to your taste. The course "" is for those who want to understand their preferences.
Quick start means full immersion: immediately into development without boring theory. According to the teacher himself Igor Dolgov, which, by the way, has trained more than 4,000 people, " training should be concise, require a lot of concentration from the participants, “turning on the brains”, but at the same time easy, funny and fun! In addition, Igor is a professional, on whose account there are many implemented projects in the country's largest corporations.
« The course is suitable for those who have learned the basics of Java and want to try their hand at Android development in a game form, the teacher says - if you are interested in game development, then taking this course is just a small first step in this direction. You have room to grow further. You can dive into the intricacies of a game dev. Look at libgdx. Learn one of the popular cross-platform game engines: Unity, Unreal Engine, etc.
And a unique opportunity: those who wish to participate in the team development of this game or some similar game, if you have the time, positive attitude, inspiration, ideas, qualifications, desire to learn on your own, you can write to the teacher ( [email protected]) to join one of the team projects of the Khasang community»
The purpose of the course is to understand whether you are interested in this direction and whether it is worth continuing. To do this, you will write a game for a smartphone for Android.
The first lesson is the installation and configuration of game development tools with teacher's comments. You will need a computer with Windows, Mac or Linux, a desire to learn new skills and acquire useful knowledge.
The following lessons will teach you how to draw the necessary graphics for the game on the example of simple objects. At the same time, you will plunge directly into the design of the game. See how graphical objects are created, classes are written, and a constructor is used. Learn what refactoring is and how to separate logic from display; what are interfaces and how to use them. Learn to catch touches on the screen by putting into practice the concept of interactivity. Do not pass by collections and inheritance. The teacher explains each written line and the logic of the formation of the code itself for a complete understanding of what is happening on the screen. After all, the goal of learning is to learn how to do it and understand why it is so.
The entire course code is posted on Github, you will receive a link in the lessons. Also, at the end of the course, you will receive a certificate confirming that you have completed the material and the opportunity to plunge deeper into the exciting, although sometimes difficult, world of development. Good luck!
Do you know how to become an Android programmer in just 8 months and earn at least 100,000 rubles a month while working from home and traveling endlessly? Do you want to open your own business and be respected and appreciated by everyone?
Then I want to somewhat warn you against trying to educate yourself with the help of numerous paid online courses, which are very often bred suckers. If you are interested search engine optimization, web design and programming, then you need to understand a simple thing...
Firstly, all the reviews like “I sold CDs in transition, but after buying access to lectures on Geek brains, after 3 months of hard work I became a programmer. Guys, the main thing is to believe!” written by copywriters. Secondly, none of the course sellers will not warn you about what level of knowledge you already need to have in order to start learning. There is a good chance that you will open the textbooks and…do not even understand how to install a program to generate code. And the money will not be returned to you.
They say that the same Java rush site that teaches Java as a game and rather chaotically can be of some use, but on the condition that you already ... here I ask you a minute, you know other programming languages. How many years does it take to learn the Java language thoroughly? A professional programmer educated at the institute told me that he writes in it and continues to learn it for 5 years, but still has not mastered it perfectly. He already has his own small business behind him, knowledge of several other languages, many completed projects, and he teaches and teaches Java!
Key skills:
Knowledge of Java Core
Knowledge of the Android SDK
Experience in IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, Android Studio
Experience developing Android applications in Java
Experience with XML, JSON, HTTP, sockets
Knowledge of Android API, understanding of Android architecture, user interface, menus, dialogs, resources, logcat, MVC
Intents, Fragments, Content Providers, Broadcast Receivers, Google Maps, widgets, telephony, sensors, bluetooth, graphics and animation
SQLite, Web, Concurrency
Basic introduction to guidelines android latest versions
Understanding the features of the mobile application in the conditions weak signal connections
Proficiency in basic design patterns
Creative approach to tasks
Ability to write clean code and write and use unit tests correctly
Ability and willingness to learn new skills and master new technologies
Ability to quickly understand other people's code, if necessary
But how much money is promised for Geek brains in the end. That is, they assure that most of you will receive so much already in the learning process:
Android programmer — 100,000 rubles
Mobile developer — 130,000 rubles
Web developer — 100,000 rubles
Java programmer - 110,000 rubles
Development mobile applications for Android (Level 1, Beginner):
Are you already a proficient programmer in one or more languages and want to develop Android apps? Today it is a very prestigious and well-paid profession, which is at the peak of popularity. However, to become a good developer, you need to learn how to write high-quality and functional applications. After completing this course, you will gain practical skills in creating applications and will effectively use the capabilities of the Android platform and resources.
Let's say you dream of becoming a programmer. You come and say
Sign me up to study as an Android programmer!
And they answer you:
- Not yet. Well then, write in Java SE8, and only then ...
— Do you know C and C++?
— Uh… No.
Sign me up in C!
- If you know the basics of programming and databases and have equivalent training ...
This means that before the Android programming course, you will have to take 3-5 more different courses. And after passing you will be able to sign up for the 6th. Note that this is only the first level, the initial one. There is no question of any employment in six months or a year as an “Android programmer”.
As you probably noticed, more and more programming courses are being released, and of dubious quality. And so that you do not stumble upon such a course and do not waste your time, we decided to compile for you a selection of popular free courses dedicated to mobile development from world-famous platforms such as Coursera, Udemy and Udacity.
iOS development
About the course: The course covers the basics of developing iOS applications in the Swift language. You'll learn how to use Xcode, design and evaluate your interfaces for usability, and integrate camera, photo, and location data into your applications. In the final project, you will be asked to create a photo editing app for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
About the course: During the course, you will create an iPhone app that will record a conversation between you and your friend, and then change your voices to those of a chipmunk and Darth Vader.
About the course: A step by step guide to iOS app development. The course is intended for those who have no experience in creating iOS applications or using Objective-C. You'll start by learning the basics of Objective-C and then dive into development. After completing the course, you will be able to create full-fledged applications for the iPhone or iPad.
Android development
About the course: The course has been in development for more than two years and incorporates the best that professionals with over 20 years of experience in developing mobile applications and teaching people could offer. You will start by learning Java and move smoothly to Android development. At the end of the course, you will be able to publish your application to Google Play, and also get some tips for a successful interview for the position of Android developer.
About the course: The course is part of the Android Basics Nanodegree by Google program and is intended for those who have little to no programming experience, but would really like to learn how to create applications for Android. By the end of the course, you will have written two simple yet complete Android applications.
The rapid development of technology and the rapid reduction in the cost of wearable gadgets no one doubts our mobile future. If more recently a tablet or smartphone was bought in addition to an existing desktop, today an increasing percentage of users are limited to these gadgets. After all, most of the existing digital needs can already be satisfied without this big noisy box under the table.
This means that today no one should doubt the need for a presence in the mobile segment. If you have a website, then you must have it mobile version, if there is a service or service, then there must be a corresponding mobile application. Therefore, today the demand for relevant specialists is greater than ever. In this article, we will tell you about online programming courses for iOS and Android platforms, and very soon we will talk about mobile app builders.
Lynda
Lynda.com is one of the most well-known names in educational web resources. It offers thousands of courses on a wide range of topics. There are many courses for Android and iOS developers as well. However, I want to immediately draw your attention to the fact that the courses are paid. You'll have to fork out $25 a month to use all the features, including video tutorials.
Harvard University
Another interesting project in the field of online learning. It offers several courses for Android and iOS developers. For example, the basic Android course starts from the very basics and takes you all the way to creating a finished program. The course for iOS is built in approximately the same way.
Stanford University
This famous university also did not stand aside from the passion for distance education and opened some of its courses for free attendance. In the context of this article, we may be interested in the course for iOS developers CS 193P. Fans of the Android platform will also find something to study. The CS193a course covers almost every aspect of mobile app development, from prototyping to the finished APK.
The New Boston
If you've ever searched YouTube for programming tutorials, you've definitely come across this title. Among other things, there is a huge list of video tutorials for developers that help to solve both very narrow specific problems and cover general topics. Here is the list for Android, and here is for iOS (slightly smaller).
Of course, we could not leave aside this most popular online learning platform. It contains links to free courses from the world's leading universities, including programming courses. iPhone owners can rest, but for Android developers, search brings a good catch .
Tuts Plus
The closest competitor to the aforementioned Lynda, this site is best known for the quality of its online courses. Here you will find several courses for iOS programmers, including those for the latest iOS 7. But android platform is almost non-existent here.
And, of course, we couldn't miss the proprietary developer resource from Google. However, it is worth considering that this is a fairly advanced course that will require you to know the basics, at a minimum. So, you should first try to get trained on one of the previous resources, and then improve your skills on the Google website.
Although this is where we end our list useful resources, there are many other useful sites offering training courses for mobile developers. Do you know them and have you ever used them? Please add your findings to this post in the comments.
