The ability to design and programme well is required to create Android applications. When using new technology for the first time, it usually helps to break it down into smaller pieces. Many of the concepts and technologies involved in designing Android apps will be similar to those you already know if you are an experienced web developer, even if creating apps for mobile devices typically requires mastery of a number of more complicated concepts. Mobile devices have smaller screens, simpler CPUs, and, in the case of Android, a number of manufacturers, so developers must maintain code flexibility and cater for a variety of user interface scenarios.
What credentials are required to work as an Android developer? According to some of the most knowledgeable developers in our community, this is the information you need to be aware of.
1. JAVA
The primary language used in Android development is Java. For people who have primarily learned programming in languages like JavaScript and Ruby, there may be a learning curve while transitioning to the Java programming language for the first time.
Like JavaScript and Ruby, Java is object-oriented, but it is also stricter about how data types are handled. Developers must be significantly more cautious in their code in order to define the types of data that their mobile applications will function with and more properly allocate limited memory resources.
At Georgia Tech, the Software Engineering Immersive course is taught by experienced Android developer James Traver. Java ensures that there are no misunderstandings regarding what each component of your programme is trying to do since, as he says, “in a mobile context, you can’t afford to have ambiguity.” It is more exact and elegant even if there is less code written.
2. UNDERSTANDING OF XML
With the development of XML, data encoding standards for internet-based mobile applications were established. You may recognise the angled brackets, tag kinds, and deep layering of elements as being characteristics of HTML because it is a structured markup language.
In a nutshell, it makes it possible for consistent information to be transmitted across devices. Developers in the Android ecosystem use XML to generate the fundamental UI definitions for Android applications.
Developers can write Java code that updates layout components after the Android application has already launched, similar to how web developers use JavaScript to change the elements in their webpages while they are in use. But for Android developers, having a basic understanding of XML is essential.
3. ANDROID SDK
Software Development Kit is actually just a fancy name for a collection of pre-packaged code, despite the fact that the term may conjure up thoughts of a suitcase full of surveillance equipment. The camera and accelerometer on mobile devices can be accessed by programmers thanks to the Android SDKs, which are Java modules.
One of the key components of the Android SDK is the Gradle library. Consider the scenario when you want to link your app to a social networking platform like Facebook. You would download a code library (or SDK) from Facebook and then inform Gradle that you are using it in order to make sure that your code maintains its organisation throughout the compilation of your application. It will take a large amount of time to learn how to put together an Android application using the various Android SDKs.
Even though this will take some time, the official documentation for each Android SDK offers a tonne of examples that make it simple to understand what each package does and how to integrate it into your programme.
4. ANDROID STUDIO
Android Studio is the preferred integrated development environment for Android developers (IDE). Android Studio, which is based on the famous IntelliJ IDE, provides outstanding out-of-the-box support for a number of the most widely used Android SDKs.
Android Studio also has many more capabilities that programmers expect from a fully functional IDE. Code completion helps by suggesting auto-complete options as you type. With the use of code debuggers, you can examine your code to see what caused the mistake.
To make sure that their code will function effectively on mobile devices, developers have access to even more complex tools, such as memory and CPU monitoring. Android Studio is a requirement for all Android developers, skilled and novice alike.
5. APIS
As an Android app developer, you’ll probably want to communicate with a variety of other services. You might want to allow people to access a calendar or the stock market through a third-party website, for example.
Most organisations that create Android apps have APIs and can thoroughly explain to you how to safely and consistently query them for data. However, Google also makes it relatively simple for your Android app to connect to its own APIs, so you are free to use any existing API at your discretion.
For instance, it’s simple to use Google APIs to track the whereabouts of your users, give them the option to seek up nearby attractions, and enable them to use maps inside your app. You should get used to looking into the specifics of various APIs and realise that no two APIs are exactly the same.
6. DATABASES
If your app handles a lot of data, the majority of it won’t be on your smartphone at any given time. Instead, your app will probably interact with a database that is not on your phone. Data can be stored in the cloud and made accessible from a variety of devices using the straightforward APIs offered by cloud service providers like Firebase or Parse.
Additionally, you may easily cache some data on the user’s device thanks to the fact that these platforms typically come with Java libraries you can incorporate into your programme. It is essential that the data between local storage and the remote database is synced if you want users to be able to access the app while they are offline.
As another method of locally storing data, Android includes built-in support for using SQL to interface with a SQLite database. Whatever method you choose to use, you’ll need to learn about databases, how to query them, and how to use the data they contain in your software.
7. MATERIAL DESIGN
In contrast to competitors like Apple, Google has typically not maintained a consistent visual style across all of its products. Recently, such conditions have changed. All of Google’s products now adhere to a set of cutting-edge interface standards and guidelines known as Material Design.
These recommendations offer advise on how to arrange various objects on the screen and make use of specific stylistic elements like drop shadows. You’ve undoubtedly already utilised Material Design if you’ve used the new Google Drive or Inbox by Gmail apps on a mobile device.
Google suggests that Android developers start with these suggestions when creating their own user interfaces, but it’s not mandatory. The essential concepts of Material Design may be understood quite well.
