Making Android AppsIf you are a complete beginner and haven't got the first clue about Android or Java development or any sort of computer programming, I recommend you take a look at 'How To Not Become An Android Developer' first, so that you know what to expect when setting up your development environment.
On the other hand you could choose to go down the easy route and take heed of the advice in my article entitled 'How To Make Your Own Android Apps' this is not recommended if you plan to take your Android mobile assistant software development to a professional standard, although the paid subscription plans do provide a very convenient and cost effective solution, considering the price of paying a professional Android app developer.
Most developers choose Eclipse as their IDE although JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA is another excellent IDE which I prefer to use myself. Once you have this software installed you are almost ready to start developing Java applications.
However, first you also need to ensure that you have all the necessary Java utilities installed on your system.
This means you will also need the Oracle Java SDK (Software Development Kit) and the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) also known as the Java Run time Environment. Without the Java Virtual Machine your applications will be unable to run on your system.
One you have the above software installed and have configured your system, this will then allow you to develop Java applications.
However, in order to develop Android applications you need one more vital piece of software the Android SDK.
Alternatively, you may choose to develop your applications on your Android device which actually makes getting setting up a lot easier.
In order to develop Android apps on your Android smartphone or tablet device you need just one piece of software called
By developing directly on your Android device you will also have the advantage of being able to test your apps without having to set up a virtual device (emulator), as you would on a PC.
When you create a new Android project in your IDE, the project will automatically be given the correct folder/file structure which should look similar to the image on the right.
In order to develop your first Android project you will need to understand what the files/folders are there for.
The 'res' folder: This is where your resources go. Generally this will be things like page layouts, global string data (more on this later) and user interface.
All these files are stored in XML format.
The 'src' folder: This is the folder where all the Java source files (known in Java as activities) are stored.
This is where the underlying Java code of your Android app will be stored; the code that makes your app functional.
Any permissions required by your application must be declared free game apps for iphone in the AndroidManifest file.
In addition, whenever your app uses an intent (more on this later), an intent filter must also be declared in the AndroidManifest file.
Developing Your First Android App
If you have not, then go into the 'src' folder and double click on the MainActivity file so that the code is displayed.