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Best place to get started ? ? ?

. . . with understanding development using Java for Android?
Do I start with Java books?
Where do I read about how to set up an Android development environment? I'm trying to read through everything at the Android Developers website, but I was hoping someone could point me towards better/more information.
I know this is a VERY n00b question, but in order to avoid asking any further n00b questions, I'd like to come to this party better equipped.
TIA -
Darryl

You HAVE to be good at java before you can start programming for android. C/C++ too if you intend to develop something performance hungry.
I suggest that you look at an introduction to developing in Java on desktop and familiarize yourself with Java syntax. If you haven't programmed anything before then also familiarize yourself with programming techniques and object oriented programming in java.
To be honest, it takes 4 years on college to learn that. You may be able to learn it earlier, given that you put enough effort but don't expect programming anything useful anytime soon.

Thank you!! At least I have a starting point. Never too late to begin.

Gonna see if starting with Introduction to Java Programming, Comprehensive Edition is something that works for me.
Thanks again!!
sorry for double post

Ive managed to set up Eclipse 3.5 and the Android SDK.
Then I downloaded the components to develop for Android 1.5, 1.5, and 2.x(.x)
Also installed the USB driver(on an WinXP machine) and that's all there is to it, I think.
As for Java, I have an old book(or bible, judging by the size) on Java 1.5 from Deitel.
But right now, Im just looking at the official trails on sun.com:
http ://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/index.html
I guess learning the syntax is one thing.
Learning programming concepts and OO are two other things.
Then there are algorithms and programming techniques.
Then there is familiarization with how the Android platform differs from regular Java applications/applets/etc.
I think that covers the basic steps towards Android programming in java.
If I missed anything, can someone fill me in please?
Thanks!

maybe someone knows of a open source repos. you can look at examples. Like planet-source-code dot com but with android examples.

I want to develop.

im looking to start developing android apps. should i start goggling how to develop android apps, or should i learn c++ first?
i have a 500 page PDF on c++ ( from the university that my brother goes to). the pdf is for beginner's learning to c++ it starts of with the common hello world code and advances.is this a good start?
ps: i hope this is the right section.

Damn! 500+ Pages and for Beginners. I couldn't write that much if I had a whole life time to do it. And maybe Android Q&A.
And yeah dude Google then Learn. Or maybe, Google and Learn. OR! Google what you should do first. SMART!

I would suggest you take a course on it then do some real world placement with seasoned programmers, you wont really develop all of the required skills using a beginners guide to programming.

Android is Java not C++.

I heard that a good Java introductory book is Head First Java. If you have some programming experience I would recommend Thinking in Java.
After you are confortable with Java, you could move to Android specific things. Good luck!

thanks for the replies. the 500 pages of C++ are pdf, and the font is kind of big. im ganna keep learning from that for a couple of weeks to get the very basics. then ill move on to java.
PS: another nub question, what dose Linux have to do with android? is it better to develop on Linux or windows 7?

Android is based on Linux. But you can develop in any platform you want. It is the same Linux, windows or OSX, whatever you have would work.

janfsd said:
Android is based on Linux. But you can develop in any platform you want. It is the same Linux, windows or OSX, whatever you have would work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im a little confused .
andriod uses the syntax java,while andriod is based off linux which uses syntax c, c++, java and fortan. so dose andriod use the java part of linux only or what?

To be more specific, it is based on the Linux Kernel, which is written in C. All the apps are already Android specific, so written in Java. Google developed their own virtual machine (Dalvik) so the developers can use it. It is Java based (on the 1.5 version), but it doesn't support all Java classes. It is still possible to write in c++ with the NDK, but only if you need the extra performance or maybe write a game in OpenGL. So you would stick to Java.

If you need to communicate with kernel, or your application has to do something with great calculation (Such as encoding or decoding), you may need to through Java layer and native layer by JNI, than you need C/C++. Else you just need to write your application by Java.

okay that clears it up, thanks guys. now i just gotta give it time and dedication.

Where should I start if I wanted to start developing ROMs?

I have coding experience in C++ and windows programming languages, but I haven't a clue about android. I tried searching google and this forum for a good master thread or even a book, but haven't had much luck.
Can anyone help me out?

jojo54696 said:
I have coding experience in C++ and windows programming languages, but I haven't a clue about android. I tried searching google and this forum for a good master thread or even a book, but haven't had much luck.
Can anyone help me out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same here
Hello I am new to xda and I would like to start developing new custom roms and kernels however I do not know where to start.
Just some background info about me:
I am 15 yrs old
I am have programmed in the following:
c++
visual basic
c#
asm
Java
javascript
html
android 2.2 framework
window phone 7 framework
xml
ios
XNA
I have done computer repair for people along with console repair
Tools I have used:
visual studio
android sdk
eclipse
dreamweaver
dev c++
Photoshop
appmobi xdk
phonegap xda
xcode iphone sdk
and some more
Phone I currently have:
evo 3d
I am a noob to making roms and I do not know how to start if someone could help me or point me into the right direction that would great. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that was my post and still no replys

First of all, learn and become comfortable with Java. If you're not comfortable with Java you're going to have some problems since besides the c libraries/kernel the android source is Java/XML.
Second, you need to decide if you're going to be messing with pre-built ROMs (or RUUs or whatever) or the actual AOSP. Actual AOSP is the actual source code but if you're modding a pre-built ROM you're going to have to also learn how to deal with smali code (which as far as I know is basically machine code [if you know what that is]).. Eris has a pretty good guide-in-progress which I'll find and post here later if I can.
It's a lot of work and a lot of looking and learning and not very clear. I have a lot of respect for the people who do it a lot I'm thinking of dabbling soon...
Edit:
here: http://teambamf.net/showthread.php/2793-Guide-Eris-s-Ultimate-Guide-to-ROM-ing-and-Porting

[Q] Confused about Android/Java (please help!)

G'day.
I'm trying to get started developing Android applications but I have hit a bit of a wall.
I've been learning Java, and finally downloaded the Android SDK yesterday. The official Android Developers site says that Android applications are built using Java, but when I started following the "getting started" tutorial I quickly realized that it is not really using Java, and i hardly recognize a thing.
After a bit of searching I found that Android apps do not use Java, they use.... 'Android.'
Now, I understand that the Android language is based on Java, but I still can't help but feel as though I've been wasting my time when I could have been learning Android directly.
My questions are:
1. What is the best non-YouTube resource for learning Android? (I don't have unlimited internet)
2. Why does the Android site claim that it's apps are built with Java?
3. Why didn't they just actually use Java? Why did they have to modify it into a different language? Is it to purposefully make things more complicated and annoy people, or is Java too limited for mobile apps?
Thanks.

I don't know if you remember the big Google/Oracle (developers of Java) lawsuit a while back, although it is unrelated to Java itself, that is probably one of the reasons AOSP decided against using the actual Java language in creating apps. Since it's based on Java, people who have some Java experience would probably have a head start than someone with no Java experience.
To answer your first question, your best bet would be to go to a bookstore like Barnes and Noble and buy an Android development book. They have plenty of books out there for developing for Android and does not require the internet.

Which platform is best for developing android apps, android studio or eclipse??

I am working on eclipse from 6 months but recently I downloaded android studio and i found it good too. So i am confused which platform should i keep using?
thanks.

Eclipse is d best i feel..developing on it since ice cream sandwich
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I've no problem with android studio except the fact that it is damn slow. I'm sure that it will improve in the future.
Eclipse is a very familiar tool. It feels like home when I use eclipse and a lot faster.

Androi Studio for sure
My personal favorite is android studio. Its much better then eclipse and it surely improves productivity in certain tasks.

Developers should be update, use Android Studio

Android Studio.. IDEA based software is best ever.. You guys must learn its featured and then you would say wow. From multiple selection to Floating Navigation Bar to Any File Go to lot and lot of features..... Extremely customisable... I don't know how many have used legendary code editor sublime text.
Buy this android studio.... Completely Brings all features of Sublime Text into an IDE. Learn the features of this ide... And u will hate all other ide altogether
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Also google positions Android Studio as the official development environment.

Eclipse is faster, but Android Studio has more features and is built for Android specifically (while Eclipse is built for Java generally). If your computer can run it smoothly, go with Studio.

I personally believe one should always use the one which is best and up-to-date. Saying that, Android Studio fits in best as this is the latest development platform with loaded features and easy to use.
The only factor that it takes time and effort for the developers to learn new things. For, developers who starts fresh doesn't make much difference to them as they need to learn either one of the platform and they can start with Android Studio. If one learns Eclipse first, they eventually need to learn Android Studio and upgrade themselves at some point.
Moreover, there are additional features on any new releases than the older version. Similarly, we see some of the well known features that are available on Android Studio and not present in Eclipse, mentioned here:
1. Maven-based build dependencies
2. Build variants and multiple-APK generation (great for Android Wear).
3. Advanced Android code completion and refactoring.
Finally, new and advanced features in these new released platforms helps developers to produce apps faster.
Happy Coding
Cheers!

For low performance laptop Android Studio wouldnt be as efficient, on the other hand it have a lot of advantage rather than eclips.

I'm looking to create an app for android (which I can eventually add to the play store), that contains buttons of a sort in the fact that if you tap on the screen in once place one thing will happen and in another place, something else. Can anyone recommend which I should use to create this app? Also, do they both use need java? (android studios or eclipse)
Thanks!

I've found the newer versions of Android Studio to be much more efficient as well as having less issues than they used to. I highly recommend using Android Studio, especially since Google is ending support for Eclipse by the end of the year.

intellij
Android Studio is a customized version of IntelliJ, which is a commercial IDE. So you're getting a $200 IDE for free!

And intellij is very polished
Sent from my XT1254

Android studio is pretty good, but it is very slow and takes a bit too much of the memory

I have only used Android Studio so far. Lot of support tutorials and ease of understanding / use. May be, one day I will explore other options. Not for now.

My vote is going for Android Studio.

I vote for Android Studio. eclipse is not support. but i am using visual studio to develop android app (cordova hybrid project).

Hi,
Android Studio is great.The framework is sleek and it is perfect platform to develop your apps.
If you are new to android programming i would suggest you can take courses from Udacity (Android Basics Nanodegree program by Google)Here you will be taught by the Google developers themselves and it's really cool and interactive.

Android Studio.. Thought based programming is best ever.. You all must take in its included and after that you would say stunning. From different choice to Floating Navigation Bar to Any File Go to parcel and part of features..... To a great degree customisable... I don't know what number of have utilized incredible code editorial manager radiant content.
Purchase this android studio.... Totally Brings all components of Sublime Text into an IDE. Take in the elements of this ide... What's more, u will despise all other ide by and large