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[Q] Java for Android

Ok, been using these forums for quite awhile to mod my various devices. However I've never had to post, so you'll have to forgive that this is in the wrong board as it wont let me post in the right one due to lack of posts.
I want to get into actually developing Android apps, and then eventually get into developing ROMs and such. From what I've seen apps would be programed in Java, and I've seen links to a few web resources to learn Java. But none on them answer what I am really looking to find out. I need to know what "flavor" of Java is best to use. Java 1? 2? 6? Java++? Visual Java? Etc etc etc.
I don't want to waste my time learning Java 6, if Android is only compatible with Java 4, for example. And vise versa. Like-wise I don't want to learn a version of Sun Java, if Java++ or Visual would be be better/give better functionality.
In closing, I just need to know what flavor of Java would be best to learn. Thanks.

It's not really java, it's android.
Here you have everything to start:
http://developer.android.com/guide/index.html
And to set up the environment for developing:
http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

knowing java is a good start, think of android like an advanced java applet programming.

leblid said:
knowing java is a good start, think of android like an advanced java applet programming.
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Yeah, exactly. And that's what I am looking for. Somehing to get my base knowledge started on. But their are allot of diffrent versions of Java and I don't really know which would be the best to use as a jumping off point.
I have also looked at the Android dev site, but it isn't really going to "teach" me from scrach.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App

Glgamesh said:
Yeah, exactly. And that's what I am looking for. Somehing to get my base knowledge started on. But their are allot of diffrent versions of Java and I don't really know which would be the best to use as a jumping off point.
I have also looked at the Android dev site, but it isn't really going to "teach" me from scrach.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, if you plan to develop for android, it's better to focus on android, and not learn first java.. It's like learning first to ride a motocycle, and then go for the car.... It has some common ground, but..
If you want to learn from the scratch, the links I posted are your point. You can also take a look to the tutorials:
http://developer.android.com/intl/es/resources/tutorials/hello-world.html
If you still want to go through Java.. I reccomend you take a look to this:
http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/index.html
http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/
and start from Java SE 6 (http://download.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/)
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/index-jsp-135888.html

aitorTheRed said:
Again, if you plan to develop for android, it's better to focus on android, and not learn first java.. It's like learning first to ride a motocycle, and then go for the car.... It has some common ground, but..
If you want to learn from the scratch, the links I posted are your point. You can also take a look to the tutorials:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh ok, I get it now, thank you for breaking it down like that. I thought it was the exact opposite, I thought you needed Java to lead into Android. I'd looked at several books to learn Android, but all the reviews said that you should know Java before getting the books. (Hence where I got the idea) I actually read this post earlier, and I have given the Developer section of the Android site a LOT deeper look, and it looks like you were very much correct. Upon first glance I didn't think it was actually be what I needed. Thank you for your assistance and I am sorry for the missunderstanding.

Glgamesh said:
Oh ok, I get it now, thank you for breaking it down like that. I thought it was the exact opposite, I thought you needed Java to lead into Android. I'd looked at several books to learn Android, but all the reviews said that you should know Java before getting the books. (Hence where I got the idea) I actually read this post earlier, and I have given the Developer section of the Android site a LOT deeper look, and it looks like you were very much correct. Upon first glance I didn't think it was actually be what I needed. Thank you for your assistance and I am sorry for the missunderstanding.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No need to ask for sorry we all have to start sometimes from zero it's true that knowing java helps, but I think that if you have some notion on OOP (object-oriented programming) will be enought
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App

Deving

I am going to take it upon myself to learn to Dev. Not because we don't have great developers now but because i would like to contribute to the community.
I am curious though, how did some of you devs get your start? Was it just tinkering around, familiar background or something else? Also I've been doing some reading up on this matter of making roms and was wondering if you guys like raver, dsexton, racing and others would support me if i need help or have a question about something?
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App

What would you like to dev?
Do you have any programming experience?
If yes, do you know Java, Linux, shell scripting, git, C/C++?

Actually first off I'm sorry i forgot to mention your name fb In the op your a good Dev to. As well as bh and airfluip.
To answer your question. i would want to dev roms and learn to make apps too. I only have experience in c++ but i would need to relearn it. i took visual basic and c++ in high school which was 8 years ago lol
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goddi2010 said:
... i took visual basic and c++ in high school which was 8 years ago lol
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I totally feel old now. LOL

goddi2010 said:
Actually first off I'm sorry i forgot to mention your name fb In the op your a good Dev to. As well as bh and airfluip.
To answer your question. i would want to dev roms and learn to make apps too. I only have experience in c++ but i would need to relearn it. i took visual basic and c++ in high school which was 8 years ago lol
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For now I stay stick to learning Linux and how to compile programs from source, or you can learn Java and how to make android apps. As far as working on kernels or building roms from source it might be a bit too complicated for you right now.
You can also consider learning edify which is basically shell scripting. You can control what your cwm zips do when you flash them. It's what I've been working on lately so you can take a look at the source code here:
http://sourceforge.net/p/teamacid/installer/
Check out the updater-script and aroma-config files in
/META-INF/com/google/android/
I have left a lot of comments to help people understand the code.
stephen_w said:
I totally feel old now. LOL
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Click to collapse
Hehe.

Awesome i think I'll try and learn Linux and java. And see what i can do
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_H4AlQaNa0
if you do have some experence

I am still 14. I started tinkering with my G1 last summer, since then, this is the progress I have made.
I have learned:
A lot of java, (You need this because basically android is based on 10 % linux(kernel and boot stuff), and basically, android's main system is 85% java. Apps, dexes, frameworks,libs,everything else is java, swap, ext4.
Some c++(the other 5% off the sytem)
shell(all internal unix command line programming)
What I still need help on...
_
------------------------
git(if you want to help with AOSP and kernels and more)
More in depth stuff.

+1 to FB for Linux. It's a great place to start. You learn facets of scripting/programming along the way. Get a bit up to speed there & learn to compile your own kernel for your PC. It's not too difficult unless you start modding the code.
Good luck

Thanx guys I'm going to look over this material this weekend and report back. I know it's just the weekend but I'll be some what more knowledgeable about what I'm doing
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App

stephen_w said:
I totally feel old now. LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You feel old? My 20 year reunion is coming up this summer...
As for learning to DEV... It's a huge learning process. I started with scripting a couple months ago, and looked into attempting to build a ROM, but I do not have a Linux machine and my POS windows machine won't run linux properly to do much of anything with it (both installed as a dual boot and in as a vm). Keep reading and learning...

RaverX3X said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_H4AlQaNa0
if you do have some experence
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Up until now I have only been able to read stuff I do not understand and now I can watch stuff I do not understand. Lol, Thanks for making me feel dumber than I was 5 minutes ago.

thomas.raines said:
You feel old? My 20 year reunion is coming up this summer...
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Click to collapse
Sigh...mine was 2 years ago.
Keep reading and learning.
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Click to collapse
Good advice there too. I'm slowly getting into some of it.

stephen_w said:
Sigh...mine was 2 years ago.
Good advice there too. I'm slowly getting into some of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel a little better now...lol

So far I've been reading up on xml and java. I think i will try to develop an app before i take on a ROM. I will try to make an app that can theme our phones in some sort of way.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App

stephen_w said:
I totally feel old now. LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You and me both sir... I've got kids who've been out of high school longer than that...
---------- Post added at 01:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:52 PM ----------
thomas.raines said:
You feel old? My 20 year reunion is coming up this summer...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
stephen_w said:
Sigh...mine was 2 years ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We're planning our 30... it's just a year away... but, I don't feel the slightest bit old yet...

Very Grateful... Anyone want to take a newb under their wing?

Hey my name is Scott and ive been using ROMs from this website for awhile now and well lets face it i think im addicted to flashing new ROMs... either that or im determined to turn my infuse into a brick. . Anyways, besides the introduction i wanted to take a moment to personally thank each and every developer on this site and especially the ones in the infuse section for making my phone 20x better then it ever could be. Its amazing what you guys come up with. I really appreciate the hard work and dedication. With all this being said, I would absolutely love to learn how to do this. As far as programming goes, i havent done anything since the days of VB3 . So... Would any of the awesome developers out there want to mentor a newb?? I would be very grateful if someone could teach me what i need to know and maybe one day develop my own ROM.

First off, thank you as well. Without out flashers our work would be virtually worthless
Secondly, before starting development take a day to sit down and really research articles on this site. The more knowledge you have before hand will put you a head of the game. Once you have basic knowledge, pick a base rom. One that you feel would be best for what you want to build. Download that rom. Download nunhuggers apktool, the necessary Java development tools. Decompile the rom and take a while to look through it, and kind of get an understanding of how things work within the rom. That would be the best starting point.
Also when developing your own rom, before you release it take time to make sure everything is in working order, releasing a half broken rom is no good, releasing a solid, stable rom is aces. I'd you need anything I will gladly answer any questions I can, and help in anyway I can. Most senior devs would be glad to help as well, very good community we have here.
-Marcus
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda premium

MaliciousIntent69 said:
First off, thank you as well. Without out flashers our work would be virtually worthless
Secondly, before starting development take a day to sit down and really research articles on this site. The more knowledge you have before hand will put you a head of the game. Once you have basic knowledge, pick a base rom. One that you feel would be best for what you want to build. Download that rom. Download nunhuggers apktool, the necessary Java development tools. Decompile the rom and take a while to look through it, and kind of get an understanding of how things work within the rom. That would be the best starting point.
Also when developing your own rom, before you release it take time to make sure everything is in working order, releasing a half broken rom is no good, releasing a solid, stable rom is aces. I'd you need anything I will gladly answer any questions I can, and help in anyway I can. Most senior devs would be glad to help as well, very good community we have here.
-Marcus
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your response and advice. I have briefly gone over guides and documents ive found just by doing a general google search and of course from this site also. It looks kind of complex, but im sure your suggestion of taking a day and sitting down to decompile it and take a good look would really put things into perspective.
When i do a search for nunhuggers apktool, it just comes up with a tutorial video? Is this what your referring to or is there an actual download that im missing?
Thanks for the offer to help if i need it... I have a feeling ill definitely be taking you up on that. I have noticed just from downloading ROMs and general observations on this forum that everyone seems pretty awesome and are willing to help. Glad to have finally joined and posted.

There should be a download in his topic, not sure if he took it down or not. I'll upload it when I get home and give you the link if you don't have it by then. His video explains how to use it and its very simple to do
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scott.hart.bti said:
Thank you for your response and advice. I have briefly gone over guides and documents ive found just by doing a general google search and of course from this site also. It looks kind of complex, but im sure your suggestion of taking a day and sitting down to decompile it and take a good look would really put things into perspective.
When i do a search for nunhuggers apktool, it just comes up with a tutorial video? Is this what your referring to or is there an actual download that im missing?
Thanks for the offer to help if i need it... I have a feeling ill definitely be taking you up on that. I have noticed just from downloading ROMs and general observations on this forum that everyone seems pretty awesome and are willing to help. Glad to have finally joined and posted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to discourage, just giving you some advice, it is allot of work for even little things, I say down and tried to edit the 2.3.6 and add a simple extended power menu, took me 30 mins at least and I didn't even get to test it, wouldn't re compile for some reason, again not to discourage, just trying to give you some insight into what's needed
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda premium

MaliciousIntent69 said:
There should be a download in his topic, not sure if he took it down or not. I'll upload it when I get home and give you the link if you don't have it by then. His video explains how to use it and its very simple to do
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, appreciate it. Ill do some searching and see if i can find it in the mean time and let you know if i do so you dont waste your time. I just watched the video and it is very helpful.

deathblade... Thanks for the heads up.. Im looking forward to the time that it takes to put into this.. I am very OCD about things and when i get obsessed with something, i get 100 percent focused on getting it done.

Heres the link forgot I already had it in my old dropbox account so i just uploaded it to my new one
http://db.tt/s3XbUid5
All credit for the file goes to Nun of course.

If you have mac laying around...or if your willing to run linux this is a great tool! http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1167623 its called android utility and it downloads and installs everything you need to get started...except java gotta download that before you run this tool.
The first time you run it it will go througb the installation process and it will get you just about everything you need...
-dsixda's android rom kitchen (great for decompiling a rom and recompilimg a rom)
-apktool (for decompiling apks...this tool is neccesary for development if you want to add tweaks and mods)
-simple adb interface (has a list of options, choose what you want and it does the code for you)
Has some other stuff too but thats the main stuff
I have it on my linux computer and it runs great!
Ill upload some pics of it as soon As i finish my lunch
And if ou ever have any questions send a dev a pm, they are all very helpful!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA

Thanks guys! I appreciate the help. Loving this forum already. Great devs and an awesome community.

Have fun... when your just about to pull your hair out and smash your computer... hit me up...

Heres some screen shots of android utility...and the stuff that comes with it...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA

dman3285 said:
Have fun... when your just about to pull your hair out and smash your computer... hit me up...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dman, Haha luckily for me i shave my head. If im lucky eventually when i gain enough experience and help ill be able to put something together as nice as zeus or emancipation.... im not going to hold my breath though.. i can only imagine how much work was put into those. When you get a PM with simple annoying questions, dont forget that you offered...

Thanks for the pics, that tool seems very helpful. I only have windows 7, but i should be able to load linux on an emulator and run it from there.

scott.hart.bti said:
Thanks for the pics, that tool seems very helpful. I only have windows 7, but i should be able to load linux on an emulator and run it from there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you download ubuntu, it has an installation option where you install it in and along side windows, and it will ask you which to boot into when turning you computer on, very useful

deathblade said:
if you download ubuntu, it has an installation option where you install it in and along side windows, and it will ask you which to boot into when turning you computer on, very useful
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even better! Thanks.

scott.hart.bti said:
Even better! Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello and a quick tip! Before setting up your Linux box make sure that ALL of your hardware/peripherals are supported by the Linux distribution you choose. You can see a list of all your hardware in windows by typing "device manager" in the search box. If you find that all your hardware is supported, have fun .
Sent from my SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-5

theROMinator said:
Hello and a quick tip! Before setting up your Linux box make sure that ALL of your hardware/peripherals are supported by the Linux distribution you choose. You can see a list of all your hardware in windows by typing "device manager" in the search box. If you find that all your hardware is supported, have fun .
Sent from my SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your gonna do ubuntu (what i have) you can run the it straight from a cd...it will be slow but its a great way to test compatability
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA

mg2195 said:
If your gonna do ubuntu (what i have) you can run the it straight from a cd...it will be slow but its a great way to test compatability
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Running Ubuntu as we speak... no way to test it like just doing it. . Let the fun begin.

ROM Development Guide?

Remember about a month ago when XDA came out with a book about rooting and flashing ROMs?
I was just wondering if there were any books (or guides maybe) like that, that showed how to make ROMs from scratch, not through all of these annoying kitchens. (Don't really like them, they make me feel like a noob... of course I suppose I am)
So whatever, that's really about it. Thanks guys!
(Oh by the way, I have tried Nero's ROM guide and wasn't a huge fan, also I'm getting another computer solely for the purpose of Ubuntu too if that matters at all.)

...subscribing, also just out of interest I'm trying out Lubuntu, Ubuntu 12.04 server too!

jdgfdqtuzs said:
...subscribing, also just out of interest I'm trying out Lubuntu, Ubuntu 12.04 server too!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty awesome, never heard of Lubuntu before now. I'd consider it, but any recent tutorials I've looked at use Ubuntu. (Sadly though, they're ridiculous! For example, there was a post about compiling Jelly Bean from source code, and its practically not even in English! I mean I know some coding and all, but despite that, nothing is explained. It just do this like "do this and then do this and this and then we're done. An don't worry, there won't be a troubleshooting page because we know all you out there are experts.)
Whatever, that's my rant. Hopefully a mod will come along some time soon and point us in the right direction. Fingers crossed. :highfive:

thebeastglasser said:
Pretty awesome, never heard of Lubuntu before now. I'd consider it, but any recent tutorials I've looked at use Ubuntu. (Sadly though, they're ridiculous! For example, there was a post about compiling Jelly Bean from source code, and its practically not even in English! I mean I know some coding and all, but despite that, nothing is explained. It just do this like "do this and then do this and this and then we're done. An don't worry, there won't be a troubleshooting page because we know all you out there are experts.)
Whatever, that's my rant. Hopefully a mod will come along some time soon and point us in the right direction. Fingers crossed. :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lubuntu is basically a lighter version of Ubuntu, still runs on the same principles as in version number etc. I understand your frustration with regards to where to find "how to" code, but, my view on tutorials is exactly that where aspects of what you're supposed to be doing are not explained. I think we need to be looking into another category for books, e.g. a coding practice used for android. See what happens

Yeah I suppose you're right. Off to Google/Amazon!
(of course if anyone sees this and would still like to post, by all means, do so!)
EDIT: After a god half an hour of searching, I think I finally found it. The problem is, you're gonna need $50 if you want to snag it.
http://www.amazon.com/Android-Foren...-Security/dp/1597496510/ref=cm_cr_dp_asin_lnk
It is by far the most in detail book I've seen. Just look at the overview of the chapters! It's just like what I was looking for! Woohoo!

Oh man $50. Hard being a broke student.
I would love to learn to. Anyone can tell me where to start? What languages i need to learn (java, linux, c++, etc)?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Sent from my rooted tomato using xda app

If your tomato just so happens to be running a version of android that can support the Kindle app, you can actually get it for about $40 too...
And while I'm not an expert in this field (in fact I really don't know too much) I do know that android uses java and converts it to another language using the dalvik machine. So if you really have no where to start, try learning some java.

thebeastglasser said:
If your tomato just so happens to be running a version of android that can support the Kindle app, you can actually get it for about $40 too...
And while I'm not an expert in this field (in fact I really don't know too much) I do know that android uses java and converts it to another language using the dalvik machine. So if you really have no where to start, try learning some java.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Offtopic: I think tomatoes dont taste good at all.

I'm a fan, but that's just me. (end of off topic conversation before a mod takes down the thread.)

thebeastglasser said:
I'm a fan, but that's just me. (end of off topic conversation before a mod takes down the thread.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(nah I love this convo) I think theyre pretty sour.

Thanks
This is a great guide thanks

Thanks, good guide !

That book looks more related to security than anything else. Anything for development in particular?

If you look at the insides though, it shows how to create the internals, with step by step pieces. Chapter 7 (I think) also has 6 popular methods to obtain root access.
Look at the sneak peek and read the summaries of the chapters. It's definitely going on my Christmas list.
EDIT: As for anything solely for development, I have yet to find anything like that. Hence the reason for posting this thread.

Well, my tomato can support kindle.
Anyway, great thread. Hope someone who can help us reads this and decides to help us further.
Sent from my rooted tomato using xda app

Bump.
We still need support smart dev guys.
Sent from my PG86100 using xda app-developers app

Programming Point of View

Hey guys, so I really want to get into programming and get good enough for Android Development and such, but I feel like I just don't have the mindset for it. There's kids my age already making apps and stuff, and I'm kinda haulted, having no sense of how I should start. Could anybody please help? Thanks a lot.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

wheelsXwilly said:
I feel like I just don't have the mindset for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do you feel like that? Have you tried any programming before? It can certainly feel daunting to get started, but I reckon it's a skill that pretty much anyone can pick up if they're willing to learn. Some resources you might want to check out:
CodeAcademy.com -- has a couple of nice tutorials to get you started that you can run straight from your web browser
Udacity CS101 -- free online "Introduction to Computer Science" course. Covers a bit of programming in Python as well as some computer science fundamentals
Books/online tutorials -- can be of varying quality and many assume some prior programming experience. Because you mentioned you want to develop for Android, you might want to look at "Java for Dummies" or similar.
Hope that helps!

Yeah I went through about 40+ python tutorials on thenewboston, and I took a break because of school, and I didn't contain all the things I learned. So I'm a little discouraged. I'll check your suggestions out, thanks!
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

wheelsXwilly said:
I didn't contain all the things I learned. So I'm a little discouraged.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's normal -- if you don't keep practicing, you'll get rusty. I recently had to brush up on C++ after having not used it for over 6 months. You should pick it up more easily the second time, and you might be surprised at how much you actually remember.
Good luck!