If you’re considering developing an android app for the first time, you’ll have quite a few decisions to make. To simplify things for you, here’s how to make an android app for beginners.
Understanding how to make an android app for beginners is simpler than making an app for an iOS platform. Android development allows you to use OS X, Windows, or Linux rather than being restricted to a single operating system.
Depending on what you have in mind, there are different routes you can take to develop your android app. If you’re interested in making a game, you can use Unity 3D, but in general there are three commonly used options:
- Java and Android SDK
The first and more traditional way to develop your app is to use Java and Android SDK. This is the best route for people who are already familiar with the Java programming language and those with a classical CS background. The official android developer’s website contains training resources, guides, and samples to help you get through your first app.
- React Native
React Native is a Java Script library that allows you to develop android apps with Java Script code. It organizes otherwise messy and unstructured Java Script code by encapsulating it into what is called UI (user interface) Components. The performance of your android app may not be as fast when using React Native as opposed to Java, but it may suit some programmers better.
- Ionic/Cordova
Ionic is a similar tool to React Native that uses Cordova plugins. These tools help you build an app using HTML, CSS, and Javascript (Angular). However, your android app may be slower than a React Native built one due to the nature of the architecture, and both Ionic/Cordova and React Native apps are slower than Java written ones.
What’s the difference?
The main difference between these three options is that the first option writes code while the code contained in the second and third options gets compiled more. In general, an app developed with Java will be faster and perform better, but other methods are available for people with different programming backgrounds.
Java gets directly transformed into machine code whereas the other two methods require the varying codes to be transformed into Java before it can be transformed into machine code that your android can understand. This results in the slightly slower performance, but it allows programmers more comfortable with other languages to develop android apps.
Whether you’re an absolute beginner or a seasoned programmer, there are a few general steps that you need to take to successfully create your android app:
- Do some research on the android app store policy.
Google Play can be selective about the material they allow to be published and adhere to certain censorship policies. This includes copyright rules and the prohibition of apps that center on subjects such as violence, sexually explicit content, gambling, and other illegal activities. You want to make sure that your app will be eligible for publishing before you begin working on it. If you find that for some reason your app would be rejected, you can figure out what you need to do to comply with the app store policy before getting started.
- Learn how to write code in the programming language you want to use.
If you don’t already know how to write code, this is one of the earliest and most important steps to building your android app. If you’re already familiar with a programming language such as Java Script but would prefer to use Java, that would be your starting point. Code Academy offers free lessons for learning multiple programming languages including Java Script and Java. You can also try Coursera, Code School, or Treehouse.
- Read official android development guides.
Whichever route you choose to develop your android app, you’re going to need to spend some time reading an official guide. This may be the official android development guide for Java users or the official React Native guide for programmers who know Java Script. This will help you prepare and understand exactly what you’re doing every step of the way.
- Understand the functionality of your app idea.
Before you get started on any real work, it’s important that you take some time to map out how your app is going to function. Having a general idea won’t be enough; you need to know exactly how you want your app to work in every detail. This will make it easier for you as you go through the developing process. It will also minimize your need to fix errors or even start over.
- Start practicing
The best way to get the experience you need to successfully develop an android app is to practice. Try to code a preliminary app and see how that goes. Try working your way through some practice as you’re learning new things to solidify your knowledge of the process.
- Code and Test
the final stage of your android app development is to code and test it out. It’s important that you test your app on a real phone, not only within your development environment. This will help you catch bugs and major errors that need fixing.
Once you’ve gone through all of these steps, you’ll be ready to publish your app on the app store and share it with the rest of the world. The process will be fairly easy to repeat in the future once you’ve learned how to make an android app. For beginners, it can be a little bit more difficult and time consuming, but the experience is no less rewarding and the skills gained will be increasingly valuable.
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