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The Busy Coder's Guide to Android Development

Want to learn how to develop applications for Android mobile devices? The Busy Coder's Guide to Android Development covers what you need to know to get started on programming Android applications — everything from crafting GUIs to using GPS and accessing Web services, and more!

Android Programming, Taught Gently

Android is truly a platform, encompassing hundreds of classes beyond the traditional Java classes and open source components that ship with the SDK. Some Android books race through the material, trying to cover as much ground as possible in as few pages as possible.

The Busy Coder's Guide to Android Development is different.

We have tried to cover the same material, but aimed more for people new to mobile development. The book includes dozens of sample projects, ready to run with your copy of the SDK — not just one huge project where you have difficulty finding the specific examples of the technique you are looking for. You can even get these sample programs now — just look for the Source Code link in the tabs shown below.

As DeveloperLife.com put it:

It’s a really good book for beginners; it sure beats reading the Google Android SDK docs and trying to make some sense of them...It was enjoyable reading this book, and all the examples are concise and to the point. The author does a great job conveying convoluted concepts simply, and that’s the true value of this book, especially to a beginner.

Version 2.1

What's New over Version 2.0:

  • Revamped to support the Android 1.5r2 SDK
  • New sample applications for AsyncTask and soft keyboards
  • Rewritten sample applications for services
  • New material on AVDs and targeting specific device and SDK versions, and more!
  • Prior material on introspection and remote services moved to The Busy Coder's Guide to Advanced Android

Where To Get It: PDF and Kindle are available via the Warescription.

Facts and Resources

  • 494 pages
  • Supports the 1.5r2 SDK
  • Over 50 sample applications
  • ISBN: 978-0-9816780-0-9
  • Resources: Sampler/Preview Edition (PDF), Source Code, Errata

Table of Contents

  1. The Big Picture
  2. Project Structure
  3. Inside the Manifest
  4. Getting Going
  5. Creating a Skeleton Application
  6. Using XML-Based Layouts
  7. Employing Basic Widgets
  8. Working with Containers
  9. Using Selection Widgets
  10. Getting Fancy with Lists
  11. Employing Fancy Widgets and Containers
  12. The Input Method Framework
  13. Applying Menus
  14. Fonts
  15. Embedding the WebKit Browser
  16. Showing Pop-Up Messages
  17. Dealing with Threads
  18. Handling Activity Lifecycle Events
  19. Using Preferences
  20. Accessing Files
  21. Working with Resources
  22. Handling Rotation
  23. Managing and Accessing Local Databases
  24. Leveraging Java Libraries
  25. Communicating via the Internet
  26. Creating Intent Filters
  27. Launching Activities and Sub-Activities
  28. Using a Content Provider
  29. Building a Content Provider
  30. Requesting and Requiring Permissions
  31. Creating a Service
  32. Invoking a Service
  33. Alerting Users Via Notifications
  34. Accessing Location-Based Services
  35. Mapping with MapView and MapActivity
  36. Handling Telephone Calls
  37. Searching with SearchManager
  38. Development Tools
  39. Handling Platform Changes
  40. Where Do We Go From Here?

Version 2.0

What's New over Version 1.0:

  • Revamped to support the Android 1.1r1 SDK
  • New sample applications for services, content providers, mapping, and location-based services
  • New material on scripting Android with Beanshell, menu inflation, fonts, SDK tools, handling rotation events, and more!
  • New material on TabActivity and MyLocationOverlay, more material on rotation events and DDMS, and errata fixes.

Where To Get It: This book is available in print as Beginning Android from Apress, with an Android 1.5 appendix (can be bought from Amazon.com or other sources).

Facts and Resources

  • 466 pages
  • Supports the 1.1r1 SDK
  • Over 50 sample applications
  • ISBN: 978-0-9816780-0-9
  • Resources: Source Code, Errata

Table of Contents

  1. The Big Picture
  2. Project Structure
  3. Inside the Manifest
  4. Creating a Skeleton Application
  5. Using XML-Based Layouts
  6. Employing Basic Widgets
  7. Working with Containers
  8. Using Selection Widgets
  9. Getting Fancy with Lists
  10. Employing Fancy Widgets and Containers
  11. Applying Menus
  12. Fonts
  13. Embedding the WebKit Browser
  14. Showing Pop-Up Messages
  15. Dealing with Threads
  16. Handling Activity Lifecycle Events
  17. Using Preferences
  18. Accessing Files
  19. Working with Resources
  20. Handling Rotation
  21. Managing and Accessing Local Databases
  22. Leveraging Java Libraries
  23. Communicating via the Internet
  24. Creating Intent Filters
  25. Launching Activities and Sub-Activities
  26. Finding Available Actions via Introspection
  27. Using a Content Provider
  28. Building a Content Provider
  29. Requesting and Requiring Permissions
  30. Creating a Service
  31. Invoking a Service
  32. Alerting Users Via Notifications
  33. Accessing Location-Based Services
  34. Mapping with MapView and MapActivity
  35. Handling Telephone Calls
  36. Searching with SearchManager
  37. Development Tools
  38. Where Do We Go From Here?