Practical Android Projects

Practical Android Projects

Released February 2011
Publisher(s): Apress
ISBN: 9781430232438

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Book description

Take a practical approach to becoming a leading-edge Android developer, learning by example while combining the many technologies needed to create a successful, up-to-date web app.

Practical Android Projects introduces the Android software development kit and development tools of the trade, and then dives into building cool-looking and fun apps that put Android's amazing capabilities to work. Android is the powerful, full-featured, open source mobile platform that powers phones like Google Nexus, Motorola Droid, Samsung Galaxy S, and a variety of HTC phones and tablet computers.

This book helps you quickly get Android projects up and running with the free and open source Eclipse, NetBeans, and IntelliJ IDEA IDEs. Then you build and extend mobile applications using the Android SDK, Java, Scripting Layer for Android (SL4A), and languages such as Python, Ruby, Javascript/HTML, Flex/AIR, and Lua.

What you'll learn

In Practical Android Projects, you'll work on real-world projects such as:

  • Hosting an Android BASIC interpreter

  • Extending your Java-based Android applications with embedded Lua

  • Scripting your Android device with SL4A

  • Adding Twitter and Facebook to your applications

  • Using 2D graphics and animations for casual games

  • Creating cross-platform apps with Javascript/HTML and Flex with AIR

    • Who this book is for

    Practical Android Projects is for any developer new to the Android platform who wants to learn to build mobile applications. Knowledge of the fundamentals of Java programming is assumed.

    Table of contents

    1. Title Page
    2. Dedication
    3. Contents at a Glance
    4. Contents
    5. About the Authors
    6. About the Technical Reviewer
    7. Acknowledgments
    8. Preface
    9. Chapter 1: Android Fundamentals
      1. What Is Android?
      2. Installing the Android SDK
      3. Android SDK Test Drive
      4. Android Architecture and Background
      5. Using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
      6. Working with Eclipse
      7. Working with NetBeans
      8. Working with IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
      9. Summary
    10. Chapter 2: Development Tools in Practice
      1. Coding with the SDK and a Programmer's Editor
      2. Development Environment Dependencies
      3. Frequently Used Android Development Kit Tools
      4. Working with the Android Tools and a Code Editor
      5. The Example Application Project
      6. Generating the Foundation Android Project
      7. Preparing to Run the Example Application
      8. Running the Example Application
      9. Android Coding How to
      10. Migrating the Example Application to Eclipse/ADT
      11. Summary
    11. Chapter 3: Roll Your Own Android Scripting Environment
      1. Designing a Scripting Environment
      2. Programming with BASIC
      3. Outlining the Code Projects for This Chapter
      4. The Cocoa-BASIC AWT Project
      5. The CocoaDroid Project
      6. Summary
    12. Chapter 4: Embedding Lua in Android Applications
      1. Introducing Lua and Kahlua2
      2. Using Kahlua2 in Your Android Java Applications
      3. The Kahlua2 Project
      4. The Kahlua2 Android Interpreter Project
      5. The KahluaDroid Project
      6. Summary
    13. Chapter 5: Introducing SL4A: The Scripting Layer for Android
      1. What Is Scripting Layer for Android?
      2. Running SL4A in the Android Emulator
      3. Understanding Scripting Layer for Android
      4. Getting the SL4A Source Code
      5. SL4A Hello World Examples
      6. Summary
    14. Chapter 6: Creating a GUI with HTML/JavaScript and AIR
      1. Setting Up an Android Project to Display a Web Application
      2. Using Flash and Flex Apps on Android with AIR
      3. Summary
    15. Chapter 7: Using REST with Facebook and Twitter
      1. Understanding REST
      2. Twitter
      3. Understanding the Facebook API
      4. Summary
    16. Chapter 8: Using the Google App Engine with Android
      1. Introducing Google App Engine
      2. Examining a Sample GAE Application
      3. Consuming GAE Services with Android
      4. Summary
    17. Chapter 9: Game Development: Graphics
      1. Introducing the Android View Package
      2. Understanding the Drawable Class
      3. Direct Rendering
      4. Summary
    18. Chapter 10: Game Development: Animation
      1. Android Animations
      2. Frame By Frame Animations
      3. Summary
    19. Chapter 11: App Inventor
      1. Setting Up App Inventor
      2. Working with Blocks
      3. Limitations of App Inventor
      4. Summary
    20. Index

    Product information

    • Title: Practical Android Projects
    • Author(s):
    • Release date: February 2011
    • Publisher(s): Apress
    • ISBN: 9781430232438