Despite the fact that I have partially answered that in one of my earlier posts (Is it hard to become an Android developer…?) - I am still getting a lot of questions asking me how to become an Android developer. It is why I have decided to write about this once again. I know that the hardest in Android development is the beginning. I has been in the same situation and I lost a lot of time just to find the short intro that would tell me where should I start. In this post I will try to answer you by showing you the path. You will not learn anything right here - but you will know where should you start your adventures with this little funny Android robot (I bet you will like him sooner or later!).
Few (easy) steps...
So lets start from the beginning. With each step you should feel more comfortable and independent in new environment. Follow them until you will be able to learn by yourself.
- Prepare the environment - it was really hard to me. What Java to choose, how to configure Eclipse and SDK. You will find this article very useful. Just follow those steps to have everything set up.
- Make the "Hello, World" app - you will discover how easy it may be. But you should be warned it won't be as easy with applications that will be doing more than showing "Hello" message. This article is a good start to your Android "Hello World". Congratulations! You just made your first Android application!
- Learn! - now comes the hardest. You will need to learn Android API. There are a few paths. Choose the one most comfortable to you:
- Learn from examples. There are quite nice examples on the Android homepage. Here is the exact link. It will make you comfortable in many aspects of Android development and will help you know what are you really searching for.
- Buy a good book for beginners. It is what I have chosen. I have bought two books that have really helped me to learn the basics. If you are interested I have chosen "Beginning Android 3" and "Hello, Android".
- Try to make your own app and learn from Android documentation (the hardest one for the beginners). - Make your own app! - the sooner or later you will want to make your first application. Do not wait with it too long as it is great way to learn Android API even more! You don't have to be an expert to try. Learn the basics and then learn during development! That is the best way to learn any programming language.
- Register as an Android developer - register as an Android developer on the Android Market via this link. It will cost you $25 but you will get access to the most powerful tool for developers! You will be able to publish your application as free or paid (depends of country you live in) to be accessible to most of Android users all over the world!
- Learn to make your application popular - and make money on free Android applications as well! Check lastly published eBook "Make Money on Android" for more details.
And that's it! Follow those steps carefully and you will be able to call yourself an Android Developer!
Conclusion...
It may be looking very straightforward when you look on those six little steps. But it wasn't so easy when I was on the beginning of the path. I had no one that could tell me anything about Android development and I had to find all of this info by myself. I hope that this post will save you a lot of time and will help you becoming an Android developer. I did it and now it gives me enough income to make a living (you may check my income reports). Now it is your turn!
And just if you would like to learn more from me - or are curious about my future income reports - you are welcome to follow my Facebook page or twitter account… or my cool RSS feed!
I use Eclipse myself so no problem there but out of curiousity do you know if there’s a plugin for any other IDE?
I have not been using Eclipse before – so it was a big problem for me. But after I found a good resources (listed in this post) it was fast to learn. Most important is to start using it… and it will come. You will learn during creating your first apps or learning development from tutorials. I just got used to it. I have not been using other IDE for Android as this one is really comfortable one.
can u share with me the name of the resource that you used for app development.
I have listed links in this post.
There is a IntelliJ Idea IDE. In my opinion this IDE is a very interesting alternative to eclipse. Intellij IDEA also has very good integration with Android SDK.
More info:
http://www.jetbrains.com/idea/features/google_android.html
Thanks Mike! Very useful link. I will check it.
Very good integration? Do you have experience with both the Eclipse ADT and the IntelliJ plugin? The IntelliJ plugin feature list does not sound to impressive to me, not much more than starting the app plus some autocompletes (presentation of an icon is on the featurelist??). Much like the Netbeans Android plugin, which is quite weak too.
You can develop Android app with NetBeans – http://wiki.netbeans.org/IntroAndroidDevNetBeans
How do you promote your products? Do you submit it only to the android marketplace and find that to be enough?
I have described my promotion methods in my eBook. Generally I set almost everything on autopilot when I publish the app.
hey Kreci,
thats a great post buddy..!
Keep writing. I am watchful on your blog and I keep visiting regularly.
Thanks! Nice to see such words!
Hey there, don’t know if you’ve already stated it somehwere (haven’t seen) but could you share with us in your next report on Active Install percentages? Thanks.
I’ve just published my first game on Android. I’ve got the first reviews, and they aren’t very nice. The first one was “Crazy lame”.
I’ve noticed that you got some bad reviews on your apps too (I’ve checked X-Ray), but, despite of that, your apps can still be considered a success. Don’t these things demotivate you? How do you handle this?
Hi KreCi,
Thanks for your interesting and informative blog.
I’ve been thinking about putting affiliate links directly into my Android apps instead of untargetted ads from Admob or wherever. It should be be more profitable than ads from a network provided the users of the app match the product. Is there a reason you have not used affiliate links instead of ads?
Hey Kreci I’ve read in the forums that it’s actually better to test the app on an actual android device rather than on the emulator.
confirm this. (i’m a beginner)
It is better. But if you have no real Android device then you have no choice and you can start just with emulator.
that was quick.thanks!
It depends on what kind of application you want to develop. OpenGL Apps run very slow on the emulator so if you are going to create an Game you will need a real device to test on, otherwise using the emulator should be just fine.
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2356261/how-good-is-the-android-emulator
Cheers!
Thanks for this helpful post. I am just curious, for how long are you in Android & iPhone apps development arena?
Thanks again!
Hi, i really need to buy your book but have no paypal account, any other payment methods.
Hello. I will setup alternative payment method and reply to your email address.
do yo uneed to learn Java before learning the Android API?
thanx man :D
Y R amazing
Hey man, everything looks amazing here you seem very helpful. I want to become an Android developer also. Right now I’m reading “Thinking in Java” to start off. Is that a good idea? I really want to do this. It seems kind of overwhelming at the moment but I really want to try.
Can you tell me please is it mandatory to have a company? Thank you
It depends from country you are based in and your local tax law.
Android has really asserted itself in the mobile OS space now and this is down to the number of great developers in the market at the moment and long may that continue. More developers please! Lets kick Apples IOS butt once and for all!!
Awesome article.
Just got myself a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro and wanted to delve into App design, now have the perfect resources.
Great job, more android articles please!
I’m surely gonna start with application soon.
thanx alot buddy !
Hey Man Thanks for this article but the first link in prepare the environment isn’t working , can you help me with that ?
Should be fine now.
Sir,
I am a bigger does not know more about coding
I am a engg student so still jus know little bit about c data structure plz tel me which type of languages are use in android or iOS app developing..
Em thinking of learn some languages in holidays and I want make apps
Hello, Android – JAVA, iOS – Objective C.
I have completed my first android app using this guide
keep it up
:)
i’m currently learning java with netbeans IDE , please sir i want know if it will better for me to take along android apps programming.
Very helpful article. I am interested in developing apps. Have some great ideas and designs.. But lacking in depth tech knowledge. I have some knowledge in C++. I am sure I can learn Java and other things needed.. So in your opinion, what are the basic languages, tools I have to learn to start developing apps? Appreciate your time.
Thanks
hi guys i want to becam an android programer help me. i m not know about more android but i want to became an android programer pliz telll me frist work about android .
you’re awesome. this is nice to share your exp. to every beginner. i am the one of these. i feel pleasure to search it out while i am confusing in the middle of this journey.
Hi sir, im Karthick Doing 3rd yr B.Tech IT im intrested in android application developing….
and some neighbours 1st study the Basic so i decide to learn COREJAVA
still the classes are going further what im will study and also give some tips like (interview prepr,aptitude) to become the android developer … any help pls im waiting r ur reply :)