Android Tips and Tricks

You will be taking the Part One of Android Development for Beginners with Kunal and Katherine. While you won’t be learning Java in this section, you will be setting up Android Studio and using XML. Before you dive in, familiarize yourself with some useful resources that will support you in your journey with learning Android programming.

Android Studio

One of the best parts about developing for Android is that the necessary tools are free and easy to obtain. The Android Software Development Kit (SDK) is available to download free-of-charge, as is Android Studio, the official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app development. Android Studio is the main program with which developers write code and assemble their apps from various packages and libraries. The Android SDK includes sample code, software libraries, handy coding tools, and much more to help you build, test, and debug Android applications.
Another highlight of developing for Android is how easy it is to submit apps. Once you’re ready to submit your app to the Google Play store, register for a Google Play publisher account (which includes paying a $25 fee via Google Wallet), follow Android’s launch checklist, submit through the Google Play Developer Console, wait for Google to approve, and see it appear. Simple and satisfying.

XML

Programmers use XML, short for EXtensible Markup Language, to describe data. XML helps professional Android developers do tasks like designing user interface (UI) layouts and parsing data feeds from the internet. Much of what you’ll need XML for can be done through Android Studio, but it’s constructive to be grounded in the basics of the markup language.

Forums

There will be mention of our Udacity Discussion forums throughout this course. We recommend that you use the Introduction to Programming Forum categories to ask questions in this course. You can access our forums here!

With these additional resources under your belt, let's get started!