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Android application developer Guides (for Dummies!)

Hi all,
I created this thread to collect informations, suggestions and links for who want to start learning developing android applications, whitout being an expert developer.
I like programming (vb6, vb.net ) but I don't know anything about android and linux, and just a little about java... Now I bought an Hero and I met android world... I downladed Eclipse IDE, Android SDK and I starded with dev guide on SDK... I just take a look to helloandorid application... it works! and now? In the xml layout seems easy to add View like buttons or text... but how can I handle to the user actions like the button click? in vb is simple to manage the buttonpressed event...!
If someone knows some simple guides about java, eclipse and android, please let links on this thread!
Thank you!

This one's awesome for learning how to create widgets:
http://nm-blog.sanid.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/android_howto-hellowidget.pdf
here are some other resources you could easily find by using google search:
http://www.helloandroid.com/tutorials
http://nexsoftware.net/wp/2009/07/29/tutorial-creating-a-custom-analogclock-widget/
http://www.anddev.org/index.php
Other than that, just start from the simplest Hello World -examples on Google's own Android site.

I'm going to start leurning Android programming
If ill find nice links i will post them here. Is there btw a way to program inside visual studio? Cuz all tutorials on the net are using eclipse.

You'll need to use Eclipse to my knowledge as its all Java based. The other alternatives are the IntelliJ plugin and doing it all from Command line/Text Editor.
Back to the Topic, I'm just trying my hand at a little Android development this week too, the tutorials and manuals at developer.android.com have been great!

Another thing, while I remember, if you've done any sort of .NET/ASP.NET development before you should find it a breeze, apart from the lack of Visual Studio (best IDE that ever was), they're VERY similar compared to some other languages/technologies I've used.

HeY Furios, Im new to android dev also, so if you don't mind, I would like to follow you and share any info I find with you and to whom ever else would like any info...Thanx

SDK 2.1
Hi Guys,
I went onto the SE developer site and got he x10 SDK, but it only gives me the choice for a 1.6 virtual Machine. Is there another place that I have to go to get the SDK for 2.1?
Thanks.

It would be cool to learn how to develop roms as well...or is that much deeper?

Well guy's start here on this thread first >>>http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=667298

Made me think

need minor help!
im actually developing a few games, but im running into some seemingly basic issues, that i seem i cannot get to work. basically a button mash game, single/multi player, well on multi player i cannot for my life get the multi player functions to work, as in in the end the game already knows who the winner is based on an integer score, then it is supposed to use an sqlite database to take the highest scored player such as P1 or P2 and allow them to input there name to be permanently displayed. it cannot seem to differentiate using IF statements, but the feature does work with single player flawlessly, i may link source code if asked, TY

Help for a beginner developer

Hi all, I've been using this forum for a few years and it's fantastic!
Anyway, I'm at University studying Network Management and this year I have to write my dissertation; a final year project.
For this, I've chosen to learn how to write and develop windows mobile applications and to develop an application that will update a user's facebook status with a URL to Google Maps, showing their location.
Now I've seen applications that can e-mail a URL of a google maps location but never one that integrates with Facebook..
Could anyone offer me some advice on where to start with WM development and any tips on writing the program I intend to create? I have a copy of Visual Studio and have a tiny bit of experience programming C++.
Any input is much appreciated! Thanks very much
Jamie

If your app is web driven, which it sounds like it is, drop the C++ and move straight to C# .NET. You can use C++ with the .NET CF framework but the casts one has use in order to get it to work, make the code hideously unreadable. C# is far more more appropriate.
Web .NET objects are quite easy to use, the problem appears when you try to decide exactly which object/class you require, then which of its properties to set, and then which of its methods to use to get it do what you want, the latter being further confused by which of its overloaded methods you should use. To summarize, the .NET CF framework is incredibly powerful, but at times confusing to the point of distraction, as there are several ways to do the same thing.

stephj said:
If your app is web driven, which it sounds like it is, drop the C++ and move straight to C# .NET. You can use C++ with the .NET CF framework but the casts one has use in order to get it to work, make the code hideously unreadable. C# is far more more appropriate.
Web .NET objects are quite easy to use, the problem appears when you try to decide exactly which object/class you require, then which of its properties to set, and then which of its methods to use to get it do what you want, the latter being further confused by which of its overloaded methods you should use. To summarize, the .NET CF framework is incredibly powerful, but at times confusing to the point of distraction, as there are several ways to do the same thing.
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Click to collapse
Agreed.
I just started with an C++ service. I'm getting there but man o man.

Wanting to learn the basics of programming

Hi guys, now I know this is a BIG request, but I was hoping someone might be interested in helping me begin to learn the different aspects of programming.
Now I know I cant just "hop on the band waggon" I need lots of training before hand in different programing languages, but the one I really want to understand is c# (thats what most windows mobile apps are built on right?)
So are there any really good recomended beginners guide you guys could suggest to me to get me started.
Sorry I must sound like I dont have a clue xD
(well I dont)
Thanks in advance

Hop on the band waggon? I guess you'd rather have to jump in cold water!
I suggest buy a book. If you actually spend the money on it then it's bigger motivation to make something out of it. There's even a book about Windows Mobile .NET programming. What else could you ask for? I don't have the link at hand but you should easily find it on Amazon.

RAMMANN said:
Hop on the band waggon? I guess you'd rather have to jump in cold water!
I suggest buy a book. If you actually spend the money on it then it's bigger motivation to make something out of it. There's even a book about Windows Mobile .NET programming. What else could you ask for? I don't have the link at hand but you should easily find it on Amazon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks for the speedy response,
are you refering to this?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Programming...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264201954&sr=8-1
It looks pretty nice, and will it teach me the basics?

yes, for example. or this one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft®-NET-Compact-Framework-Reference/dp/0735617252/ref=pd_sim_b_5

If you are really looking to learn programming, I would suggest against starting with Windows Mobile development. .NET framework for Windows Mobile is very lacking, and in order to do even simplest things you end up using Interops (way of calling native libraries written in C++) or searching/writing libraries on your own.
.NET (and C# by extension) is a multi-platform framework. Start with simple Windows or Web development. Read up on OOP development, find some simple examples online and start a very small, easy to write project.
Once you can write some simple applications for Windows or Web, then you might want to start looking into Windows Mobile development.

Before you start spending money on books try Microsoft's Beginner Developer Learning Centre a go. There are lots of video tutorials which will help you get the basics down http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/beginner/dd435692.aspx.
It's not specifically for windows mobile development, but most of what you will learn is transferable.
Once on the website, click "Windows Track" and then "Tier 1", tutorials are available for both C# and VB.NET.
The guy that made the BDLC tutorials for Microsoft also runs http://www.learnvisualstudio.net/, there are a few more free tutorials there too on more advanced topics, a subscription to the site will let you get all the videos.

And look for open source applications like "ReRemind", "Freda" or "RemoteTracker". If you debug these you can learn alot.

ajhvdb said:
And look for open source applications like ... "Freda" ... If you debug these you can learn alot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No No No please don't use Freda as an educational example It's the first .NetCF app I wrote and I really am not very proud of some parts of it. In particular, I only figured out the right pattern to use for 'settings' forms after I had written several already. Some day I will go back and tidy up the code and document it properly. But right now I am still adding features ...
Jim

dont worry, if i look at my old code it's bad too but still works

Beginner Programming: Custom UI Question

I'm preparing to start a little side project, I have only very basic programming experience so I think I'm going to go with Visual Basic for the application.
What I'm having trouble with learning, is where to go to implement a custom UI if I'm not satisifed with the standard .net controls.
For example, how would I create a custom button control with my own images?
I'm struggling to find any windows mobile development tutorials around UI. Any ideas where to start looking and learning from?

I found a few links that should be useful after all:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd630622.aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa446518.aspx#imagebutton_topic3
http://expression.microsoft.com/en-us/dd279543.aspx
Still open suggestions or tips for a beginner though if you have any, thanks!

Don't use VB, use C#
Most examples snippets in open source I use are in c#. VB is just as good but ..
Search for UI in the WiMo forum. I opened some topics about UI also and with some answers I submitted there are some links in this forum for you to use.
Search for Sense SDK, fluid for a free UI or use controls from beemobile, resco, or myrabyte.

ajhvdb said:
Don't use VB, use C#
Most examples snippets in open source I use are in c#. VB is just as good but ..
Search for UI in the WiMo forum. I opened some topics about UI also and with some answers I submitted there are some links in this forum for you to use.
Search for Sense SDK, fluid for a free UI or use controls from beemobile, resco, or myrabyte.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for those tips. I've seen fluid and the Sense SDK in my searches, I'll be sure to give those a go. As it's just a small hobby, I probably won't go with the beemobile, resco route, but thank you for the suggestion.
I keep debating about diving into C# rather than VB, I'm just not sure I can devote the time to get anywhere with it. It seems a bit more complex to understand. VB is already fairly familiar with me and easy enough to learn more about. I also heard that we'll be able to use VB at some point for WP7S development, so that I wouldn't lose any knowledge learned here if I wanted to give WP7S a shot. At the moment WP7S development is C# only however....maybe another reason for me to change my mind...

<Dev help plz> looking to get into developing stuff...tips?

Hi, I have experience programming in Java and c/c++ and was looking at getting into programming some apps or even helping on on some roms and finally start helping out around the EVO community. I just need a little help getting started. I have eclipse and such set up, but does anyone have any tips or tutorials that might help. (Yes, I have searched Google). Maybe alittle insight in to somethings that I may run into. I want to create apps and games that will be helpful to the community. Thanks

I don't know if it would help but there is an android 'chef' section here on xda:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=613
and this thread seems to have a few resources for getting started:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=697938

Have you run through the tutorials and read all the documentation on developer.android.com? The "Dev Guide" and the "Resources" tabs are a good place to start, as is just reading through the javadocs for the API. If you're already a Java programmer, you know the code semantics already. It's just a question of understanding the Android concepts. Not to say that's trivial, but the foundation of the language is Java, which means knowing it gives you a head start.

Do a search On xda site for "everything android" its a huge file I put together that includes lots of needed tools and setup files for cooking roms and building apps. It also has a guide with links to the sites where I got the tools from. That should help. Just remember it's for windows and I recommend downloading to ur computer not ur phone cause its over a gig in size

Papa Smurf151 said:
Do a search On xda site for "everything android" its a huge file I put together that includes lots of needed tools and setup files for cooking roms and building apps. It also has a guide with links to the sites where I got the tools from. That should help. Just remember it's for windows and I recommend downloading to ur computer not ur phone cause its over a gig in size
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Click to collapse
Thanks, for that. I looked around the forum but prob would of had a real hard time finding that.

If you are more comfortable with the .net framework, get MonoDroid. C# programming for android. You just need a copy of visual studio 2010, thank god for the free ultimate version I got from school. I haven't messed around with it a lot yet but there is no visual representation of the screen or adding strings like in Eclipse but I like C# more than Java so I'll use this more often than not
Sent from my Evo powered by MIUI

Comrade P said:
If you are more comfortable with the .net framework, get MonoDroid. C# programming for android. You just need a copy of visual studio 2010, thank god for the free ultimate version I got from school. I haven't messed around with it a lot yet but there is no visual representation of the screen or adding strings like in Eclipse but I like C# more than Java so I'll use this more often than not
Sent from my Evo powered by MIUI
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have visual studio 2010 ultimate as well from my school. I haven't ever worked with c# but i cant imagine that its much more different from C/C++. Just some different ways of calling/naming things

Exactly. I like it a lot more than Java. Can't really explain it. Just test both of them out and see which you prefer.