Develop Bugs

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

[DEV] Binding CorePlayerService

I am developing simple widget with some music controls on it. I was able to control both Android and HTC music services using bindService(), .Stub.asInterface() and 2 separate IMediaPlaybackService.aidl files (for both packages accordingly). However, I have not succeeded in searching for the .aidl file for Samsung player. It is my understanding that it should be somethig like ICorePlayerService.aidl using ICorePlayerService interface. Since I have not found any, I tried to create my own using the same function names that Android and HTC use; however, it did not work.
Have you any idea how to control Samsung music player from own app? Thank you for your time.

Yes, the name of the site says: xda-developers and yes its an Android Development section, but I guess there arent many people here knowing Android API.. I know a little, but not to that much extent, especially when it comes to proprietary software.
Consider this a shameless bump!

Pure music widget author already did it, so I guess its possible (though he said before that its not).

He did, but I guess I cannot actually ask developer, how to code features of his paid application ).

Then again, why not? It's not like you have anything to lose here...the worst that can happen is that he won't help you.

Well, it has been a long time, and still no reply from the dev :-(. Is there anybody who figured it out?

[REF] How To Post and Promote a New ROM

This is a short summary of some important general points for posting new ROM's.
It should be considered as an optional "add-on" to the general thread:
"Galaxy S I9000 Android Development **STICKY THREAD** Read here first!"
The number of man hours spent working and developing new custom ROMs are astronomical! So why then, is it that so few new ROMs are successful? Basically because of lack of information and poor public visibility/involvement of the developers themselves. It's just like in any other successful business, you have to make your product or service stand out from the rest. Either by making an amazing product or by being a great inspiration for others to follow. Here I will try to explain and list some fundamental ideas, in order to make your ROM better and more popular.
When a would be ROM flasher is looking around for a new ROM, he searches the web and the XDA-forums for threads, usually beginning with the text "[ROM]". Next he/she look at the FIRST page where the developer (and his/her team) is presenting the various features of their new design. What is presented there will often be a decision maker for whether or not someone wants to try it out.
There are a few things that consistently differs between "good" ROMs and "bad/poor" ROM's. These things are often and naturally related to the amount of information available around the ROM in question. Someone who have put down enough mind, sweat and hart into the production (cooking) of a ROM, would also like to share his/her effort in the best possible way, not minding writing a detailed and useful description about their product. The items found below are part of some of these things that do MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
- Primary Purpose:
Essentially a description why you want to provide this ROM and why you think it is needed. What are the main features and driving forces for providing this ROM?
- Ultimate Gaming Experience
- Super stability
- Super Compatibility
- Great Battery Duration
- Minimalistic User Interface (UI)
- Simple to use functionality
- Latest and coolest never seen before interface behavior
- Fully loaded with ultimate editions of absolutely everything
- Mobile Penetration Testing Platform
- or perhaps just for educational or experimental purposes etc...
- Up-to-date Maintenance:
That means an active developer (or group of) who are readily available to answer questions from users of all levels, new or advanced! Often that they should be inhumanly available at all times of the day & night!
- Up-to-date Firmware Release:
That means the the source of your ROM is preferably based on the latest, but publicly available code/firmware. Not on some hidden leaks or old hacked code. When I say "hidden leaks" here, I mean the kind where the origin of the code (compiled or not) cannot be verified or downloaded. (BMW doesn't make car/sales advertisements using 2 year old engines from unknown/secret sources!)
- Detailed CHANGE-LOG:
People want to know that what they flash on their phones, is as close as possible to what they would like to see and use. Also from a paranoia perspective most of us would like to know that it doesn't contain 3rd party or other strange applications that we will never use, or which will give us trouble when we want to add/update applications, at a later time. A description of the various applications is also very useful. Most people would wonder what the "DarkBotSendHelper.apk" is doing on a phone.
A change-log would ideally consist of a list with:
- Title: Change Date and the custom ROM Version the changes apply to
- Full application name
- Full application version
- Short application description
- Link to application source-code, if available
- Link to application on "Android Market"
- Reference to what hacks has been made, if any
- Reason for why the hack is needed
- Unresolved BUG-LOG:
A brief log of bugs and unresolved issues that affects the current release. It is hard to explain without cussing how annoying it is to flash a new ROM, just to find out that some WiFi issue has not yet been resolved, which was posted on page 456/1200! If people post bugs/issues, that cannot be immediately resolved, please add those issues to the BUG-LOG, on the front page.
- Screen Shots! Updated Screen Shots!
The importance of good screen shots can never be enough emphasized! Many ROMs are updated continuously and if the screen-shots doesn't match what the user installs, he's gonna go WTF!, and will start to peppering your support threads with questions about how to install this and that, and how to get the same themes you are using in those screenshots, or from another different ROM altogether! You wouldn't be able to sell a new BMW with a picture of an old Volvo, would you? So why do you think a ROM would be any different? Also include a brief caption about the essential feature(s) shown, for each picture.
- Detailed Installation Instructions
This hardly need more explanation apart for making sure you also say something about:
- WIPE/No-WIPE
- Bootloader Requirements
- Recommended Procedure
- Detailed Device Compatibility List
Yes, the same gross model name/number of a particular device, may very well have some minor variations that can render the device completely incompatible with software from it's apparent twin-brother. Or even certain Firmwares may not be compatible to slight manufacturing variation. See for example the "Samsung Galaxy S" with their sub-models GT-I9000(B/M/T), and to complicate things further, even within the same model there may be slight differences, like in the PCB of the USB-port of the SGS2 GT-I9100.
- Detailed Language Compatibility
What do people use their phones for? Communication! Sure, some use them as a game pad, but after all it is primarily a browsing and communication device. So if you can't use your primary languages with your device, it is useless! Although some network operators are only beginning to understand that most of the connected world is at least bi-lingual and often much more. Thus it is of essence that your phone's keyboard, screen-reader and web-browser can read, display and understand most characters and alphabets around. (I.e. I still fail to understand why it is virtually impossible to find a phone with Russian, English, Spanish and Norwegian keyboard layouts/character sets or at least let me select these my self!) In addition it is very confusing for a first-time ROM flasher to understand the need for all the various PDA/PHONE and CSC region settings, which are often modified and re-packaged for a well cooked ROM, and thus no longer adhere to the original regional code.
So when you cook your ROM, please provide as much information as possible regarding how the user can adapt their phone to his/her own languages. This information includes at least:
- What languages are available for basic operation (the operating system)
- What languages are available for the keyboard mappings
- What keyboard applications can use these languages (Swype, Samsung Keyboard etc.)
- Simple instructions how to include, use and set the phone languages
- List of Technical Terms and Definitions that describe the ROM
The world of mobile device development is packed by technical jargon and abbreviated terms. Many times they are also abbreviated and used in the wrong context, although some the community know what it means. Simplify your vocabulary and clearly define your terms and stay with community standard ones!
- General Presentation
Like any other business presentation, please skip the HUGE fonts in a zillion colors. Most of us are neither blind nor illiterate, but you may risk to come across as being both, with those type of fonts. Remember "KISS"? - Keep It Simple Stupid.
- SPELL CHECK!!
It's embarrassing and very annoying to read descriptions of how great, professional and how well maintained a particular ROM is, when the text is riddled with misspellings, wrong words and childish grammatical errors. Although most of us are very understanding that we are living in a multicultural and multilingual society, sometimes all I think about is, how a person who doesn't know how to spell check, could ever be able to cook a mobile phone ROM. Most text editors feature at least some basic spell checking, bloody hell, USE IT!
- CREDITS
Most of the Android development community is completely driven by voluntary and open source work. Make sure to include the correct credits to those persons who have contributed to the various info/hacks/software that you include in your ROM. Use a separate list for the credits, that include the name (handle) and how/what he/she did to contribute.
2 Good Examples:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1350763
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1155776
Final Words:
It is very likely I have missed something here, or that you (as a developer or moderator) disagree on something I have written here, if so, please provide your constructive comments how I can improve this list and post.
In Great Expectations and Hope for Many New Amazing ROMs!
- E:V:A -
PS. This was posted in the "Developer Section" as it applies only to new ROM development threads, and I wouldn't consider this neither as "Q/A" nor "General". But if OP/MOD know of a better suited place, please just move it there...
Also I am not aware of a similar post to this one, even after searching XDA quite a lot. So if it already exists, it is not easy to find and should be reposted or stickied!

<Reserved>

@E:V:A
The only thing that I missed so far is a thread like yours.
Agree on all requirements of released software.
Sometimes I wonder how some "devs" priorities are stacked regarding quality control vs. early delivery on pay-per-download sites.
Not sure what is best place for this thread. Counting # of posts in General asking Q already answered in stickies, it's kind of accepted to skip reading what's there. :-\
Perhaps keep it alive as hottest thread here?
Tapatalked - There's a Thanks button somewhere

I like this
One thing you must add while promoting your ROM.. That is CREDITS.

Rahulrulez said:
I like this
One thing you must add while promoting your ROM.. That is CREDITS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES! Not giving credit where due is horrible, basically just forgetting all the hard work another individual has put in to the "feature" of your ROM. Also, this should probably be in general.

Share and Discover Floating Apps

Tablets are a great way to use floating apps on, big screen which enhances multitasking.
I opened this thread so me and every (soon to be) nexus 7 owners can discover new floating apps that makes using a tablet more multitask-able, fun, and life savior.
I''m gonna start with a couple of apps that I think are great, give me feedback and app recommendations ( try to provide a link to the app if possible).
OverSkreen
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.myboyfriendisageek.airbrowser&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5teWJveWZyaWVuZGlzYWdlZWsuYWlyYnJvd3NlciJd
AirCalc
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.myboyfriendisageek.aircalc&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5teWJveWZyaWVuZGlzYWdlZWsuYWlyY2FsYyJd
FloatNSplit Tablet Keyboard P by A.I.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aitype.android.tablet.p&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5haXR5cGUuYW5kcm9pZC50YWJsZXQucCJd

Threads about Apps go in the Themes & Apps section

there's also super video
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gpc.myweb.hinet.net.PopupVideo&feature=nav_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDMsImdwYy5teXdlYi5oaW5ldC5uZXQuUG9wdXBWaWRlbyJd
also, your links are all broken.

This is exactly what I'm trying accomplish with StandOut, which let's devs easily make floating apps.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1688531
There's already one app, DarkCalc, in Google Play that uses StandOut. Please check the thread and give all the developers some encouragement if you want more floating apps on the Nexus 7!

[APP] XBMC for Android -=Bug List and Dev=-

There are several similar threads in other device forums so I thought why not start one here. If the mods think this is in the wrong section or a bad idea please delete.
Okay so as of the time of this posting there is no "Galaxy S3 XBMC" specific version so I'm using one of the generic builds. "xbmcapp-armeabi-v7a-debug-20120714.apk" is the name of the one I found. Link
Works:
Pretty much everything "works". I haven't found any features that just refuse to execute.
Bugs:
mkv video playback is extremely choppy. Sound is perfect.
tiny menu items sometimes have to be long pressed slightly before they register. (In other words, fat fingers beware).
*edit* - It looks like they were aware of this when they released and are encouraging skinners to rewrite skins for specific devices. There is already an included theme called "touched" that addresses many of these issues.
That's it for now. I'll keep monitoring this thread and post updates to the OP if possible.

Where is the link? I've been waiting years to get xbmc on android.

This is an app and should be in the themes and apps subforum.

I apologize. Mods, please place this in the correct section.
@busties link