Lecture Outline for Creating a Class 1 Android App

 

Lecture Outline for Creating a Class 1 Android App

1. Introduction to Android Development

• Overview of Android and Its Ecosystem
  • Android as the most popular OS, used by billions of users.
  • Benefits of developing Android apps.
• Tools and Requirements for Development
  • Install Android Studio (IDE for Android development).
  • Install the Java Development Kit (JDK).
  • Basic knowledge of Java or Kotlin (the two primary languages for Android development).

2. Project Setup in Android Studio

• Creating a New Project
  • Open Android Studio, click New Project.
  • Choose a project template (e.g., “Empty Activity”).
  • Set App Name, Package Name, and choose Language (Java/Kotlin).
  • Set the Minimum API Level (for a broader audience, choose API Level 21 or higher).
• Understanding Project Structure
  • Java/Kotlin Folder: Where code files are located.
  • res Folder: Contains resources like layouts (XML files), images, and strings.
  • AndroidManifest.xml: Describes app components, permissions, etc.

3. Basics of Android Layout and UI Design

• Introduction to XML Layouts
  • Go to res/layout/activity_main.xml.
  • Learn how XML defines the UI for each screen.
• Adding UI Elements
  • Add TextView, EditText, Button components.
  • Set IDs for each component for easy reference in code.
  • Customize attributes like text, color, size, padding, and layout orientation.
• LinearLayout and ConstraintLayout
  • Overview of LinearLayout (arrange elements in a vertical or horizontal row).
  • Overview of ConstraintLayout (position elements relative to each other).

4. Basic App Development: Creating a Simple To-Do List App

• Design the UI
  • A TextView for the title (e.g., “To-Do List”).
  • An EditText for entering tasks.
  • A Button to add the task to the list.
  • A ListView to display tasks.
• Setting Up MainActivity.java/Kotlin
  • Import UI elements from the XML layout using their IDs.
  • Write code for the Button’s onClickListener to add tasks to the ListView.
  • Use an ArrayAdapter to manage the items displayed in the ListView.
• Implement Basic Functionality
  • Add a function to clear the EditText field after adding a task.
  • Optional: Add a way to delete tasks by clicking on them.

5. Testing the App on Emulator and Device

• Using the Android Emulator
  • Configure an Android Virtual Device (AVD) in Android Studio.
  • Run the app to test it in the emulator.
• Testing on a Physical Device
  • Enable Developer Options on an Android phone.
  • Enable USB Debugging.
  • Connect the device to the computer via USB and select it as the deployment target.
• Basic Debugging Techniques
  • Use the Logcat console to view log messages and errors.
  • Add Log.d statements to understand app behavior during testing.

6. Improving the App with Additional Features

• Adding Validation
  • Ensure that tasks aren’t added if the input field is empty.
• Saving Data (Optional)
  • Use SharedPreferences for simple data persistence (like saving the list of tasks).
  • Explain how to retrieve data from SharedPreferences when the app restarts.
• UI Customizations
  • Customize the ListView items (e.g., font size, color).
  • Improve button and text styles to make the app look cleaner.

7. Final Steps: Preparing for Launch

• Testing the App Thoroughly
  • Test on various screen sizes to check responsiveness.
  • Ensure that all edge cases (e.g., empty fields, long task names) work well.
• Packaging the App
  • Go to Build > Build Bundle(s) / APK(s) > Build APK.
  • This creates an APK file that can be installed or distributed.
• Publishing (Optional)
  • Overview of the Google Play Console for app publishing.
  • Briefly cover app submission requirements (like app icons, screenshots, descriptions).

8. Q&A and Summary

• Recap Key Concepts
  • Project setup, layout design, coding functionality, testing.
• Address Common Questions
  • Clarify any challenges students encountered.