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Started By
Message
Official Android App Development Thread
Posted on 7/29/14 at 10:16 am
Posted on 7/29/14 at 10:16 am
Y'all iOS guys can make your own. This thread will serve as a guide for those who want to 'get under the hood' of their android device and actually build apps from scratch..not just ROM flashing/rooting or installing XDA apks.
I'll start since I'm a complete newbie to this and have watched my son go from ZERO to building apps that use the accelerometer, bluetooth stack, GPS, online databases, etc. in like 2 weeks.
Its amazing how easy it is; he's been using the Google/MIT collaboration tool "App Inventor" and you can code virtually anything using this drag and drop UI
There's a youtube video showing how to convert app inventor language to java which is pretty cool.
The problem with Java is the intimidating initial IDE setup to create apps and it also takes a long time to ramp up on all the correct syntax and I think for people starting out, a scripted UI is much better.
App Inventor allows you to focus on the APP..messing with timers, database connectivity, etc. and quickly compiling and downloading the APK to your device in the easiest way possible..so you can be creative quickly without getting bogged down for days in IDE setup issues, syntax & compile errors and frustration with the seemingly unlimited Java resources that muddy the waters in trying to build something.
he's building something for his high school (see the OT thread) so i'll keep everyone updated as this progresses as an example and I'm here to answer questions.
I know... CAD;DR but let's make this a 'safe place' for people who want to learn the following:
- building a new android app
- best FREE way to manage online database (fusion tables? tinyDB/google cloud services?)
- getting it into the play store
- adding ads/revenue to app
lets go be creative
I'll start since I'm a complete newbie to this and have watched my son go from ZERO to building apps that use the accelerometer, bluetooth stack, GPS, online databases, etc. in like 2 weeks.
Its amazing how easy it is; he's been using the Google/MIT collaboration tool "App Inventor" and you can code virtually anything using this drag and drop UI
There's a youtube video showing how to convert app inventor language to java which is pretty cool.
The problem with Java is the intimidating initial IDE setup to create apps and it also takes a long time to ramp up on all the correct syntax and I think for people starting out, a scripted UI is much better.
App Inventor allows you to focus on the APP..messing with timers, database connectivity, etc. and quickly compiling and downloading the APK to your device in the easiest way possible..so you can be creative quickly without getting bogged down for days in IDE setup issues, syntax & compile errors and frustration with the seemingly unlimited Java resources that muddy the waters in trying to build something.
he's building something for his high school (see the OT thread) so i'll keep everyone updated as this progresses as an example and I'm here to answer questions.
I know... CAD;DR but let's make this a 'safe place' for people who want to learn the following:
- building a new android app
- best FREE way to manage online database (fusion tables? tinyDB/google cloud services?)
- getting it into the play store
- adding ads/revenue to app
lets go be creative
3
Posted on 7/29/14 at 10:32 am to CAD703X
I've been interested in doing this. Thanks for starting this thread.
Posted on 7/29/14 at 10:48 am to jmarto1
Any idea what kind of cut developers get from Play store?
Posted on 7/29/14 at 11:53 am to h0bnail
quote:
Any idea what kind of cut developers get from Play store?
perfect first question!
here's what i know (and i could be completely wrong)
- $25 one-time registration fee to join official play store. this is more to discourage scammers than anything else, but that's not unreasonable IMO.
- 3 ways to make money:
1. charge 99 cents or something for app. the problem here is that nobody wants to pay anymore so even a small cost will drive people to look for a similar free app. i know i do this
2. in-app purchases. this is a slightly better way to get money..provide 'power ups' and stuff once the users are hooked within the game for $.
3. ads. this is probably the easiest way to go. ad banners (while i hate them) allow you to push an app into the store for free and you can slowly make pennies (or fractions of pennies) off the app this way. if it takes off..like flappy bird..you might get a decent payday.
i've been approaching apps with my son with #3 in mind..i don't want him pushing a bunch of apps into the store and maybe something gets popular..without throwing ads in there. that's just throwing money away.
the problem is adsense (google's system) has some problems with app-inventor apps...not sure if this is by design or a technical issue. since google endorses and sponsors app inventor, i think its probably technical.
the workaround is to use one of the other ad-services out there. other people are doing this successfully but i'm still researching the best way to do this.
as for difficulty...? its super easy. add a 'web part' control to your app (along the bottom) that is connected to an ad banner service. voila.
This post was edited on 7/29/14 at 12:02 pm
Posted on 7/29/14 at 11:56 am to CAD703X
quote:
I'll start since I'm a complete newbie to this and have watched my son go from ZERO to building apps that use the accelerometer, bluetooth stack, GPS, online databases, etc. in like 2 weeks.
I remember you posting that, or something to that effect, earlier. Very impressive
Posted on 7/29/14 at 12:11 pm to SpartyGator
quote:
I remember you posting that, or something to that effect, earlier. Very impressive
its really not, but i appreciate the compliment
i cut my teeth on hypercard, supercard, macromind director & flash back in the day and app inventor is eerily similar to those tools so i'm a great sounding-board for my kid as he ramps up.
honestly i think anyone with teens (or maybe pre-teens) who have played minecraft or something could get up to speed very quickly with this. its definitely a more productive outlet for all that time he wastes on the computer.
eta its a bit ironic that in 2014, after the WEB & HTML killed PC-based applications in the mid 1990s...mobile devices are moving FROM THE WEB...back to a device-based application paradigm. the concept of 'screens' and event handlers in a controlled app environment is exactly what we used to do long ago.
the developers have finally wrestled control back from having to support 100 shitty browser & OS platform combinations and even shittier plugin combinations..to native iOS and android "windows" desktops.
the more things change...
This post was edited on 7/29/14 at 12:16 pm
Posted on 7/29/14 at 12:27 pm to CAD703X
Thanks CAD, this is good stuff
I'm going the follow this thread pretty closely. My son is a little younger and he's in to minecraft. He likes doing the text-based commands in the game so I'm beginning to think he might take to coding. This sounds like something he and I could do together.
I'm going the follow this thread pretty closely. My son is a little younger and he's in to minecraft. He likes doing the text-based commands in the game so I'm beginning to think he might take to coding. This sounds like something he and I could do together.
Posted on 7/29/14 at 12:30 pm to ZereauxSum
quote:
This sounds like something he and I could do together.
learn.code.org
seriously. have him go through that. its really fun because they use angry birds & zombies & shite for the lessons.
it starts out INCREDIBLY easy and once he starts 'winning' trophies, he'll be hooked.
there's only 27 trophies and he should be able to get through it in a couple weeks.
plus if he gets stuck and papa 'zereaux' can't figure it out either, come on here and we can help you.
give him an incentive..take him to mcdonalds or buy him a hot wheel for every 10 trophies he gets or something.
This post was edited on 7/29/14 at 12:36 pm
Posted on 7/29/14 at 12:37 pm to CAD703X
You have my attention.....
Posted on 7/29/14 at 12:39 pm to whodatfan
quote:
You have my attention.....
i like how i've already gotten a downvote. tough room...
Posted on 7/29/14 at 12:41 pm to CAD703X
quote:
i like how i've already gotten a downvote. tough room...
You got the down vote before the 2nd reply. Apparently you're the Darth Vader of the Tech Board.
Posted on 7/29/14 at 1:37 pm to junkfunky
I've thought about doing something like Nova/Apex or CM11 themes. Seems like some of them do pretty well in the market, and can't be terribly difficult outside of the design aspect.
Posted on 7/29/14 at 1:43 pm to h0bnail
quote:
I've thought about doing something like Nova/Apex or CM11 themes. Seems like some of them do pretty well in the market, and can't be terribly difficult outside of the design aspect.
Partner with one of the fark gods and you should be good to go.
Posted on 7/29/14 at 1:46 pm to junkfunky
a freek-assisted CM11 theme would be like the hand of god smiting your phone
Posted on 7/29/14 at 1:49 pm to junkfunky
I am very interested. It's also funny about the downvotes. Darth's responses trip me out because there will ALWAYS be a down vote. That takes dedication.
Posted on 7/29/14 at 1:52 pm to CAD703X
quote:
a freek-assisted CM11 theme would be like the hand of god smiting your phone
The thought makes me a little tingly.
Posted on 7/29/14 at 1:54 pm to CAD703X
quote:
perfect first question!
here's what i know (and i could be completely wrong)
- $25 one-time registration fee to join official play store. this is more to discourage scammers than anything else, but that's not unreasonable IMO.
- 3 ways to make money:
1. charge 99 cents or something for app. the problem here is that nobody wants to pay anymore so even a small cost will drive people to look for a similar free app. i know i do this
2. in-app purchases. this is a slightly better way to get money..provide 'power ups' and stuff once the users are hooked within the game for $.
3. ads. this is probably the easiest way to go. ad banners (while i hate them) allow you to push an app into the store for free and you can slowly make pennies (or fractions of pennies) off the app this way. if it takes off..like flappy bird..you might get a decent payday.
This is way, way down the road for anyone but the real money is getting into China. My cousin developed a dominoes app in Philly that is doing really well. He plans to sell off when his company is valued at $10 million. Anyways, they are currently trying to enter the Chinese market. It isn't the language but the cultural hurdle that makes it hard. For instance, they have an option "share your shame" on your social site when you don't do well. Shame is powerful in China and will hurt their chances for being successful. Now they have to revamp that whole part of the app.
Posted on 7/29/14 at 2:08 pm to CAD703X
quote:
eta its a bit ironic that in 2014, after the WEB & HTML killed PC-based applications in the mid 1990s...mobile devices are moving FROM THE WEB...back to a device-based application paradigm. the concept of 'screens' and event handlers in a controlled app environment is exactly what we used to do long ago.
I don't think we are moving away from web based applications, I think we are moving web based applications to the device rather than being strictly hosted on a site. Most of the popular Android frameworks utilize web style concepts (HTML5, Javascript, css, etc). Check out Sencha, PhoneGap, Kendo UI, Dojo, and others.
Posted on 7/29/14 at 3:13 pm to surprisewitness
quote:
Most of the popular Android frameworks utilize web style concepts
would you argue its easier to develop and test against HTML rendering & support in IE7, IE8, IE9, IE10, IE11, Firefox, Chrome, Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, Mac OS, Safari, Firefox for Mac, Chrome for Mac...
..or simply open your IDE and set output to android?
i'm not saying the integration with the web is going away..i'm just saying that developing a true APP as opposed to designing a website in HTML5 that works on mobile devices is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY easier.
Posted on 7/29/14 at 4:38 pm to CAD703X
Develop a TD app.
With pull down to refresh, pls
With pull down to refresh, pls
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