How to write my first application in Android

I am sure that as much as I, when I read for a first time about Android, you can't wait to write your first application for it. So I will show you how.

Well in fact not myself, because there are many tutorials on the web and I don't want to copy them but I think it still can be helpful. So lets start! I assume that you already know Java.

First you must download and install SDK for Eclipse. Here is how to do it.

Next thing is to watch that short movie that shows how to write application that lists people from phone's contact book and allows you to call each one after clicking on his/her name.


If your lazy and don't want to write that application yourself I've got good news for you. I wrote that app and you can download sources from here. In Eclipse Import -> Existing Projects into workspace -> Select archive file choose downloaded file, then you should see that Eclipse found project inside of archive, click Finish.

I must say that this video is a little bit out of date. My version of this app is updated to support 1.5 (cupcake) Android. There are few little changes in API but the idea is the same, so I will skip explanation.

Have a nice time playing with Android SDK and Emulator.

Also if you have any problems with that application don't hesitate to ask me for help.

Pro Android - my first impressions

Curently I'm reading Pro Android book and working out some of the examples.

The main problem with that book is the way in which examples are written. Most of them are simple listings of code, sometimes just pure methods. Their aim is to show some specific feature. That's OK but real problem is when you want to run examples and you don't know how to configure the platform! Examples are lacking this essential information: configuration.

Android uses many xml files, some of them are used for configuration and other as the markup for views (something like JSP, actually more like Wicket HTML files - for those who know Wicket). Most of examples lack those files, and you must guess what to write there.

Wait...It is even worse then this! When I downloaded sources for that book and looked inside I saw that there were no working projects. Not even one tiny working hello world application. Just exactly the same listings as that in the book.
I can understand that authors didn't want to litter pages with listings of all files in project, but they should provide us (readers) with working examples.

So far I'm very disappointed with that book. I've read four chapters and it looks like authors have copied (changed) and pasted materials from Android Developer's website.

Well, I've decided to go on reading next chapters to check if there are any useful information that is not in the web.

Also, If you know any Android books that cover 1.5 version and that have NOT been copied from Developers Guide please leave me a comment with a title.

Google Android

My last post was about Google Wave but for past few days I was making my first steps into the mobile world with Android development. Google Android is an open source operating system for phones (and other devices). It is based on Linux and its main development language for applications is Java. That was one of the reasons why I bought a phone with it two weeks ago: G1.

Here is a little show of it (mine is white):


As I said I'm making my first steps into world full of androids ;-) I'm reading book called Pro Android and I must say that this is kind a fun. It's like learning another framework if you're Java programmer. Unfortunately, I get impression that most of tutorial examples were written by "C guys". There is code I'm not used to (many string statics instead of enums, returning codes instead of throwing exceptions, etc.). Well I don't know yet if this is necessary for performance.

Anyway there are many cool applications to download for free to your phone. Some of them combine Google Maps, built-in camera & GPS to help you shopping - just like that cool app. I myself have some ideas for new applications too.

So if you're Java programmer and considering phone with Android you should definitely buy it.

PS. Stay tuned with my blog as I'm going to write some tutorials about Android development. Maybe I will also present it on Wrocław JUG meeting.

Google Wave

After waiting few weeks I get email from Google

Recently, you applied for a Google Wave developer sandbox account. Your sandbox account is now ready.

Finally! So cool :-)
Now I can try to test my robot - Wave widget that is attached to discussion and does some work. My robot is simple calculator and was written without testing, so probably it does not work ;-P

Anyway this is great because I see great opportunity in Google Wave. It can revolutionize the way that we communicate. Particularly in business. But also in our private life by preparing together some events like trip with friends or deciding what to buy for someone on birthday.

And here is material for those that don't know what Google Wave is. It's long but believe me, it's worth watching!

JDD Java Guide - konkurs

Dziś przeglądając GoogleReadera natknąłem się na posta Mateusza Mrozewskiego na temat konkursu JDD Java Guide. Jakież było moje zdziwienie jak zobaczyłem, że ktoś dodał i mojego bloga do listy biorących udział w konkursie. Dziekuje tej anonimowej osobie ;-)

Bardzo fajnie, takie cos mobilizuje do prowadzenia bloga. Jeszcze raz dzięki!
Jednocześnie zachęcam do głosowania na mojego bloga ;-)

Po Javarsovii

W ostanią sobotę miałem przyjemność uczestniczyć w konferencji Javarsovia. Muszę przyznać, że byłem zaskoczony jak dobrze została ona zorganizowana. Prelekcje odbywały się o czasie, a catering był bardzo smaczny. Rozkład jazdy na plakietkach - super! Tylko szkoda, że w salach nie było klimy. Gratulacje chłopaki (i dziewczyny?)!

Muszę przyznać, że najbardziej podobała mi się prezentacja dotycząca nowego Garbage Collectora wygłoszona przez Konrada Kamińskiego. Może to nie jest zbyt fancy temat ale myśle, że zbyt często przez nas (javowców) pomijany dlatego z chęcią się wybrałem na tą prezentacje.

Następna dla mnie ciekawa prelekcja dotyczyła programowania w Javie dla systemu Android. Przymierzam się do telefonu G1 od pewnego czasu i musze przyznać, że zademonstrowane możliwości platformy są sporym plusem przemawiającym za tym urządzeniem ;-) Szkoda tylko, że nie udało się nic zaprogramować na żywo autorowi, w tym miejscu polecam tego posta.

Udało mi się również zobaczyć prezentacje Waldemara Kota, na którą nie starczyło mi czasu na GeeCONie. Dotyczyła ona wirtualizacji maszyny wirtualnej javy. Bardzo ciekawy temat. Na razie brzmi troche fantastycznie ale jeszcze pare lat temu tak samo brzmiało wirtualizowanie "zwykłych" serwerów, co dziś jest codziennością.

Na ostatnią prezentacje nie poszedłem bo było za gorąco, więc wybrałem BBQ Burgera w Jeff's ;-)

Niestety nie mogłem uczestniczyć w after party - musiałem wracać do wrocka - mam jednak nadzieje, że następnym razem zostane na dłużej w Warszawie.

Eclipse Galileo już jest!

Od dziś jest już dostępna finalna wersja Eclipse Galileo (numer 3.5). W niej oczywiście wiele zmian: 33 nowe projekty, mnóstwo dodatków oraz poprawek. Ponieważ jestem leniwy i mi się nie chce pisać samemu polecam linka: http://www.infoq.com/news/2009/06/eclipse-galileo-released. Tutaj na dokładkę lista postów o nowym Eclipse.

Samą aplikacje można ściągnąć stąd: http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/.

Miłej zabawy!