Developing Android Apps

Android apps are pieces of software that run the Android operating system. They can be downloaded on Android phones, tablets and televisions. They are extremely adept at using the camera, touchscreen and GPS capabilities of the device. A lot of apps installed on an Android phone can, however, affect battery life and performance.

Making Android apps requires a thorough understanding of the Android platform as well as its design principles and frameworks. It also requires a solid app architecture, which can separate UI- and OS-related codes into components with shared responsibilities. The system can activate these components in asynchronous fashion using the broadcast mechanism, which is activated by the intents.

Java is the preferred language for Android development, however Kotlin has gained a lot of attention in recent years. Both languages are supported by Android SDK. A large community of developers is online to help newcomers to the language understand and resolve issues.

The Android OS is divided into layers. The application layer includes the standard apps that come with the OS, as well as other any apps that are proprietary and integrated with specific devices like a music player or a phone dialer. The Android app layer includes customized firmware, such as CyanogenMod or OMFGB. These can be installed to modify the functionality of certain devices.

Another factor that prevents some apps from working is compatibility. If an app is created for the US but not compatible with your European device, it will not work and be displayed in the Play Store as “incompatible”.