Where To Start - Learning Android Development the Right Way

My wife recently asked for help to get started Developing for Android so I felt it would be best to gather up some resources that would get her off and running in the right direction with style and UI consistency in the forefront to ensure that she knows how important it is to follow the UI Standards set down from Google.

Here are some excellent resources I found that I hope can help you too:


*First Things First, Learn Java


If you don't know the Java Programming Language or maybe you are coming from a different language and need to get familiar with some Java constructs, here are some excellent resources to get you started.

*Java Tutorial (Extensive Tutorial)
http://www.tutorialspoint.com/java/index.htm

Getting started with Java - "A beginner's guide to Java Programming"
http://www.javacoffeebreak.com/tutorials/gettingstarted/

Introduction to Java Programming - Lars Vogel
http://www.vogella.com/articles/JavaIntroduction/article.html

Introduction to Programming in Java (MIT Course)
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-092-introduction-to-programming-in-java-january-iap-2010/index.htm

Video - Learning Java: Part 1: Basic Introduction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MZIkY55fS0

Free Interactive Java Tutorial
http://www.learnjavaonline.org/

Java Beginner Tutorial
http://www.javabeginner.com/

Thinking in Java Book by +Bruce Eckel
NOTE: Excellent book. 3rd Edition FREE Online
http://www.mindview.net/Books/TIJ/


*Getting Started with Android Development


*Resources every Android developer must know by +Sergey Povzner 
http://www.bongizmo.com/blog/android-resources-each-developer-should-know/

NOTE: Even if you skip the rest, make sure to check out Sergey's list above. 

Getting Started with Android Development by +Ray Wenderlich
http://www.raywenderlich.com/5527/getting-started-with-android-development

Getting Started With Android Development by +Chris Lacy 
https://plus.google.com/104649936579980037256/posts/UQD4e1jgLS1

Best resources to learn Android Programming by +Luke Simmons
http://cloudrail.com/best-resources-to-learn-android-programming/

Getting Started with Android Development in 2015 - Windows Version by +Troy Miles (aka The Rock n Coder)
http://therockncoder.blogspot.com/2014/04/getting-started-with-android.html

Support Library (to help maintain support with older versions of Android)
http://developer.android.com/tools/extras/support-library.html

*Video Training

*Android Bootcamp Training
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf7z_mrce00&list=SPE953C0B85B50AB62

*Recommended Books
*NOTE: Thanks to Nima Gh for the great Book Reference list posted in the comments.

Best Android Books and Resources 2014 Edition
http://nimooli.com/blog/best-android-books-2014/

*FREE eBooks

*andbook! Android Programming
http://andbook.anddev.org/

*Essential Code Libraries, Samples and Tools to Build Modern Apps

*Android Asset Studio by +Roman Nurik 
http://android-ui-utils.googlecode.com/hg/asset-studio/dist/index.html

ActionBarSherlock by +Jake Wharton 
http://actionbarsherlock.com/

AndroidSideMenu
https://github.com/dmitry-zaitsev/AndroidSideMenu

SlidingMenu
https://github.com/jfeinstein10/SlidingMenu

ViewPagerIndicator by +Jake Wharton +Patrik Åkerfeldt 
http://viewpagerindicator.com/

UnifiedPreference
https://github.com/saik0/UnifiedPreference

Pull To Refresh Views for Android
https://github.com/chrisbanes/Android-PullToRefresh

SwipeListView
https://github.com/47deg/android-swipelistview

Android PagerSlidingTabStrip by +Andreas Stütz
NOTE: Slide style Tab Indicator like in the Play Store
https://github.com/astuetz/PagerSlidingTabStrip#__sid=0

*Make Your Apps Tablet Friendly - Learn To User Fragments


*Working With Fragments by +Shane Conder 
http://mobile.tutsplus.com/tutorials/android/android-sdk_fragments/

Using Fragments in Android - Tutorial by +Lars Vogel 
http://www.vogella.com/articles/AndroidFragments/article.html

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When developing for Android it is important to understand Java, Layouts and Fragments but it is also really important to understand the Android UI Standards and how to use them to ensure consistency in your App Design, as well as, familiarity that will ensure user-friendliness in your design.

Hopefully the resources and links above will be helpful to get you started with Android Development or if you are already Developing for Android, maybe you can find something to make your Apps even better.

Enjoy :-)

Filed under: #AndroidDev   #Android   #Development   #Mobile   #Development   #BestPractices   #Tutorials   #Java   #UI   #Design   #GettingStarted   #Learning