Developing for mobile platforms is one of the most exciting and fastest growing sectors in technology. We all use smartphones, and we all use smartphone apps to find places to eat, to learn languages, schedule an Uber or Lyft, and thousands of other things.
Someone has to design, build, and maintain those apps, and they’re almost certainly getting paid good money to do it. If you’re interested in finding high-quality Android development tutorials, you’ve come to the right place.
What Is Android App Development?
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First, a bit of background. “Mobile development” gets its own title because it really is quite different from web development or software engineering more generally. Building a good mobile application requires understanding and accounting for a number of unique constraints, like the small screens and limited battery life of mobile phones.
Within mobile development there are two major subdivisions which correspond to the two major competing platforms: iOS and Android. The former is for iPhones and the latter for Android phones.
Development for these platforms, while similar at a conceptual level, requires skill in different technologies. Becoming an Android developer will mean learning a suitable programming language (probably Java). You’ll also need to familiarize yourself with the Android Software Developer’s Kit and the development environment Android Studio.
Luckily, there are tons of great resources out there to guide you.
How to Learn Android App Development
With this context in place, let’s look at books, courses, and bootcamps that will send you on your way to being a professional Android developer!
Books
- Head First Android Development: A Brain-Friendly Guide, Dawn Griffiths and David Griffiths. A great introduction for those new to both coding and Android development.
- Android Studio 3.0 Development Essentials, Neil Smyth. You don’t want to rely too much on a coding environment, but you also don’t want to neglect learning how to use one well. This is especially true when there’s an industry standard environment that everyone uses.
- Android Cookbook: Problems and Solutions, Ian F. Darwin. You can read this book like any other, or you can use it as a reference for working through specific issues. Either way, it’s good to have around!
Courses
- Android Developers has courses on Kotlin (a programming language), Java, and other topics aimed at both beginners and experienced devs.
- Udacity has an entire Android development nanodegree, along with plenty of individual courses covering specific skills.
- And, of course, Udemy has offerings which will take you from complete beginner to master Android programmer.
Bootcamps
- In addition to their web development tracks, Epicodus also has a five-week Android Developer Immersive program. They have several physical locations and the option to attend online, as well.
- If you don’t mind relocating to New York City, you might be interested in General Assembly’s Android specialization.
There you have it: an excellent set of resources for learning on your own or as part of a program!
