Hervé J. Franceschi - Android App Development

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Franceschi, Herv, author.
Title: Android app development / Herve J. Franceschi, Loyola University Maryland.
Description: Burlington, Massachusetts : Jones & Bartlett Learning, [2017] | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016038890 | ISBN 9781284092127
Subjects: LCSH: Android (Electronic resource) | Mobile computing. | Application softwareDevelopment.
Classification: LCC QA76.76.A65 F73 2017 | DDC 005.3dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016038890

6048

Printed in the United States of America
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To Kristin, Hlna, and Louis

Android App Development covers the essential topics of Android Development: XML resources, including styles, XML defined GUIs, programmatically defined GUI, event-driven programming, activity life cycle, how to manage several activities, transitions between activities, persistent data (including SQLite), how to manage orientation, fragments, how to make a device-independent app, and how to use an app within another app. It covers fun topics such as touches, swipes, graphics, sounds, and game programming. Finally, it also covers more specialized topics of interest: maps, voice recognition, how to make a content app including remote data retrieval and XML parsing, GPS, how to make a widget, in-app advertising, and encryption.

This course ideally follows a Java course. Although it is preferable that students have been exposed to event handling programming prior to taking an Android course, it is not a requirement. GUI programming and event handling are thoroughly explained.

The approach in this book is to use an app throughout each chapter to illustrate the concepts presented. The app typically uses the Model View Controller architecture. It is constructed in a very progressive manner starting with version 0, then version 1, and so on. We progress through the app versions, adding concepts and topics as needed by the app. Thus, each app is manageable in the classroom. The instructor can choose to download the Model and explain it briefly rather than cover it in detail. The Model classes use straightforward Java code and do not need much explanation. We also try to use apps that are simple yet meaningful and that the students can easily understand and relate to. It is possible to only cover the early versions of an app if the instructor does not want to cover some of the chapters topics. Furthermore, many chapters are independent of each other and do not have to be covered in the sequence in which they are presented in this book.

Within each chapter, and therefore within each app, the instructor can pick what topics he or she chooses to cover and in what depth as well as at what pace. The Model, which typically uses basic Java classes and is Android independent, can be downloaded and briefly explained. That allows the instructor to concentrate on the View and the Controller, which include Android-specific topics. Screenshots, examples, and tables are included throughout each chapter to illustrate the concepts at hand and the current state of the chapter app. Software Engineering and Common Error boxes highlight software engineering tips and common errors throughout the chapters. Chapter summaries are provided at the end of each chapter followed by exercises, problems, and projects to test students knowledge. Each chapter includes extensive multiple-choice, fill in the code, and write an app exercises.

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING: When defining an EditText, choose the appropriate value for android:inputType in order to match the data we expect the user will input.

• Model: TipCalculator class

• View: activity_main.xml

• Controller: MainActivity class

COMMON ERROR: We need to add an activity element in the Android Manifest.xml file whenever we add an activity to our app. Otherwise, the app will crash when we try to go to that activity.

FIGURE 2.2 Selected layout manager classes

TABLE 2.6 The android:textSize and android:hint XML attributes of TextView