Build a Simple Android App with Java Course (How To)

This course covers the very basics of Android development. We will build a simple app that will serve up some fun facts when you tap on a button. We introduce you to programming in Android, a tool for Android development called Android Studio, and some very basic concepts of the Android Software Development Kit, or SDK. By the end you will have a good idea of how a basic app works, and you will be armed with the knowledge to start building more.

What you'll learn

• Android Studio
• Using an emulator or device
• Screen layouts
• Android Views and Activities

Getting Started with Android

Making an Android app is easier than you think! Learn how to set up and use a few free tools to make a simple Fun Facts app that you can test on your computer. You don't even need an Android phone!

Chevron 6 steps

• Introducing Android

  1:10

• A Brief Introduction to Android Tools

  3:07

• Android Tools

  5 questions

• Creating the Fun Facts Project

  6:10

• Running the Fun Facts Project

  4:49

• Android Project Basics

  5 questions

Creating the Screen Layout

Before we start writing any code, let's create the screen layout we will use to display our fun facts.

Chevron 13 steps

• Getting to Know Our Tools

  4:52

• Android Tools Overview

  5 questions

• Editing a Layout File

  4:52

• Changing Text in a Layout

  1 objective

• Adding a TextView

  4:15

• Changing Text Size

  1 objective

• Adding a Button

  4:31

• Adding a Button

  1 objective

• Setting Colors

  5:26

• Setting Colors

  2 objectives

• Setting Padding

  1:13

• Setting a Fullscreen Theme

  3:30

• Setting Padding

  1 objective

Basic Android Programming

Android apps are typically written in a programming language called Java. Let's take a deeper look at the concepts we need to make our button do something.

Chevron 9 steps

• Accessing Views in Code: Declaring Variables

  5:20

• Accessing Views in Code: Assigning Variables

  6:24

• Initializing a Button

  1 objective

• Making a Button Do Something

  4:35

• Adding the OnClick Method

  2:36

• Android Programming Basics

  5 questions

• Generating a Random Number

  4:08

• Choosing a Random Fact

  4:52

• Using the Random Class

  4 objectives

Improving Our Code

In this stage we'll take a moment to "refactor" our code. Then we'll add a new class to help us change the background color for each fact!

Chevron 11 steps

• Simple Refactoring: Creating a New Class

  5:54

• Creating a New Class

  2 objectives

• Simple Refactoring: Using a New Class

  6:28

• Simple Refactoring

  5 questions

• Dynamically Changing the Background Color

  3:51

• Dynamically Changing the Background Color

  1 objective

• Adding More Colors

  3:43

• Using the New Colors

  3:42

• Adding Colors

  1 objective

• Adding an App Icon

  4:50

• Adding an App Icon

  3 questions

Testing and Debugging

We can't always see what's going on behind the scenes of our app. In this stage we'll learn how to use a few tools to monitor how the Fun Facts app is working and to troubleshoot problems. We'll also see how to run it on a real phone.

Chevron 9 steps

• Toast Notifications

  4:42

• Working with Toasts

  3 questions

• The Android Log

  8:08

• Writing to the Log

  2 objectives

• Using the Debugger

  7:19

• Using the Debugger

  5 questions

• Running an App on a Device

  3:52

• Running an App on a Device

  3 questions

• Wrapping Up

  0:48