[android-beginners] Re: With no previous programming knowledge / experience, how do I get started creating an app?
The Eclipse plugin can be bypassed, if you really wanted to. But I wouldn't recommend it. As an IDE (Integrated Development Environment), Eclipse manages your projects for you in many ways. To forgo it would mean using the command line for everything.The SDK is completely independent of the Plugin. Make no mistake, you are actually typing Java in there. It is being compiled as Java with the installed Java JDK. The SDK tools then convert it to Dalvik. The plugin makes it pretty and easy for you. See the tools folder in the android sdk folder -- this is all being accessed by Eclipse through the Android Development Tools (ADT) Plugin. Actually, when you become more experienced, you may short-cut right to the command line for things like debugging. But, I find the Eclipse debugger to be quite nice. Finally, I quote Google on Installing the SDK: If you will be using the Eclipse IDE as your environment for developing Android applications, you can install a custom plugin called Android Development Tools (ADT), which adds integrated support for Android projects and tools. The ADT plugin includes a variety of powerful extensions that make creating, running, and debugging Android applications faster and easier. (http://code.google.com/android/intro/installing.html)http://code.google.com/android/intro/installing.html David On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 12:24 AM, Morisato13 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm sorry, but what exactly does the eclipse plugin do? There's a tidbit about it in the FAQs stating that it makes creating apps for Android easier, but what does it actually do that makes it easier? Is it the conversion tool that converts Java to Dalvik? Is it a GUI that does coding in Java without actually typing out Java code (kind of like VB where you have windows and such and you move them around and set value having it do the real coding behind the scenes)? Or is it something completely different? On Sep 30, 9:38 am, David Farler [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You are correct. First, your files are compiled as true java class files. The Java bytecode gets converted to the dex format by the dx utility. So, while it's not technically Java at the end, all of the rules of programming java should apply. This is why using Eclipse is such a huge plus. It's Java language integration is very good. If you want to get on a Java forum, you can try Sun's Java forum: Java Beginners:http://forums.sun.com/forum.jspa?forumID=54 Java Programming in General:http://forums.sun.com/forum.jspa?forumID=31 Cheers, David On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 3:50 AM, Morisato13 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks. I'm reading #4 right now. Now I was watching the featured video on the andriod home page with Jason Chen, and one of the questions in the QA section of the video made Jason clarify that Android is not Java, applications are written in Java programming language, but Android is Dalvic bicode... now, with that said, is there anything that I would learn while learning Java that does not or can not be applied to programming applications for Android? I'm guessing no because from my guess, what happens is you code in Java and it gets baked into whatever Dalvic bicode is for android to recognize it... but I just want someone who knows to answer. Also, are there any forums that specifically help noobs with noob java/ programming questions? I'd ask them here but it seems this forum is really for Android related questions. On Sep 29, 3:52 am, David Farler [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Morisato, Since you'll be programming in Java for Android, I recommend you start practicing with it. Java is a good place to start in many cases. Check out the following books from your library or college library: 1. Absolute Java by Walter Savitch (3rd edition) 2. Java Foundations: Introduction to Program Design and Data Structures by John Lewis 3. Also check out this free online course offered by MIT (you don't have to register): Introduction to Computer Science and Programming http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Electrical-Engineering-and-Computer-Science. .. 4. A free online book: Thinking in Java by Bruce Eckel: http://www.mindview.net/Books/TIJ/ 5. And don't forget the official Java API: http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/ All of these resources should get you started. Remember that programming is more than just memorization. Try to use first principles by understanding how a computer (or virtual machine in this case) is doing its job. Once you understand the core of it, you can program in any language. All of the suggestions above assume no previous knowledge (except number 5, but take a look at it anyway). Don't get discouraged. Programming can be hard, but remember that sometimes people make it hard because they don't remember what it's like to be a beginner. You should
[android-beginners] Re: With no previous programming knowledge / experience, how do I get started creating an app?
Thanks. I'm reading #4 right now. Now I was watching the featured video on the andriod home page with Jason Chen, and one of the questions in the QA section of the video made Jason clarify that Android is not Java, applications are written in Java programming language, but Android is Dalvic bicode... now, with that said, is there anything that I would learn while learning Java that does not or can not be applied to programming applications for Android? I'm guessing no because from my guess, what happens is you code in Java and it gets baked into whatever Dalvic bicode is for android to recognize it... but I just want someone who knows to answer. Also, are there any forums that specifically help noobs with noob java/ programming questions? I'd ask them here but it seems this forum is really for Android related questions. On Sep 29, 3:52 am, David Farler [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Morisato, Since you'll be programming in Java for Android, I recommend you start practicing with it. Java is a good place to start in many cases. Check out the following books from your library or college library: 1. Absolute Java by Walter Savitch (3rd edition) 2. Java Foundations: Introduction to Program Design and Data Structures by John Lewis 3. Also check out this free online course offered by MIT (you don't have to register): Introduction to Computer Science and Programminghttp://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Electrical-Engineering-and-Computer-Science... 4. A free online book: Thinking in Java by Bruce Eckel:http://www.mindview.net/Books/TIJ/ 5. And don't forget the official Java API:http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/ All of these resources should get you started. Remember that programming is more than just memorization. Try to use first principles by understanding how a computer (or virtual machine in this case) is doing its job. Once you understand the core of it, you can program in any language. All of the suggestions above assume no previous knowledge (except number 5, but take a look at it anyway). Don't get discouraged. Programming can be hard, but remember that sometimes people make it hard because they don't remember what it's like to be a beginner. You should feel lucky that Google has done such a good job on documenting how to get started. Try to have fun. The first two books can be expensive (try to buy used) but they are pretty good. Don't forget to check your local library and ask if they have a state-wide book sharing program. Maybe another library will lend it to them. If you have trouble and can't get a book, get in touch with me. I'll be happy to send you one of mine, I have extra copies. My most important advice: DOCUMENT CLEARLY AND ALWAYS PLACE COMMENTS IN YOUR CODE. Best of luck, David On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 2:21 AM, Morisato13 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello, I'm a COMPLETE NOOB when it comes to programming. When I was younger I was interested in programming and read a few Visual Basic books, but my knowledge is very very limited... VERY. I have some interesting/innovative ideas (that could possible make money... wishful thinking I guess) but I have no idea where to start. I definitely fall into the ideas man category of people which I have plenty of, but without knowing where to start, I'm stuck. Does anyone have any recommendations of things I should look into? Some sort of step by step learning syllabus to get to where I need to be to start programming for Android. I'm already expecting the learning process to take a very long time, but how long do you think each learning step should take? Any websites or book recommendations? I'm not a child, but I would like the reading to be as easy as possible because some of the technical things just go over my head, but don't get me wrong, I'm not technologically illiterate. Any help would be great, thanks. :) -Morisato --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Beginners group. To post to this group, send email to android-beginners@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-beginners?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[android-beginners] Re: With no previous programming knowledge / experience, how do I get started creating an app?
The eclipse plugin does a lot of things. It lets you set up a run configuration so that it will load your program in the android emulator when you are testing it. It updates your resources class whenever you add new stuff. It sets up a basic template program for you to start with. And I am sure a bunch of other things that I probably take for granted, due to the fact I haven't tried programming android without it. However, I am sure I would be lost without it. On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 9:24 PM, Morisato13 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm sorry, but what exactly does the eclipse plugin do? There's a tidbit about it in the FAQs stating that it makes creating apps for Android easier, but what does it actually do that makes it easier? Is it the conversion tool that converts Java to Dalvik? Is it a GUI that does coding in Java without actually typing out Java code (kind of like VB where you have windows and such and you move them around and set value having it do the real coding behind the scenes)? Or is it something completely different? On Sep 30, 9:38 am, David Farler [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You are correct. First, your files are compiled as true java class files. The Java bytecode gets converted to the dex format by the dx utility. So, while it's not technically Java at the end, all of the rules of programming java should apply. This is why using Eclipse is such a huge plus. It's Java language integration is very good. If you want to get on a Java forum, you can try Sun's Java forum: Java Beginners:http://forums.sun.com/forum.jspa?forumID=54 Java Programming in General:http://forums.sun.com/forum.jspa?forumID=31 Cheers, David On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 3:50 AM, Morisato13 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks. I'm reading #4 right now. Now I was watching the featured video on the andriod home page with Jason Chen, and one of the questions in the QA section of the video made Jason clarify that Android is not Java, applications are written in Java programming language, but Android is Dalvic bicode... now, with that said, is there anything that I would learn while learning Java that does not or can not be applied to programming applications for Android? I'm guessing no because from my guess, what happens is you code in Java and it gets baked into whatever Dalvic bicode is for android to recognize it... but I just want someone who knows to answer. Also, are there any forums that specifically help noobs with noob java/ programming questions? I'd ask them here but it seems this forum is really for Android related questions. On Sep 29, 3:52 am, David Farler [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Morisato, Since you'll be programming in Java for Android, I recommend you start practicing with it. Java is a good place to start in many cases. Check out the following books from your library or college library: 1. Absolute Java by Walter Savitch (3rd edition) 2. Java Foundations: Introduction to Program Design and Data Structures by John Lewis 3. Also check out this free online course offered by MIT (you don't have to register): Introduction to Computer Science and Programming http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Electrical-Engineering-and-Computer-Science. .. 4. A free online book: Thinking in Java by Bruce Eckel: http://www.mindview.net/Books/TIJ/ 5. And don't forget the official Java API: http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/ All of these resources should get you started. Remember that programming is more than just memorization. Try to use first principles by understanding how a computer (or virtual machine in this case) is doing its job. Once you understand the core of it, you can program in any language. All of the suggestions above assume no previous knowledge (except number 5, but take a look at it anyway). Don't get discouraged. Programming can be hard, but remember that sometimes people make it hard because they don't remember what it's like to be a beginner. You should feel lucky that Google has done such a good job on documenting how to get started. Try to have fun. The first two books can be expensive (try to buy used) but they are pretty good. Don't forget to check your local library and ask if they have a state-wide book sharing program. Maybe another library will lend it to them. If you have trouble and can't get a book, get in touch with me. I'll be happy to send you one of mine, I have extra copies. My most important advice: DOCUMENT CLEARLY AND ALWAYS PLACE COMMENTS IN YOUR CODE. Best of luck, David On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 2:21 AM, Morisato13 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello, I'm a COMPLETE NOOB when it comes to programming. When I was younger I was interested in programming and read a few Visual Basic books, but my knowledge is
[android-beginners] Re: With no previous programming knowledge / experience, how do I get started creating an app?
Oh, I noticed that Android runs on Java. I should note that I can understand JAVASCRIPT. I know they are not the same but similar. I used to make web pages when I was young and I would copy/paste javascript from those free javascript websites and alter them to my liking. Because of this, I can understand javascript, but I can't quite write it because I never memorized commands and such structure, only how to analyze it and figure out what part does what. On Sep 28, 11:21 pm, Morisato13 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello, I'm a COMPLETE NOOB when it comes to programming. When I was younger I was interested in programming and read a few Visual Basic books, but my knowledge is very very limited... VERY. I have some interesting/innovative ideas (that could possible make money... wishful thinking I guess) but I have no idea where to start. I definitely fall into the ideas man category of people which I have plenty of, but without knowing where to start, I'm stuck. Does anyone have any recommendations of things I should look into? Some sort of step by step learning syllabus to get to where I need to be to start programming for Android. I'm already expecting the learning process to take a very long time, but how long do you think each learning step should take? Any websites or book recommendations? I'm not a child, but I would like the reading to be as easy as possible because some of the technical things just go over my head, but don't get me wrong, I'm not technologically illiterate. Any help would be great, thanks. :) -Morisato --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Beginners group. To post to this group, send email to android-beginners@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-beginners?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[android-beginners] Re: With no previous programming knowledge / experience, how do I get started creating an app?
Programming good Java is not something you learn on a weekend. Java is a serious Object Oriented Language. Any experience with OO-languages help alot. Javascript in fact is not really OO. With various libraries you can give it an OO touch but it´s still only a scripting language. I recommend any good Javabooks, unfortunately I German and I used http://www.galileocomputing.de/openbook/javainsel6 but that is of course in German. O´reilly has a java book: http://oreilly.com/catalog/javawt/book/index.html http://www.techbooksforfree.com/java.shtml has some more books... So in general search for Object Orientation as it is the principle of modern java programming and Java as the programming language. cheers falko 2008/9/29 Morisato13 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Oh, I noticed that Android runs on Java. I should note that I can understand JAVASCRIPT. I know they are not the same but similar. I used to make web pages when I was young and I would copy/paste javascript from those free javascript websites and alter them to my liking. Because of this, I can understand javascript, but I can't quite write it because I never memorized commands and such structure, only how to analyze it and figure out what part does what. On Sep 28, 11:21 pm, Morisato13 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello, I'm a COMPLETE NOOB when it comes to programming. When I was younger I was interested in programming and read a few Visual Basic books, but my knowledge is very very limited... VERY. I have some interesting/innovative ideas (that could possible make money... wishful thinking I guess) but I have no idea where to start. I definitely fall into the ideas man category of people which I have plenty of, but without knowing where to start, I'm stuck. Does anyone have any recommendations of things I should look into? Some sort of step by step learning syllabus to get to where I need to be to start programming for Android. I'm already expecting the learning process to take a very long time, but how long do you think each learning step should take? Any websites or book recommendations? I'm not a child, but I would like the reading to be as easy as possible because some of the technical things just go over my head, but don't get me wrong, I'm not technologically illiterate. Any help would be great, thanks. :) -Morisato --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Beginners group. To post to this group, send email to android-beginners@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-beginners?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[android-beginners] Re: With no previous programming knowledge / experience, how do I get started creating an app?
Learn Java while you learn Android. Android is the new 'ecosystem' or platform for Java anyway. - JuanT. On Sep 29, 2:21 am, Morisato13 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello, I'm a COMPLETE NOOB when it comes to programming. When I was younger I was interested in programming and read a few Visual Basic books, but my knowledge is very very limited... VERY. I have some interesting/innovative ideas (that could possible make money... wishful thinking I guess) but I have no idea where to start. I definitely fall into the ideas man category of people which I have plenty of, but without knowing where to start, I'm stuck. Does anyone have any recommendations of things I should look into? Some sort of step by step learning syllabus to get to where I need to be to start programming for Android. I'm already expecting the learning process to take a very long time, but how long do you think each learning step should take? Any websites or book recommendations? I'm not a child, but I would like the reading to be as easy as possible because some of the technical things just go over my head, but don't get me wrong, I'm not technologically illiterate. Any help would be great, thanks. :) -Morisato --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Android Beginners group. To post to this group, send email to android-beginners@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-beginners?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
