Introduction - Android: Programming and App Development for Beginners (2015)

Android: Programming and App Development for Beginners (2015)

Introduction

Android is one of the most popular mobile operating systems in the world and the main reason for that is because it is open source. This means that the source code is available for anyone to look into and to modify for their own use. It is also a Linux-based operating system and is available on a wider range of tablets, phablets and smartphones than any other mobile operating system.

Android was developed by an organization called the Open Handset Alliance, an alliance that is led by Google and other major companies. In 2007, Google released the Android SDK (Software Development Kit) in beta form and this was followed in September 2008 by the very first commercial version of the operating system.

At this moment in time, Android is fast catching up to, if not about to take over iOS in terms of development options and, with more than one billion devices currently actively running Android across the globe today, it is the easiest place to make your mark as an app developer.

On top of that, Android’s app provisioning and submission policy is much more open than any other mobile operating system and that means that it is much easier to get your app on the market pretty much straightaway. I will be talking later on in the book about how to develop your first app and what goes into it, to give you some idea of where to start.

So, if you have been thinking about developing an app and you have a good idea, delve in and get started.