How to Develop an Android App from Scratch in 2024

Tech evolution is a wild ride, isn’t it? Every day, we’re bombarded with new technologies and trends, and it can be hard to keep up. So, how you are going to keep up the pace? Well, the answer is clear – Android App development eases down our work and enables us to connect with the external environment too. But not everyone is skilled enough to develop an Android app.

The modern generation is obsessed with apps and for a good reason. They’re convenient, fun, and can do almost anything you can think of. If you’re interested in starting a career in Android app development, you’re in luck. It’s a booming industry with plenty of opportunities for talented developers.

• The global mobile app market is expected to reach $612.26 billion by 2027. 
• Android app developers are in high demand, both in-house and at startups. 

Do numbers seem impressive?

Before you jump in headfirst, there are a few things you need to know. In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to get started in Android app development, from the basics of coding to the latest trends and technologies. 

What Is Android App Development?

So, let’s start with a basic understanding of what is Android app development. 

Well, the answer is simple and clear – Android app development is the process of creating software applications that run on the Android operating system. But do you know, why a modest wing is attracted to it? 

Android is the most popular mobile operating system in the world, with over 3 billion active devices. This makes Android app development a highly in-demand skill.

If you are truly interested in Android app development start learning Kotlin, Java, and other programming languages. 

You also need to understand the Android SDK, which is a collection of tools and libraries that you need to build, test, and debug Android apps.

We all have some reason before we start anything.  So, what is the motive for learning Android app development?

Here are some good reasons why people are moving towards it: 

High Demand – Android app developers are in high demand, both in-house and at startups.

Good Salary – Android app developers are typically paid well, especially if they have experience with popular technologies and frameworks.

Creativity – Android app development is a creative outlet. You can use your skills to build apps that solve real-world problems or to entertain and inform people.

Flexibility – Android app development can be a freelance or full-time career. You can also work on your projects or collaborate with others.

Prerequisites

Do we need to have to have some prior knowledge of Android App Development? Well, yes. If you are interested in Android app development you must be well-acquainted with the following technologies at least: 

Java or Kotlin – Java is the primary programming language used for Android development, but Kotlin is becoming increasingly popular.

XML – XML is used to design the user interface of Android apps.

Android SDK – The Android SDK is a collection of tools and libraries that you need to develop Android apps.

Some modest or new-age developers have a question if we have some interesting tools to develop Android Apps? Well, surely. There are some tools that need a high level of coding knowledge. Android Studio eases down your journey and integrates with the development environment to build, test, and debug apps. 

Recommended Read: Best Framework for Android App Development

Setting Up Your Development Environment For Android App Development

The first step is clear and simple – Android Studio. You just need to install it and later the game will start. Android Studio is the official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app development. Here are just a few simple steps that you need to follow:

Installing Android Studio

• Go to the Android Studio website and download the latest version.
• Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
• Once Android Studio is installed, launch it and select the “Configure” option.
• In the Android Studio Setup Wizard, select the “Android SDK” option and click “Next”.
• In the “Android SDK Location” dialog box, select the location where you want to install the Android SDK and click “Finish”.
• Android Studio will download and install the Android SDK.
• Once the Android SDK is installed, Android Studio will ask you to install the Android SDK Platform -Tools and the Android SDK Build -Tools. Click “Install” to install these components.

Creating Your First Android Project For Android Application

• Launch Android Studio and click the “Start a new Android Studio project” button.
• In the “Create New Project” dialog box, select the “Phone and Tablet” option and click “Next”.
• In the “Choose a Template” dialog box, select the “Empty Activity” template and click “Next”.
• In the “Configure Project” dialog box, enter a name for your project and click “Finish”.

Once, you have done with these steps, you can start developing your first project. Congratulations, your journey has started now. But are these steps enough to develop the Android App? Well, no – you need to have some basics in mind. So, let’s move on to the further aspect. 

Recommended Read: Best IDEs for Mobile App Development

Learning the Basics of Android Development

Basic is your root to start anything and if you don’t know anything from the start – you will not become proficient in it. The same applies to Android App Development too. You need to have a command of the basics and you will become a pro sooner. So, let’s catch up with the basics:

Activities and fragments	Activities are the basic building blocks of Android apps. Each activity represents a single screen or portion of the user interface. For example, an app might have an activity for the main screen, an activity for a settings screen, and an activity for a list of items. Fragments are modular components that can be used to build the user interface of an activity. These can be reused across multiple activities and can be added, removed, and replaced at runtime. This makes fragments ideal for building complex and dynamic user interfaces.
Views and layouts	Views are the basic building blocks of the user interface in Android. It represents visual elements such as buttons, text fields, and images. Layouts are used to arrange views on the screen. There are many different types of layouts available in Android, such as linear layouts, relative layouts, and constraint layouts. Each type of layout has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Intents	Intents are used to communicate between different components of an Android app, such as activities, fragments, and services. Intents allow you to start new activities, send data to other activities, and receive data from other activities. These are also used to launch other apps on the device.
Networking	Networking allows Android apps to communicate with other devices over a network. This includes communicating with other devices on the same local network or communicating with devices over the internet. Android provides several APIs for networking, such as the HTTP client API and the sockets API. These APIs allow you to send and receive data over the network.
Databases	Databases are used to store data on the device. Android provides several APIs for working with databases, such as the SQLite database API and the Room database API.

Building Your First Android App

Developing your application is always special. It’s like a riding cycle or your dream car for the very first time. It’s a special occasion and you don’t want to spoil it. Also, till now, you have learned the basics and everything that you need to know. Here, let’s catch up with the development of your first Android App. 

Designing the User Interface 

The first step in building your Android app is to design the user interface. The user interface is what the user sees and interacts with, so it is important to make it user-friendly and visually appealing. There are a few things to keep in mind when designing the user interface for your Android app:

• Simplicity is key. The user interface should be simple and easy to understand. Avoid cluttering the screen with too many elements.
• Use consistent design patterns. Android provides a number of design patterns that you can use to create a consistent and polished user interface.
• Make sure the user interface is responsive. The user interface should be responsive to different screen sizes and orientations.

Writing the Code 

Once you have designed the user interface for your Android app, you need to write the code. The code is what makes your app work. Android apps are written in Java or Kotlin Java is the more established language, but Kotlin is becoming increasingly popular. Kotlin is a more concise and expressive language, and it is easier to learn. If you are new to Android development, I recommend that you start with Kotlin. There are many resources available online to help you learn Kotlin. Once you have learned the basics of Kotlin, you can start writing the code for your Android app. 

• Use the Android SDK. 
• Write modular code. 
• Test your code. 

Testing and Debugging Your App 

Once you have written the code for your Android app, you need to test it thoroughly. Testing is important to ensure that your app is working as expected and that there are no bugs. You can test your app using the Android emulator. The emulator is a virtual device that simulates a real Android device. You can also test your app on a real Android device. If you do not have an Android device, you can use a cloud testing service. Once you have tested your app and fixed any bugs, you are ready to deploy it to the Google Play Store.

Deploying your App to the Google Play Store 

To deploy your app to the Google Play Store, you need to create a Google Play developer account. You can create a developer account for free. Once you have created a developer account, you can submit your app to the Google Play Store. Google will review your app and publish it to the Google Play Store if it meets their requirements.

Recommended Read: Mobile App Development Process – A Step By Step Guide 

Ending Note

In the dynamic world of technology, Android app development stands as a gateway to boundless opportunities and creativity. With the global mobile app market projected to soar to $612.26 billion by 2027, the demand for skilled Android developers is at an all-time high. Android, with its 3 billion active devices, offers a vast landscape for aspiring developers to explore. 

Building the first Android app involves meticulous steps. Designing a user-friendly interface demands simplicity, consistency, and responsiveness. Writing code in Java or Kotlin, using the Android SDK, and ensuring modularity are crucial steps. 

Rigorous testing, either on an emulator or a real device, guarantees a bug-free application. Finally, deploying the app on the Google Play Store requires creating a developer account, submitting the app, and adhering to Google’s guidelines.

Creating your first app is like crafting a mini-universe. You design how it looks (that’s your user interface), write the code (which is like giving your app a brain), and then test it to make sure it works perfectly. It’s a bit like baking a cake – you mix all the right ingredients (code), put it in the oven (testing), and voila, you have a delicious cake (your app)!

Once your app is ready, it’s time to share it with the world. Just like publishing a book, you put your app on the Google Play Store, where people from all around the globe can download and use it.

Learning Android app development is like learning a new language. Once you grasp the basics, you can create anything you can imagine. So, get ready to dive in, learn, and start building your own Android apps – who knows, your app might just be the next big thing!

Frequently Asked Questions for Android App Development from Scratch