App Development (with an Android bias)

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App Development (with an Android bias) Bristol University Scott Alexander-Bown @scottyab

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Scott Alexander-Bown ●  Senior Developer @viaForensics ○  Consultancy & training for Independently Mobile ●  Co-author Android Security Cookbook ●  Co-founder SWmobile meetup group ○  meetup.com/swmobile

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Agenda •  Android in 60 seconds •  Android Ecosystem •  Building Apps •  Dev tips & quick wins •  Testing •  Design •  Vs iOS •  What I love about app development •  How to get hired (according to me)

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Android in 60 seconds •  Open source •  Linux based •  Java •  Permissions •  Resources framework o  i.e build for variety •  Side load apps

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Ecosystem: Android is No.1 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:World_Wide_Smartphone_Sales_Share.png

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Ecosystem: Playstore •  $25 developer registration fee •  No approval •  Alpha and Beta distribution •  Staggered distribution •  Automated security testing/monitoring •  Alternative app stores

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Development Environment

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Development Tools •  Eclipse o  with Android Developer Tools plugin •  IntelliJ IDEA o  with Android plugin •  Android Studio o  Bleeding edge

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Building Apps: watch out for •  What not to do…

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Building Apps: Be Agile •  Small tested iterations •  Show customers often

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Quick wins: open source community •  SQLCipher •  Google GSON •  Fundapter •  Anything from •  Square •  CommonsWare •  More: inappsquared.com/devappsdirect.html

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Quick wins: mbass •  User auth/Social login (google, fb, twitter) •  User management •  Data storage o  save and sync data objects o  ﬁles (large ﬁles) •  Analytics •  Push messaging

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Pro tips •  Fragments (componentize your UI) •  AsyncTask use an IntentService •  EventBus (component communication) •  Use styles, dimens and colors.xml •  dip not px

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Fragmentation??? This. Is. Differentiation!!!

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Fragmentation: quick wins •  Android compatibility library •  Google Play services •  NineOldAndroids •  HoloEverywhere

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Fragmentation: platform versions November 1, 2013

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Getting help •  Android docs, training & samples •  Androiddevweekly.com •  Stackoverflow •  Google plus (bit.ly/g_andev) •  YouTube o  DevBytes o  ADiA o  Google IO •  Busy coders guide to Android o  by Mark Murphy

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Testing •  Hardware o  Cheap Samsung - Ace / S3 o  Nexus 5 o  10” tablet - Nexus 10 •  Emulator o  GenyMotion.com •  Services o  Errorlytics - Crittercism.com o  Crowd source bug testing - UTest.com o  Cloud based UI testing - TestDroid.com

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Design

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Keep it simple

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Design patterns

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Design: Inspiration •  Google Playstore •  Gmail, Google+ & others •  Pocket •  Expedia •  Timely •  More examples: o  androidniceties.tumblr.com o  android-app-patterns.com

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Design: resources •  developer.android.com/design •  android-holo-colors.com •  Android asset studio bit.ly/andasset o  Icons o  Action bar style o  Device frame generator

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Vs iOS

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Android Win o  Device choice o  Customisation o  All apps are equal o  True background tasks o  NFC o  Resources framework iOS Win •  Flagship devices •  Core Animation •  Core Data •  Users upgrade to latest OS •  Clients, Managers, Designers have/ know them •  Paid apps do better Vs iOS

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Android everywhere

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What I love about app development •  App/mobile is now mainstream •  New stuff •  Skills •  Devices •  Yearly update of mobile platforms •  Software that’s used by millions world wide •  No barriers and lots of cloud API’s

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How to get hired (IMO) •  Enthusiasm for mobile (and development) •  Example work (no excuses) •  Uni project •  Hack-a-thon •  Contribute to community •  Stackoverflow •  Github •  No bullshit!

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Thanks for listening

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Q&A | Contact | Feedback ●  [email protected] ●  meetup.com/swmobile ●  github/scottyab ●  @scottyab Next meetup: 4th Dec

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Q&A ideas • Working in an Agency vs Product company • Source control • Salaries • Contracting • Networking