Learn Java for Android Development

by Jeff Friesen

Android development is hot, and many programmers are interested in joining the fun. However, because this technology is based on Java, you should first obtain a solid grasp of the Java language and its foundational APIs to improve your chances of succeeding as an Android app developer. After all, you will be busy learning the architecture of an Android app, the various Android-specific APIs, and Android-specific tools. If you do not already know Java fundamentals, you will probably end up with a massive headache from also having to quickly cram those fundamentals into your knowledge base. Learn Java for Android Development teaches programmers of any skill level the essential Java language and foundational Java API skills that must be learned to improve the programmer's chances of succeeding as an Android app developer. Each of the book's 10 chapters provides an exercise section that gives you the opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the chapter's material. Answers to the book's more than 300 exercises are provided in an appendix. Once you complete this book, you will be ready to dive into Android, and you can start that journey by obtaining a copy of Beginning Android 2. Additionally, author Jeff Friesen will provide supplementary material (such as 6 more chapters) on his javajeff.mb.ca website, available over the next few months following this book's release. What you'll learn * The Java language: This book provides complete coverage of nearly every pre-Java version 7 language feature (native methods are briefly mentioned but not formally covered). Starting with those features related to classes and objects, you progress to object-oriented features related to inheritance, polymorphism, and interfaces. You then explore the advanced language features for nested types, packages, static imports, exceptions, assertions, annotations, generics, and enums. Continuing, you investigate strictfp, class literals, synchronized, volatile, the enhanced for loop statement, autoboxing/unboxing, and transient fields. The book also briefly presents most (if not all) of Java version 7's language features, although not much is said about closures or modules (which were not finalized at the time of writing). * Java APIs: In addition to Object and APIs related to exceptions, you explore Math, StrictMath, BigDecimal, BigInteger, Package, Boolean, Character, Byte, Short, Integer, Long, Float, Double, Number, the References API, the Reflection API, String, StringBuffer, System, the Threading API, the collections framework, the concurrency utilities, the internationalization APIs, the Preferences API, Random, the Regular Expressions API, File, RandomAccessFile, stream classes, and writer/reader classes. You will also get a tiny taste of Swing in the context of internationalization. * Tools: You will learn how to use the JDK's javac (compiler), java (application launcher), javadoc (Java documentation generator), and jar (Java archive creator, updater, and extractor) tools. You will also receive an introduction to the NetBeans and Eclipse integrated development environments. Although you can develop Android apps without NetBeans or Eclipse, working with these IDEs is much more pleasant. Who this book is for This book is for any programmer (including existing Java programmers and Objective-C (iPhone/iPad) programmers) of any skill level who needs to obtain a solid understanding of the Java language and foundational Java APIs before jumping into Android app development. Table of Contents * Getting Started with Java * Learning Language Fundamentals * Learning Object-Oriented Language Features * Mastering Advanced Language Features Part 1 * Mastering Advanced Language Features Part 2 * Exploring the Basic APIs Part 1 * Exploring the Basic APIs Part 2 * Discovering the Collections Framework * Discovering Additional Utility APIs * Performing I/O * Solutions to Exercises

Genres: Programming, Technology

652 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[yacoob · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was pretty much disappointed by this book. I don't really know Java, yet I want to try writing some small apps for Android. The title looked promising - then it turned out that there's nothing Android-specific inside. At least author warns about that early on. Still wanted to learn some Java, so I've tried to read the book anyway. And the road wasn't that pleasant - examples weren't good, presenting things in a confusing manner. The book is also quite chaotic, jumping back and forth between topics (especially early on). This wasn't my first run-in with Java, so I wasn't totally lost - but I was hoping to get more out of this book.

In short, it certainly describes some Java features. I won't be recommending it though. Too bad.

[Marcos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a beginner book to Java. If you know some other programming languages and want to learn Java (even when it is not targeted to Android); this book is for you! Good coverage of the most used libraries and pretty through

[Targe Movis · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Tim Scharfenort · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sehr gut

[Tekin Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you already know to program then this is a great Java book, particularly first 6 chapters. The author does not assume the reader is an idiot, a kid, or some other undeveloped personality needing cartoons/pictures or stupid musings or jokes to be kept focused. The text is concise, the wording is consistent, overall thorough and systematic; must-have traits for any good technical writer. I'll definitely check other books from this author. Thanks.

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just an introductory Java text. There is no special discussion of how Java is different on the Android platform, the Dalvik VM, or anything else that one would expect from a book packaged as this is. It's dry enough that it doesn't even appear to rate very highly among introductory Java texts--I'd recommend Niemeyer & Knudsen before this book.

[MoniGarr . · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book helped me get started as a java android developer. It was very dry reading, but very detailed. The details about a problem, then explanations about a solution with the code samples helped me to understand the java syntax and logic.

[Charles Patterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not a good primer on Java, nor on Android programming, but contains a thorough coverage of Java for Android. I find it best to think of it as a Java for Android reference while I'm learning Android programming from other sources.

[Daniel Boles]

Great book for beginning Java Programming with Android based development in mind. Really put into perspective how to get your IDE up and running and where to find additional Android SDK's.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

wasn't overly impressed. Learned more in my class at WGU.

[Jovany Agathe · Rating 2 out of 5]

interesting