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Programming Android
Thank you for making Programming Android a huge success! This edition has been superseded by the second edition, ISBN 1449316646, also sold here on Amazon.com.
What does it take to build well-engineered Android applications? Explore Android's core building blocks and APIs in depth with this authoritative guide, and learn how to create compelling apps that work on a full range of Android devices. You'll work with proven approaches to app design and implementation--including application frameworks that you can use as a starting point for your own projects.
Delve into sensors, native development, 3D graphics, and many other topics, and discover how to build apps on the platform of your choice. If you're an intermediate to advanced programmer, you'll learn how to make great Android apps.
What does it take to build well-engineered Android applications? Explore Android's core building blocks and APIs in depth with this authoritative guide, and learn how to create compelling apps that work on a full range of Android devices. You'll work with proven approaches to app design and implementation--including application frameworks that you can use as a starting point for your own projects.
Delve into sensors, native development, 3D graphics, and many other topics, and discover how to build apps on the platform of your choice. If you're an intermediate to advanced programmer, you'll learn how to make great Android apps.
482 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2010
About the author
Zigurd Mednieks
12 books7 followersZigurd Mednieks is a consultant to leading OEMs, enterprises, and entrepreneurial ventures creating mobile and IoT systems and apps.
Previously he was Chief Architect at D2 Technologies, a voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology provider. There he lead engineering and product definition work for products that blend communication and social media in purpose-built embedded systems.
He is lead author of the top-selling O'Reilly title Programming Android. Zigurd is also the lead author of Enterprise Android, published by Wiley WROX in 2013. This the first Android programming book to focus on cloud API-based applications.
Zigurd is Series Editor of the Addison Wesley Android Deep Dive series.
Zigurd is a veteran of user interface, telecommunications,, and social media product creation. In 1986, his first book, C programming Techniques for the Macintosh, co-authored with his wife-to-be Terry, was published by Howard W. Sams & Co. and went into several printings.
Previously he was Chief Architect at D2 Technologies, a voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology provider. There he lead engineering and product definition work for products that blend communication and social media in purpose-built embedded systems.
He is lead author of the top-selling O'Reilly title Programming Android. Zigurd is also the lead author of Enterprise Android, published by Wiley WROX in 2013. This the first Android programming book to focus on cloud API-based applications.
Zigurd is Series Editor of the Addison Wesley Android Deep Dive series.
Zigurd is a veteran of user interface, telecommunications,, and social media product creation. In 1986, his first book, C programming Techniques for the Macintosh, co-authored with his wife-to-be Terry, was published by Howard W. Sams & Co. and went into several printings.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 4, 2014
If you're on your first Android project (like me), get this book, right away! Don't be intimidated by its official designation as "intermediate". As a beginner, you'll want to know how to rescue yourself from bugs. This book provides the context behind every concept: you'll know the why, the what to do next, and the what to avoid (and why!). You'll develop a mental mapping of the "space" where everything sits.
It's aimed at people who've done some Java already, but if you haven't, there's a very nice intro to the Java you'll need (again, with all the vital "why"s behind the "how"s).
Lots of code examples explained step-by-step.
It's intended to be used together with the online Android documentation by Google, but is quite usable all by itself. Its focus on "best practices" is invaluable.
It's aimed at people who've done some Java already, but if you haven't, there's a very nice intro to the Java you'll need (again, with all the vital "why"s behind the "how"s).
Lots of code examples explained step-by-step.
It's intended to be used together with the online Android documentation by Google, but is quite usable all by itself. Its focus on "best practices" is invaluable.
September 11, 2013
Want to get into Android programming? What better than a book called Programming Android from O'Reilly! :) This is a GREAT resource! The book is well-organized into sections, giving you information on how to setup your environment all the way up to handling more recent topics like NFC.
I find that the style of the book works well as a reference to look up roughly how you would do something, like setup NFC P2P or setup some OpenGL graphics, as well as a running tutorial to read through to learn how things work. The book is full of code examples (available online too) and valuable information on how to properly implement your applications (see Chapter 10 - A Framework for a Well-Behaved Application).
Reading this book enlightened me to a great way to implement one of my projects without worrying about certain runtime issues. Originally I had considered putting logic in a run loop in the application and shutdown when it left... but that wouldn't work out right when I needed information live, but cached information would be good. The book enlightened me to "Content Providers" which using a service could provide the necessary cache I needed. Later on I discovered that the service by itself would solve my problem, but without the reading, I wouldn't have stumbled upon the path as quickly!
The author, Zigurd Mednieks, has done a great job in writing a strong book on Android to compliment the vast amount of information available through Google's documentation. I suggest you get this book, especially the eBook form - you can easily search through and find references / copy code-bits.
I find that the style of the book works well as a reference to look up roughly how you would do something, like setup NFC P2P or setup some OpenGL graphics, as well as a running tutorial to read through to learn how things work. The book is full of code examples (available online too) and valuable information on how to properly implement your applications (see Chapter 10 - A Framework for a Well-Behaved Application).
Reading this book enlightened me to a great way to implement one of my projects without worrying about certain runtime issues. Originally I had considered putting logic in a run loop in the application and shutdown when it left... but that wouldn't work out right when I needed information live, but cached information would be good. The book enlightened me to "Content Providers" which using a service could provide the necessary cache I needed. Later on I discovered that the service by itself would solve my problem, but without the reading, I wouldn't have stumbled upon the path as quickly!
The author, Zigurd Mednieks, has done a great job in writing a strong book on Android to compliment the vast amount of information available through Google's documentation. I suggest you get this book, especially the eBook form - you can easily search through and find references / copy code-bits.
January 10, 2014
A very detailed explanations of the Java language and android environment. The authors explains Java to the extent it relates to android OS and the Davrik Compiler. Keep in mind that when the book was published Android 4.0 was the latest version. But don't let that publishing date fool you because App support for Android 4.0 will have to go on for a while and the book is still very relevant as of Android 4.3-4.4. If your an experienced android developer look elsewhere this is for beginners. Experienced Java developers can skip the first part.
July 30, 2013
A good overview.
The instructions for setting up the build environment are already obsolete. In the second edition. Of an e-book.
But once I'd figured that part out I was able to (virtually) leaf through the book to aid me figuring out the structure of the app that I'd chosen to debug. And, eventually, to creating my own android app, from setting up the directory structure to signing the app for release.
The instructions for setting up the build environment are already obsolete. In the second edition. Of an e-book.
But once I'd figured that part out I was able to (virtually) leaf through the book to aid me figuring out the structure of the app that I'd chosen to debug. And, eventually, to creating my own android app, from setting up the directory structure to signing the app for release.
May 5, 2012
This book is advertised as being very "advanced". It's not. It's advertised as having information about the NDK. It doesn't (unless you count one overly-long, unexplained example program as information). It has more information about the Java language that I cared to get in a book of this nature, and less information about sensors than is needed to do anything significant with them.
December 30, 2011
Going back to this when I have more spare time; this book is technical in nature and requires more commitment than I have to offer right now!
Want to Read
August 8, 2013How can I get read this book
March 2, 2014
What I learnt from this book is that, one should hire a programmer instead of trying to learn every thing beyond scope. Still I'd appreciate writer's effort. Good for beginners.
July 5, 2014
One of the best book on Android right now. Authors keep it updated with new revision regularly (3rd edition is due in december 2014).
Read
January 8, 2015have to read this
December 31, 2016
Good Android book. I have found many useful information in it about Android main components and also in JAVA. But it is somehow not well-organized and contains some mess.
Read
November 29, 2011Picking this up later
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews