Android Application Development - Tools and Technologies

Android is busy conquering the mobile application development market and there are a huge number of companies who have moved on to mobile application development by landing up with Android app development projects. Since Android is an open source platform, the popularity is growing steadily and there are many mobile application developers who are trying to make the best use of the mobile platform. Since most of the startups in the field of mobile app development rely on free app development tools and technologies, it is easy for them to take up Android-based development projects for meeting customers' demands.

Mobile developers who create Android apps rely on Java language mainly though the Scripting Layer for Android (SL4A) is used consistently for writing applications in Python, Perl and other environments. With the recent developments in the platform with Android 2.3 and Android 4.0, the developers obtained an opportunity to start development of apps in Android as the latest versions support Adobe Flash and Adobe AIR technologies.

Android SDK is provided to developers for the app development process along with the environment for writing, testing and debugging mobile apps.

The Eclipse IDE is helpful for a quick and easy Android application development process. One can customize it using the Android Development Tools Plugin which thus helps in enhancing the quality and quantity of Android mobile applications.

Android Emulator ensures that the testing and debugging process using Android device-emulators is done smoothly which helps developers to create an environment which simulates the features of the OS as well as the mobile devices.

Android app developers utilize the Android framework APIs and take advantage of a plethora of C/C++ libraries. The libraries include System C library, SQlite, SGL graphics engine, 3D libraries and some others technologies.

Mobile app developers who work Android apps development can sell off their mobile solutions in the Android Market and even publicize it via a website. Android Marketplace is basically an application store which was launched by Google for Android-based apps distribution. The apps are created and distributed by developers worldwide and the store now boasts of more than 200,000 Android apps which prove that it is second to the iOS and is fast catching up in popularity.

The Android platform has extensively expanded its wings in the mobile app development market and has gained substantially too for tablet PCs too. With the advent of the offshore software development market, the mobile market has vouched for outsourcing of the process which has resulted in drastic returns in productivity and costs.

Android Application Development And Its Various Features

Web giant Google Inc. placed its feet in several domains of the tech savvy world, however the Mountain View, California-based company has struck gold with its Internet Search Engine and only a few years old Android application development market.

An introduction to Android

Google's Android is the Linux-based operating system meant primarily for mobile phones. The platform is currently used by various global mobile phone manufacturers including leading names like Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and HTC to build some of their best smartphones on the same. The Android market has struck a chord with global consumers as well as developers despite stiff competition from Apple's Mac Operating System and Microsoft's Windows and newer versions. This is solely due to its enhanced flexibility and easy Android application development.

Android App Development and its popularity

Google Inc. uses an Open Source Project for Android in order to run and maintain the system along with a Compatibility Program to implement third party application easily on the device, thus making it the favorite for developers and tech enthusiasts all over the world. While numerous Android apps have been developed so far, it is believed that around 500,000 applications see light every day, proving the popularity and mass indulgence of the Android-based smartphones.

The owners have shown immense confidence in their developers for Android application development by presenting it as the open source Linux Operating System. The company has provided great amount of freedom to the developers coming from all corners of the world by offering them right Android application development tools. This has made Android a favorite and a notch higher in terms of acceptance among the masses than its fierce competitor and iPhone-maker Cupertino, California-based Apple Inc.

The open source OS simply refers to a platform whose source codes can be accessed by the interested users without hassles. They can leverage these codes in order to satiate their tech hunger or just to experiment with them. The system enables interested users to modify or change and customize the features of the Operating System according to their choice and preference.

Android App Development for techies
Beginners can develop an app with the use of Android application development kit provided by the company. They can run it on the simulator for the OS and then can load the same on to their device as soon as the result is in affirmative. This freedom enables users to make their device as efficient for use as possible and that too on their own terms and choices.

Android application development has varied favored characteristics to its name, such as its low development cost, extensive support for the media features, a huge set up for graphics and similar tools, responsibility for stability of the Android applications by Linux and availability of Android SDK. Customization at every level and easy to learn Java-based programming makes Android the best bet among all.