Android Bootcamp developer training: What's the best way to learn?

[talkbackdroid]

One of the key factors in Android's favor is the fact that it's open-source, meaning developers are free to code their own apps for the platform and go on to release them through the Android Market.Â* What, though, if your ambitions and ideas are mor... Read more

[ickyfehmleh]

The courses offered at Big Nerd Ranch are, at least in my eyes, geared more towards corporations' new hires that need to immediately become familiar with a given framework. All of the half-dozen people I know that have taken BNR courses have done so via their employer. That being said I've heard nothing but good things about their WebObjects and MacOS X courses, so I'd imagine their Android course is just as awesome.

If you already know Java, reading an Android-specific book (like the Wrox one whose name I cannot remember), studying the API, and doing all the tutorials should put one in a fairly good position to write a complex Android application.

If you don't know Java, read a book (I recommend Thinking In Java because it's free and well-written), do some basic Java tutorials, then move on to a relatively complex API such as Android's.

[VValdo]

One of the key factors in Android’s favor is the fact that it’s open-source, meaning developers are free to code their own apps for the platform and go on to release them through the Android Market.

This is not what "open source" means. Given your comments about the "open source community" coming under attack in this story, I really think you should do some reading about what the phrase "open source" actually means.

Many (if not most) of the Android apps-- including "MemoryUp Personal"-- are NOT open source. Connectbot is a great example of an open source Android app.

W

[birdman81484]

Originally Posted by VValdo

This is not what "open source" means. Given your comments about the "open source community" coming under attack in this story, I really think you should do some reading about what the phrase "open source" actually means.

Many (if not most) of the Android apps-- including "MemoryUp Personal"-- are NOT open source. Connectbot is a great example of an open source Android app.

W

He said the Android Platform is open-source.(Which it is) not applications released on the market.

It is an open source platform because you (Waldo) have access to the source code, which enables you to freely develop applications (and other things too) What happens to your application after that (i.e. whether you (Waldo) make that application open source or not is up to you(Waldo).)

So don't get it twisted everybody! The Android PLATFORM is open source!

[liamw]

Iphone isn't open source, neither is Windows Mobile but you can develop apps for them and release them, the initial statement doesn't really make much sense. But apart from that interesting articles :-)

[VValdo]

Originally Posted by birdman81484

He said the Android Platform is open-source.(Which it is) not applications released on the market.

What he (?) said is that the Android Platform being open source (which it is) means that "developers are free to code their own apps for the platform and go on to release them through the Android Market."

This is wrong.

The Android Platform being open source has nothing to do with whether or not developers can code their own apps and release them on the market. Developers can code their own apps and release them on the iPhone for example, but the iPhone platform is not open source.

Any operating system, open source or not, can publish an API and offer a development platform so that people can write and release applications for it. Windows for example is not open source, and yet people can write applications for it and release them.

It is an open source platform because you (Waldo) have access to the source code, which enables you to freely develop applications (and other things too)

The first part of your sentence is right. But having access to the source code is not necessary to "freely" develop applications and other things. It is useful if you want to modify or extend the Android platform itself, however.

What happens to your application after that (i.e. whether you (Waldo) make that application open source or not is up to you(Waldo).)

So don't get it twisted everybody! The Android PLATFORM is open source!

The Android platform is open source. Totally. This has nothing to do with the ability to develop applications that run on it.

W

[inportb]

Heh... interesting definition of opensource. But anyway -- $3500 is a generally reasonable sum for a week of self-contained, professional training. It's possible to learn the same things through less expensive routes, but this method saves time.

[Phoenixdadeadhead]

Is it just me, or do others think that Google, as well as the cell phone manufacturers, and phone companies, who are planning to or already have android platformed machines, would do themselves a favor for themselves by offering to not only pay for this bootcamp, but even pay individuals to take it?

[constellanation]

I suspect they are hoping for corporations pushing employees into this as the bulk of entrants with a few other individuals scattered about.

but yeah if it was free, I would totally go sit in the back of the classroom and not know a thing about what was being talked about.