The *.pde file from the previoust post

Although it was a simple example, i share with you the file/sketch from my last post.

Best regards.

;)

A little bit of coding...

A little bit of coding...

In my last posts, i just opened a door about android applications.

As you know, there are many websites that allow you to create such applications, but when i started with the idea of android development, i wanted to create something from scracth, of my own efforts.

The cruel and hard world teach us that you have to use/take all you can and sell it before other to gain some money or reputation, but, i still want to create my own stuff.... i know, i will be poor forever...

Anyway, the real issue of this post is to introduce, in some way, into the programming behind android as well many other platform applications.

As i am a fan of free and open source software today i bring you PROCESSING.

As wiki say:

"Processing is an open source programming language and integrated development environment (IDE) built for the electronic arts and visual design communities with the purpose of teaching the fundamentals of computer programming in a visual context, and to serve as the foundation for electronic sketchbooks. The project was initiated in 2001 by Casey Reas and Benjamin Fry, both formerly of the Aesthetics and Computation Group at the MIT Media Lab. One of the stated aims of Processing is to act as a tool to get non-programmers started with programming, through the instant gratification of visual feedback. The language builds on the Java language, but uses a simplified syntax and graphics programming model."

As of note, many android applications can and are built in the java language, so you can this post as some kind of java introdution lesson ^_^

This said/writen, i begin...

The programming languages are a way of comunication beetwin the computer/hardware and us/users, and have to be writen/used with some kind of carefull, remember that viruses and buggy programs are built using them, you can easily crash your computer filling all your RAM or even melt down your processor.

I say this to make you use VARIABLES.

Wiki:

"In computer programming, a variable is a storage location and an associated symbolic name which contains some known or unknown quantity or information, a value. The variable name is the usual way to reference the stored value; this separation of name and content allows the name to be used independently of the exact information it represents.^{[dubious – discuss]} A variable name in computer source code is an identifier that can be bound to a value during run time, and the value may change during the course of program execution."

For example, you can imagine the letter a as a variable that will store a number, for example, 8.

a = 8;

I know this is a lot like maths...

Lets download processing and see this in action.

As you open processing you see this screen:

As you see up there, the programming result in some circles in a dark background.

You can make something similar with these line of code:

background(0);
int a=20;
int b=20;
int c=40;
int d=40;
ellipse(a,b,c,d);

As an exercise, try to save this file in the processing format and filling the window with more circles

Understanding the code is easy:

• background is a processing function that allow you to change the back color of the window;
• int is the format of the files that variable accepts, this time it accepts integral values, like 1,2,3,400 or 1000;
• ellipse is a processing function that allow you to create a circle in the window based in two groups of coordinates (controlling the center and the ray of the circle) - (20,20) are the center and (40,40) are 40 for width and 40 to height.

Try different combinations and using other functions like rect ;)

Building an Android Application!

Hello again,

So many time passed since my last post, and i whished to had posted somehow sooner but it was impossible.

Again, i show you one way of creating an android application, using a website to do so.

Last time i wrote about appsgeyser (www.appsgeyser.com), "a free online platform that enables web publishers, video channels and radio programs to create custom mobile applications for Android. All Android apps developed through AppsGeyser’s platform can be distributed and exchanged online, through the AppsGeyser App Marketplace or in the Android App Store."

It has some advanges, like the rich forum they have allowing easy support/help and the possibility to sell your apps quickly.

Distribution and monetization options are offered within the platform and the AppsGeyser Blog focuses on giving app makers How-To and App Marketing advice."

Here is a quick tour...

Hope you give it a try.

________

prof-2004

Next time i will show another way to build an android app - programming lesson!

An Android Application?

An Android Application?

   I'm sure you have heard about Android Market or Android Application, well, the market is full of applications. Ones you can get for free, other, you have to buy.

Now, what is and how does one of those applications work?

   Obviously, and in the widest sense, an Android app is a software application running on the Android platform. That running application have access to certain parts of your celular device hardware, like the GPS, or the WIFI card or maybe your camera (a simple example is a game that plays some kind of sound).
   You grab the application from the Android Market, install it into your device/SDcard and use it.

App examples:

Creating your own application...

   The simplest way is using one of many website that allow you to play a bit creating them, like:

http://www.appsgeyser.com/

    The hardest way is you to learn some coding... That is the aim of my blog. To teach you some coding and getting you to create a simple but all-around costumizable android application.

   See you next time!

What is Android?

ND-Doid Blog
Second entry
What is Android?

As you can check in the wikipedia web page:

"Android is a Linux-based operating system for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers."

What does this means?

It some knid of software that operates a device, like windows operates much of the personal computers world wide. But contrary to Windows that is a proprietary spftware (paid), Android, that is based on Linux, is open source (free).

Where does it work?

It is specially designed for portable devices, like tablets and celular phones.

Although, if you know how to do it, it can work other devices as well. Wikipedia  says:

"While Android is designed primarily for smartphones and tablets, the open and customizable nature of the operating system allows it to be used on other electronics, including laptops and netbooks, smartbooks,^[63] ebook readers,^[64] and smart TVs (Google TV). Further, the OS has seen niche applications on wristwatches,^[65] headphones,^[66] car CD and DVD players,^[67] smart glasses (Project Glass), refrigerators, vehicle satnav systems, home automation systems, games consoles, mirrors,^[68] cameras,^[69] portable media players^[70] landlines,^[71] and treadmills.^[72] "

Opensource? But it as a owner...

Android is the main competitor to the Apple iOS, and its owned by Google.

As you may know, Google and other Web company obtain great profits through Ads (advertising). What Google make with Android is no different, you can use the software for free, but you have to buy the hardware/devices and the applications.

Applications?

They are the main reason you may want to use the Android in the first place. 

You have game applications, web applications, sport applications, social event applications, health applications, etc etc etc...

For example, i mainly use one application that uses the gps on my phone and give me the distance/speed/averages of my daily jogging.

Finalizing...

The software is great, has many users, many developers and even more applications.

The goal of this blog is more about this last part. 

As in life, you should not just be as spectator/user, but a creator/developer.

Think for a bit. Who get rich? Users or Developers? Well, none of those, large company do...

But you can always get a job! Or at least enjoy using your own application.

Cheers ;)