10 Tips that will help you become a better Android Developer

Whether you're a first-time Android developer or have been around the block, chances are that you could use some advice on how to become better. This article covers 10 tips that will help guide you on your way to becoming a skilled Android developer.

Consider the platform

First, know the platform you're working on. Just because something has been around for a while doesn't mean you need to have a deep understanding of it. And, even if you know about every little detail, that doesn't mean you know enough to know what the average developer really needs to know. What can you do to become an expert in the areas where you need to be? Start by following the tutorials available in the official Google Developers and AdMob Google Play tutorials (this is where you can start learning about Android in detail). Keep up with the dev blog posts. Sign up for development email updates. This will notify you when there is a new release of a new Android app, which will give you all the latest releases that are out in the wild.

Learn the basics

Probably the most important part of being a developer, right? After mastering the basic Android fundamentals, such as Android Nougat, start looking at Advanced Android Development topics. If you really want to learn, head on over to the official Android Academy YouTube channel and take a look at the Android for Dev course. Tackle the basics Do you know the difference between an Android and iOS developer? Or what the difference is between an Android app and an Android app launcher? Tackling the basics will give you a good insight into the world of Android development. And if you're not sure where to start, check out our free Android apps and game bundle for more tips.

Find a mentor

Even if you don't think you're ready to work for someone else, there's no better way to learn than working for someone who can teach you new things, or show you the way. Have you ever wondered why so many startups and high-tech companies hire indie coders? Maybe it's because they want to spend their time on something that gives them pleasure. Or perhaps it's because these companies realize that, by working with experienced programmers, they can speed up their development process and grow faster. Find a mentor that will give you the exposure to different problems and technologies. Learn to be able to answer questions A lot of times people ask you a question and you're not sure how to respond.

Learn Android UI Design

UI design is one of the most important things for a good-looking and usable Android app. And as a novice developer, it's hard to learn UI design without having to learn the XAML Framework. That is why you should learn Android UI Design (with all the syntaxes you need). It's essential to have in your arsenal, not only because UI design is important but also because there are millions of free tutorials online that can guide you to make a beautiful, usable app. Learn Android Programming Of course, in order to be a better Android developer, you need to understand how the code works and the most efficient way to do it. That's why you should learn Android Programming in order to become an expert in the Android platform.

Follow best practices and design patterns

A few best practices include testing thoroughly, paying close attention to bugs found in an app and minimizing code complexity, all of which will help you create quality software. Most importantly, following design patterns (such as classes) that will help you create reusable, maintainable components that you can reuse for other projects. Check for performance issues before launching Before making a new release, such as Android Wear or an Android Auto version, check for performance issues like memory usage, random crashes, underutilized hardware or other potential issues. Use Unit Testing One of the best ways to check your code is to use Unit Testing, which is a solid and trusted method that helps you identify the performance problems that could arise in the future.

Understand threading and networking

Understand how threads and networking work under the covers. They're definitely more complex than Android's UI thread. Read a few books on the topic: Understanding Android's Threading Models by Rebecca Way and Angela Evans, or Networking: Networking for Dummies by Matt Tueller. Apply basic skills Android has a variety of learning resources that can help you get started. My favorite is the official Android Tutorials that take you through a variety of topics and concepts. You can also download a list of training materials from Google and find tutorial videos from Udacity and other online sources. The articles included in the Resources section of Android Developers' official blog are also a great way to get started. Learn Java One of the most popular languages used on Android is Java.

Get more experience with testing

First, you need to identify the impact and importance of different testing strategies. For more complex projects, integration testing is probably the best approach. Check out more on testing with Jenkins or check out a tutorial on building a unit testing library for Android. In cases where the code complexity isn't so high, it's best to use a functional testing strategy. Google Test is a good choice for this kind of testing. In a separate blog post, it discusses the Google Test Architecture. Test features and interfaces Start with some tests for your desired features and then expand to more complex functionality. Runtastic's Wearable Activity Testing provides useful examples for this kind of testing. You can try it out for free with this free WTFWatch Android app.

Know your development tools

All well-documented, professional applications work the same way, regardless of the tools they use to develop their business logic. So if you know your development tools inside and out, you will be able to save time and headaches during development by avoiding some common mistakes. Look no further than our Android Development series for more guidance on your way to becoming a professional Android developer. Listen to developer conferences I don't just mean going to big conferences like Devoxx or ShmooCon, but rather, listening to podcasts of the talks. Just sitting down for 30 minutes each day and playing through the recording is a great way to hear how other people work.

Write cleaner code

A good software project is easy to write if there are no design or architecture problems. If your code looks elegant and clear, the rest of the development team will be happy because they will be able to read your code to get information about how it is supposed to work and make sure that it does work correctly. They will be able to follow your instructions and update your code without any complaints. When you write code that is easy to read, you will be a great asset to your company. Learn the details It doesn't matter if you are writing for Android or a desktop application. Every developer should read a few books or attend some courses to learn as much as they can about their chosen area.

Stay up to date

Most of these tips are made to be applied all throughout a development cycle, so it's definitely worth it to read and apply them from beginning to end. In addition, you'll be better able to understand what your app's Android users are looking for and be able to design better. Choose the right theme Theme is like a layer of skin that provides a certain level of polish and class to your app. You can add a theme from the app settings. This means you can make your Android app look more professional, or give it a more casual feel. Consider adding Material Design elements Material Design is a set of design guidelines designed to make Android development a lot more streamlined.