Build Your First Android App (Project-Centered Course) from Coursera

What you’ll achieve:

In this project-centered course*, you’ll design, build, and distribute your own unique application for the Android mobile platform. We’ll provide you with a set of customizable building blocks that you can assemble to create many different types of apps, and that will help you become familiar with many important specificities of Android development. When you complete the project, in addition to having a personalized app that you can use and share, you’ll have the skills and background you need to move on to more advanced coursework in Android development.

What you’ll need to get started:

This project-centered course is designed for learners who have some prior experience programming in Java, such as an introductory college course or Coursera’s Java Programming Specialization (https://www.coursera.org/specializations/java-programming).

You will need a computer with a stable Internet connection, but you will not need an Android phone - we’ll use free software that you can use to emulate a phone on your computer. We'll use Android Studio as IDE; it is compatible with most computer and operating systems. You can find detailed system requirements here: https://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html#Requirements.

*About Project-Centered Courses: Project-centered courses are designed to help you complete a personally meaningful real-world project, with your instructor and a community of learners with similar goals providing guidance and suggestions along the way. By actively applying new concepts as you learn, you’ll master the course content more efficiently; you’ll also get a head start on using the skills you gain to make positive changes in your life and career. When you complete the course, you’ll have a finished project that you’ll be proud to use and share.

Time: 10 hours of study, 10 hours of active project work

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

This module presents our pedagogic approach and demonstrates the kind of applications you will be able to build at the end of the course.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops foundational skills for learners interested in mobile development

Strong focus on Java programming, a prevalent language in industry

Project-centered and hands-on, providing practical experience

Provides building blocks for creating various mobile applications

May require additional resources for learners new to Java programming

Reviews summary

Build your first android app

According to learners, this course offers a highly practical, project-centered approach to building your first Android application. Students appreciate the step-by-step guidance provided, particularly during the initial setup of Android Studio. Many found the course excellent for beginners, providing a solid foundation by teaching through creating customizable building blocks. While the course requires prior Java experience, some learners noted that a strong command of Java is beneficial to avoid challenges. A few recent reviews hint that some content might be slightly outdated compared to the latest Android versions or tooling, though the core concepts remain relevant. The peer review process is central to the course structure.

Prior Java skills are necessary and helpful.

"The course explicitly states that Java knowledge is required, and it's true – you'll struggle without a good Java foundation."

"Having solid Java programming skills makes this course much smoother and easier to complete."

"Came in with some Java experience, and that was definitely essential for understanding the code examples."

"Be sure you are comfortable with Java basics before enrolling, as it moves quickly on the Android concepts."

Clear guidance provided for initial setup.

"The instructions for installing and setting up Android Studio were very clear and helpful."

"Setting up the environment can be tricky, but the course walks you through it step-by-step effectively."

"Really appreciated the detailed guidance on getting Android Studio and the emulator running on my machine."

"Found the initial setup module made getting started less intimidating than I expected."

A strong introduction to Android development.

"This course is an excellent starting point for anyone new to Android app development."

"As a complete beginner in Android, I found the course easy to follow and comprehensive enough to get started."

"Provides a solid introduction to the Android Studio environment and basic app structure for newcomers."

"Perfect for those just taking their first steps into mobile app programming."

Learn effectively by building your own app.

"The project-centered format of this course is incredibly effective; learning by actually building an app makes all the difference."

"I really liked the project-based approach; it helped me apply what I learned immediately instead of just listening to lectures."

"Building my own app throughout the course solidified my understanding of Android development fundamentals."

"This method is great for practical learning, focusing on a real-world project from start to finish."

Some course material may need updates.

"Some parts felt a bit outdated given the rapid changes in Android development and Android Studio versions."

"Had to look up workarounds for a few things because the course material didn't quite match the latest IDE version."

"While the core concepts are still valid, specific steps or interface elements shown don't always align with the current Android Studio."

"Suggest checking recent Android developer documentation alongside the course for the newest practices."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Build Your First Android App (Project-Centered Course) with these activities:

Read 'Head First Android Development'

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This book provides a comprehensive introduction to Android development and will help you understand the concepts and techniques covered in this course.

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Read Chapters 1-5 of the book
Complete the practice exercises at the end of each chapter
Use the book as a reference to clarify concepts and techniques

Watch video tutorials on Android Studio

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This activity will help you familiarize yourself with the Android Studio IDE and learn how to use its tools effectively.

Browse courses on Android Studio

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Find a series of video tutorials on Android Studio
Watch the tutorials and follow along with the steps
Complete any practice exercises provided in the tutorials

Review core Java concepts

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This activity will help you refresh your knowledge of core Java concepts and ensure you have a strong foundation for this course.

Browse courses on Java Programming

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Review Java syntax and data types
Practice writing basic Java programs
Review object-oriented programming concepts

Five other activities

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Solve Android coding problems

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This activity will help you improve your problem-solving skills and apply your knowledge of Java and Android concepts to real-world scenarios.

Browse courses on Android Development

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Find a resource for Android coding problems
Attempt to solve a variety of coding problems
Review your solutions and identify areas for improvement

Join a study group with other students

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This activity will help you connect with other students, share knowledge, and reinforce your understanding of the course concepts.

Browse courses on Android Development

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Find a study group or create your own
Meet regularly to discuss course topics
Work together on assignments and projects

Develop a simple Android application

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This activity will allow you to apply your knowledge and skills to create a real-world Android application.

Browse courses on Android Development

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Choose an idea for your application
Design the layout and interface of your application
Write the code for your application
Test and debug your application
Publish your application on the Google Play Store

Volunteer for an Android development project

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This activity will provide you with hands-on experience with Android development and allow you to contribute to a real-world project.

Browse courses on Android Development

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Find an Android development project that needs volunteers
Contact the project leader and express your interest
Complete the tasks assigned to you

Contribute to an open-source Android library

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This activity will allow you to gain experience with open-source development and contribute to the Android community.

Browse courses on Android Development

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Find an open-source Android library that you are interested in
Fork the repository and make your changes
Submit a pull request with your changes
Work with the maintainers of the library to get your changes accepted

Career center

Learners who complete Build Your First Android App (Project-Centered Course) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Android Developer

An Android Developer designs, builds, tests, deploys, maintains, and documents applications for mobile devices powered by Android. This course may be useful because it helps build a foundation in Android development. It provides you with a set of customizable building blocks, helping you understand and develop many different types of apps.

See salaries and explore the career path for Android Developer

Mobile Application Developer

A Mobile Application Developer designs, builds, tests, deploys, maintains, and documents applications for mobile devices. This course may be useful because it helps build a foundation in mobile application development, specifically for Android. It provides you with a set of customizable building blocks, helping you understand and develop many different types of apps.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile Application Developer

Computer Programmer

A Computer Programmer designs, develops, tests, deploys, maintains, and documents software applications. This course may be useful because it helps build a foundation in software development, specifically for Android. It provides you with a set of customizable building blocks, helping you understand and develop many different types of apps.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Programmer

Software Developer

A Software Developer designs, builds, tests, deploys, maintains, and documents software applications. This course may be useful because it helps build a foundation in software development, specifically for Android. It provides you with a set of customizable building blocks, helping you understand and develop many different types of apps.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Web Developer

A Web Developer designs, builds, tests, deploys, maintains, and documents web applications. While this course does not focus on web development, it may be useful because it helps build a foundation in software development. This course may help you understand the basics of programming in Java.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist collects, analyzes, and interprets data to help organizations make informed decisions. While this course does not focus on data science, it may be useful because it helps build a foundation in programming in Java.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst identifies and analyzes business needs and develops solutions to improve business processes. While this course does not focus on business analysis, it may be useful because it helps build a foundation in programming in Java.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager plans, executes, monitors, and closes projects to achieve specific goals. While this course does not focus on project management, it may be useful because it helps build a foundation in project planning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates and maintains technical documentation, such as user manuals, white papers, and training materials. While this course does not focus on technical writing, it may be useful because it helps build a foundation in writing and documentation.

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Computer Systems Analyst

A Computer Systems Analyst designs, develops, and implements computer systems. While this course does not focus on computer systems analysis, it may be useful because it helps build a foundation in programming in Java.

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Database Administrator

A Database Administrator manages and maintains databases. While this course does not focus on database administration, it may be useful because it helps build a foundation in programming in Java.

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Network Administrator

A Network Administrator manages and maintains computer networks. While this course does not focus on network administration, it may be useful because it helps build a foundation in programming in Java.

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Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst protects computer systems and networks from unauthorized access or attack. While this course does not focus on information security analysis, it may be useful because it helps build a foundation in programming in Java.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Quality Assurance Analyst

A Quality Assurance Analyst tests and evaluates software applications to ensure they meet quality standards. While this course does not focus on quality assurance, it may be useful because it helps build a foundation in software testing.

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Technical Support Specialist

A Technical Support Specialist provides technical support to users of computer systems and applications. While this course does not focus on technical support, it may be useful because it helps build a foundation in troubleshooting.

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