Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes from Pluralsight

In this course, you will go through how to style widgets, or views of your application, along with selecting and applying appropriate themes to your app while keeping in mind the android device API level.

An attractive user interface is the first impression of any application that the users come across. To provide a smooth, attractive, and consistent user-interface and design, the most important step that a developer should focus on is the themes and styles of the application. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, is all about how to apply styles to the views and widgets present in the android application, and choosing appropriate themes for an app. First, you will focus on how to apply styles to a View or ViewGroup, along with using the concept of inheritance for styling Views. Next, you'll go over customizing a theme for your application and which can help users identify the category of your application to some extent by just having a glance at it. Finally, you'll go over how best to handle some compatibility issues with your app for lower API level devices that will use it. When you are finished with this course, you'll have a better understanding of how to apply styles and themes to your Android applications.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Introduction

Styling Views

Using the Concept of Inheritance for Styling Views

Applying Themes

Maintaining Backward Compatibility

Exploring Practical Usage of Styles and Themes

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches the core skills of applying styles and themes to Android applications

Implements industry-standard methods for applying styles and themes

Suitable for beginners who want to learn the fundamentals of styling and theming in Android

Provides hands-on labs for practical application of styling and theming concepts

Taught by experienced instructors with a strong reputation in Android development

Requires some prior knowledge of Android development

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 Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes with these activities:

Join a study group to discuss styling techniques

Show steps

Engage with peers to share knowledge, ask questions, and receive feedback on your styling approaches.

Show steps

Identify or create a study group focused on Android styling and theming.
Attend regular meetings and actively participate in discussions.
Share your styling challenges and seek advice from others.
Collaborate on styling solutions and learn from alternative perspectives.

Develop a cheat sheet for styling and themes

Show steps

Create a personal reference sheet that summarizes the key concepts, syntax, and examples of styling and theming in Android.

Show steps

Gather information from the course materials and online resources.
Organize the information into categories, such as view styling, theme attributes, and best practices.
Condense the information into concise and easy-to-understand notes.
Review and refine the cheat sheet for clarity and accuracy.
Use the cheat sheet as a quick reference during coding and design.

Practice applying styles to simple views

Show steps

Create simple View classes and apply various styling options to become familiar with the syntax and effects of styling.

Show steps

Create a simple View class and apply a background color.
Add a text label to the View and customize its text color and size.
Experiment with different text styles, such as bold, italic, and underline.
Apply a custom font to the text label.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Follow a tutorial on creating custom themes for Android

Show steps

Follow a step-by-step tutorial to learn how to define and apply custom themes that provide a cohesive look and feel to your app.

Show steps

Identify an online tutorial or video guide on custom theming for Android.
Gather the necessary resources, such as Android Studio and sample code.
Follow the tutorial instructions to create a new Android project.
Implement the custom theme according to the tutorial guidelines.
Test the custom theme in the Android emulator or on a physical device.

Develop a style guide for your Android application

Show steps

Establish a consistent and cohesive design system by creating a style guide that defines the styling conventions for your application.

Show steps

Define the typography, colors, and other visual elements of your application.
Create a style guide document that outlines the styling rules and best practices.
Implement the style guide in your application code and ensure consistency.
Maintain and update the style guide as your application evolves.

Build an Android app that showcases different styling options

Show steps

Create a practical project that allows you to apply and explore the concepts of styling and themes in a real-world setting.

Show steps

Design the layout of the app, including the views and their styling.
Implement the styling using XML or programmatically.
Define a custom theme for the app and apply it.
Test the app on different devices and Android versions to ensure compatibility.
Refine the styling and optimize the app's performance.

Experiment with different styling approaches

Show steps

Explore various styling options and experiment to find the most suitable ones for your designs.

Show steps

Create multiple variations of a view with different styling properties.
Compare the visual outcomes and analyze the impact of different styles.
Experiment with combining multiple styles and creating custom styles.
Evaluate the performance and efficiency of different styling approaches.
Implement the most effective styling techniques in your apps.

Mentor a junior developer in applying styling and themes

Show steps

Share your knowledge and experience by guiding a junior developer through the concepts and implementation of styling and theming.

Show steps

Identify a junior developer who is interested in learning about styling and theming.
Schedule regular mentoring sessions and establish clear goals.
Provide guidance on styling concepts, XML syntax, and custom theming.
Review their code and provide constructive feedback.
Encourage the junior developer to explore different styling options and experiment with their own ideas.

Career center

Learners who complete Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Android Developer

An Android Developer designs, develops, and tests mobile applications for the Android operating system. They work with software development tools and programming languages to create user interfaces, manage data, and integrate with other systems. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, provides a foundation in styling and theming Android applications, which is essential for creating visually appealing and user-friendly apps.

See salaries and explore the career path for Android Developer

Mobile Application Developer

A Mobile Application Developer designs, develops, and tests mobile applications for various platforms, including Android and iOS. They work with software development tools, programming languages, and design principles to create user interfaces, manage data, and integrate with other systems. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, provides a foundation in styling and theming Android applications, which is essential knowledge for any mobile application developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile Application Developer

UI/UX Designer

A UI/UX Designer creates the user interface and user experience for websites, mobile applications, and other digital products. They work with design tools and principles to ensure that products are visually appealing, easy to use, and meet the needs of users. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, provides a foundation in styling and theming Android applications, which is essential for creating visually appealing and user-friendly apps.

See salaries and explore the career path for UI/UX Designer

Web Developer

A Web Developer designs, develops, and tests websites and web applications. They work with software development tools, programming languages, and design principles to create user interfaces, manage data, and integrate with other systems. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, provides a foundation in styling and theming applications, which can be applied to web development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

UX Designer

A UX Designer focuses on the user experience of a product, ensuring that it is easy to use, enjoyable, and meets the needs of users. They work with design tools and principles to create user interfaces, conduct user research, and test products. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, provides a foundation in styling and theming Android applications, which is essential for creating user-friendly and visually appealing products.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and tests software systems. They work with software development tools, programming languages, and design principles to create software products that meet the needs of users. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, provides a foundation in styling and theming Android applications, which can be applied to software development in general.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Front-End Developer

A Front-End Developer designs, develops, and tests the user interface of websites and web applications. They work with software development tools, programming languages, and design principles to create user interfaces that are visually appealing, easy to use, and meet the needs of users. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, provides a foundation in styling and theming applications, which can be applied to front-end development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Front-End Developer

Game Developer

A Game Developer designs, develops, and tests video games. They work with software development tools, programming languages, and design principles to create games that are fun, engaging, and meet the needs of players. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, provides a foundation in styling and theming Android applications, which can be applied to game development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Quality Assurance Analyst

A Quality Assurance Analyst tests software products to ensure that they meet quality standards. They work with software development tools and testing techniques to identify and report bugs, and to ensure that products are reliable and meet the needs of users. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, provides a foundation in styling and theming Android applications, which can be applied to quality assurance testing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates documentation for software products and other technical subjects. They work with software development tools and documentation tools to create user manuals, technical specifications, and other documents that help users understand and use technical products. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, provides a foundation in styling and theming Android applications, which can be applied to writing documentation for Android applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

User Experience Researcher

A User Experience Researcher studies how users interact with products and services. They work with research methods and design principles to understand user needs, and to design products and services that meet those needs. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, provides a foundation in styling and theming Android applications, which can be applied to user experience research.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Researcher

Interaction Designer

An Interaction Designer designs the user interface and user experience for websites, mobile applications, and other digital products. They work with design tools and principles to ensure that products are visually appealing, easy to use, and meet the needs of users. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, provides a foundation in styling and theming Android applications, which is essential for creating user-friendly and visually appealing products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Product Manager

A Product Manager plans and manages the development of software products. They work with stakeholders to define product requirements, and with developers to ensure that products meet those requirements. This course, Android Fundamentals: Styles and Themes, provides a foundation in styling and theming Android applications, which can be applied to product management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Information Architect

An Information Architect designs the structure and organization of websites and other digital products. They work with design tools and principles to ensure that products are easy to navigate and find information.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Computer Programmer

A Computer Programmer writes and tests code for software products and other technical systems. They work with programming languages and software development tools to create code that meets the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Programmer