You definitely have heard of Android. You probably have one in your pocket, on your table, or in your hands just now, as you read this article. Today, around 85% of the world's devices sold use Android as their OS.
Developed by Google, Android is a popular mobile operating system. The popular phones of today, like Google Nexus, Samsung, Sony Xperia, etc. are based on Android. It is open-source, i.e. depending on the handset, the OS can be customized by the developers.
Android has been developed based on Linux Kernel. Android programs are through the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) optimized for mobile and the Android programs are written in Java using the Android Software Development Kit.
Benefits and Features of Android
One of the most widely used OS, Android, gives you the opportunity to download lots of applications from the Google play store other than the built-in applications that come with the phone. These are some of the features and benefits of Android:
- Free and Open Source – simple for small businesses to develop their choice of apps
- Wide connectivity options.
- Large support base and Huge community
- Rich development environment
- Extensive support for media files format.
- Data storage using SQLite
- Resizable widgets
- Very cost-effective to develop apps
- Intuitive UI
- Multi-touch and multitasking
How to Learn Android
Android development is quick and easy and there is a lot of material on the internet through which you can learn. There are tutorials, training courses, videos, and of course, great books! People claim that you can learn this in a month's time, but our advice would be to go slow. You might really enjoy sinking in the concepts step by step and then applying what you have learned to practice. For learning Android, some basic knowledge of Java is very much required.
Top 10 Android books for App Development to Read in 2022
1. Android Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide
For beginners, this is a very good book and also a reference guide. Even if you are experienced, you might stumble upon something new in this book. All the essential concepts of Android, from activity threads, views, fragments, network communication, themes, etc. are covered in the book. Not even a single word of the book is extra. The reader will find every chapter and every paragraph of the book opening new worlds for them.
Features:
- All the important concepts and APIs are explained in detail.
- For the newest edition, you should have an idea of the basics of Kotlin. The author does cover some parts of it. The previous editions were based on Java.
- There are many practical examples given in the book.
- The latest changes in Android studio and other tools are updated.
- A good pace is maintained by the author throughout the book.
Rating: 4.6
Cost:
- Kindle: $24.10
- Paperback: $23.75
2. Headfirst Android Development
For Android Development, be it for beginners or the next-level programmers, this is the best book in the market. Before you get onto this book you must know Java. You might feel the book to be a bit slow and repetitive if you already have some idea about Android programming but it will be a great refresher for all that you already know. With easy-to-understand explanations and code, and witty lines, the author makes this book fun to read.
Features:
- Many topics are covered, but the author's tone makes you zip through them.
- It gives you a great idea of the basics and also introduces you to the next level.
- The annotations are hand-written and the spaces between the texts give a good feel of coaching.
- The fundamentals are covered in a detailed manner.
- For those who are experienced, it might seem a little verbose.
- A Step by step approach is maintained.
Rating: 4.5
Cost:
- Kindle: $15.09
- Paperback: $24.77
3. Java Programming for Android Developers for Dummies
The concepts won't be spoon-fed to you in this book. A lot of terms and concepts are mentioned by the author as he encourages you to read more about them through the online content. The author puts genuine effort to make learning Java and Android side by side with ease. You can skip the introduction to Java if you already know it, as it might seem a bit too long for you.
Features:
- The basics of Android and Java are covered.
- The author's tone is witty and funny, thus easing the reader.
- The author wants the Java concepts that are not explained in detail to be searched by the reader.
- It is a well-structured book starting with an introduction to both Java and Android.
- The importance of creating smaller code blocks in one place and reusing them at other places is emphasized.
Rating: 4.5
Cost:
- Kindle: $18.39
- Paperback: $19.99
4. Android Application Development All-in-one for Dummies
Android for dummies is a neat and well-structured book that will certainly take your interest in Android to a much higher level. This is a book for beginners that will take you through all the major concepts. Everything that will be needed by you as a beginner developer is explained by the author and you are not overloaded with more information than you need.
Features:
- The book begins with the basics of Android.
- Many observations, tips, and tricks on the sidebars and other places make the book interactive and very interesting to read.
- Rather than just copy-pasting the code to make it work, the author makes you think about a problem and its possible approaches before giving the final answer. This helps readers think.
- The presentation is pretty simple, with no verbosity, only fun, wit and information.
- The book might be tough to follow if you are new to the world of programming.
Rating: 4.4
Cost:
- Kindle: $20.79
- Paperback: $23.78
5. Android Programming: Pushing the Limits
If you already completed a few android projects and looking for more knowledge and complex projects, this is your perfect companion. With clear and concise content and no verbosity, this book explains all the features – even the latest ones, extremely well. This is the book you must read and explore if you want to explore your creativity and look for challenges. Topics like performance tuning, threads, and JUnit, are covered in-depth along with other core concepts.
Features:
- Unique book.
- A great mix of basic and advanced concepts.
- It also explains why something is being done.
- Gives you the topic that is more important from the development perspective and how much you have to know about each topic.
- Basics as well as advanced content, with a fast pace.
Rating: 4.2
Cost:
- Kindle: $26.39
- Paperback: $29.70
6. GUI Design for Android Apps
For those who want to learn Android from the very beginning, this book is the one to go for. For those who do not know what to expect or whether you want to learn Android or not, this book could help you get an idea so that you can judge for yourself. Although this is not a very detailed book, it has all the important concepts you need to build simple android apps. You will find a number of case studies, code samples, and tutorials that will help you to understand the UI design easily.
Features:
- Readers must know Java and XML to fully appreciate the content.
- Begins with very basic information about Android,
- A strong foundation is built for new Android developers.
- The expertise and experience of the author can be seen through the code examples used in the book.
- This book will not be much useful for you if you already have some experience with android development.
Rating: 4.1
Cost:
- Kindle: $0.0
- Paperback: $16.99
7. The Busy Coder's Guide to Advanced Android Development
This book is for the advanced level. You need to know how to write simple programs and apps before you begin with this. You will get a comprehensive guide and reference book that can be kept at your workplace to refer to during your project work. Or, you could use it as detailed material for learning advanced Android. There are a number of things in this book, for instance, you will get the technical aspects along with the stories of how Android first developed, the best practices to follow and even the detailed code examples.
Features:
- Advanced book.
- Well Organised.
- Step-by-step introduction of concepts.
- Able to serve as a complete reference book.
- Any basic information is not covered by the book.
- Additionally, topics like dynamic fragments, NFC, creating list-based app widgets, etc are covered.
Rating: 3.8
Cost:
8. Professional Android
For intermediate to expert level Android developers, this is an amazing book. All the best practices are covered here and it understands the architecture, UI, lifecycle and many other things about Android. Simple examples but powerful and explained brilliantly. The book follows a hands-on approach and this makes it stand out. To learn from this book you should know the basics of Java.
Features:
- Many projects covering all the new features of Android.
- Follows a practical approach.
- You will get a lot of information about Android Studio IDE and Kotlin.
- Firebase and google play services like location-based services, google maps, awareness API, and more are included.
- Covers job scheduler, data binding, and architecture components in-depth.
- Some of the topics that are not covered in detail but are introduced, have to be looked up by the reader.
Rating: 3.7
Cost:
- Kindle: $26.39
- Paperback: $26.54
9. Android Design Patterns
You can save a lot of time and effort if you know the design patterns for development in any language. This book will help you do just that with the help of 58 different patterns. There are different parts to this book. It moves from Android OS, phone app development, Android fragmentation, antipatterns, and finally, design patterns. One pattern is explained in each chapter.
Features:
- Patterns for both tablet-specific apps and mobile apps.
- You get around 70 UI design patterns including 58 patterns and 12 antipatterns.
- You will get information about iOS, Android, and other mobile interfaces in-depth.
- Many useful demos, pictures, and discussions will add to your curiosity about Android.
Rating: 3.5
Cost:
- Kindle: $22.50
- Paperback: $36.05
10. Beginning Android 4 Games Development
For those who want to start developing games using the Android platform, this is a nice primer. All the basic gaming fundamentals are covered here: the basics of Android and Java. That being said, it is recommended to have some prior knowledge of Java before reading this book. Very smoothly, the reader is introduced to the Android platform and slowly moves towards the creation of a game engine and the development of 3D and 2D games using the open Canvas API and OpenGL ES.
Features:
- Will help you even if you already have a little idea about gaming.
- Some portion of the code is left unexplained by the author to make sure that the reader can test, debug and fill the gaps, thus encouraging self-learning.
- The reader gets a thorough explanation of libGDX.
- The reader is provided with external references for better learning.
Rating: 3.0
Cost:
- Kindle: $39.99
- Paperback: $41.65
Conclusion
Android is the most popular mobile operating system today, and the demand for Android app developers is rising. Numerous resources, such as tutorials, training courses, videos, and books, are available for learning Android app development. Check out Studytonight's Android tutorial for more!
This article has provided a list of the top 10 Android books for app development to read in 2022. These books cover everything from the basics of Android to advanced concepts and are suitable for beginners and experienced developers. Whether you are interested in building apps for personal or business use, these books will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in Android app development.
With the right resources and a strong desire to learn, anyone can become an Android app developer and create innovative, high-quality apps that make a difference in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which is the most commonly used programming language for Android app development?
Java is the most commonly used programming language for Android app development. However, other programming languages like Kotlin, C++, and Python can also be used to develop Android apps.
2. Can I learn Android app development on my own?
Yes, you can learn Android app development on your own. There are plenty of resources available online such as tutorials, and videos on our website studytonight that can help you learn.
3. Can I develop Android apps on a Mac?
Yes, you can develop Android apps on a Mac. Android Studio is an official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app development and is compatible with Mac OS.
4. How much does it cost to develop an Android app?
The cost of developing an Android app depends on various factors such as the complexity and features of the application. Simple apps can cost anywhere between $5,000 to $10,000, while more complex apps can cost up to $50,000.
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