README.md

# Introduction

This repository is for module 300CEM 'Android Application Development' at Coventry University. The module runs in 10 weeks, and there are 2 labs + 1 lecture per week. Lab exercises are designed to expose different aspects of Android programming to our 3rd year undergraduate students. Detailed instructions are given in these lab sheets. You'll need to finish them to get a good understanding of the contents. 

Before you start, you should have some experience with programming and a good knowledge of OOP. Understanding of Java syntax is desired but not essential as we have some dedicated sessions for it. The expected outcomes after the module are:

1. Analyse the Android platform components and their uses.
2. Design software suitable for Android platform.
3. Develop apps that can interact with web service APIs 
4. Develop apps that can communicate with sensors built into the phone hardware

This current document contains the module plan for academic year 17-18, for the assessment please refer to Moodle. Our School also offers an equivalent iOS module, check out [this GitHub page](https://github.coventry.ac.uk/301CEM-1718SEPJAN/TEACHING-MATERIALS) if interested.

# Teaching plan

## Week 1 Android Studio

### Introduction to Android Studio

**Contents**

Installation of Java JDK/Android Studio, AVD, 'Hello World', navigating Android Studio, Context Menus, getting help

**Refs**

[Ref.[1]](#ref1) chapter 1/2

### Debugging

**Contents**

Git common operations, logging, debugger's tool window

**Refs**

[Ref.[1]](#ref1) chapter 7/12

## Week 2 The Java language

### Language concepts

**Contents**

Data type, variable, expressions, identifiers, statements

Code generation, refactoring

**Refs**

[Ref.[1]](#ref1) chapter 3

[Ref.[2]](#ref2) chapter 2

### Classes and objects

**Contents**

Classes, constants, methods, constructors, modifiers, inheritance

Google Java style

**Refs**

[Ref.[3]](#ref3) chapter 5

[Google Java Style](https://google-styleguide.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/javaguide.html)

## Week 3 XML and Gradle

### XML

**Contents**

App manifest, XML schema, syntax, styles

**Refs**

[Ref.[3]](#ref3) chapter 4

### Gradle

**Contents**

IntelliJ build system, Gradle build concepts, Android lib dependencies

**Refs**

[Ref.[1]](#ref1) chapter 13

[App Manifest](http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/manifest-intro.html)

[Build System Overview](https://developer.android.com/sdk/installing/studio-build.html)

[Gradle Plugin User Guide](http://tools.android.com/tech-docs/new-build-system/user-guide)

## Week 4 Simple Views and Layouts

### UI design

**Contents**

MVC pattern, activity lifecycle, layouts, and intents

Pattern usability and design principles: animation, style, layout, components, pattern, usability

**Refs**

[Ref.[4]](#ref4) chapter 2

[Android official API guide: Material Design](http://developer.android.com/design/index.html)

### Simple and complex view

**Contents**

Common controls, AdapterView, Spinner, ProgressBar, Android threading

**Refs**

[Ref.[4]](#ref4) chapter 3/4

## Week 5 AdapterViews and Fragments

### AdapterViews

**Contents**

Simple listview, complex listview, adapter view, Grid view

**Refs**

[Ref.[4]](#ref4) chapter 4

[Android official API guide: List View ](http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/layout/listview.html)

### Fragments

**Contents**

Fragments, specialized fragments, screen orientation

**Refs**

[Ref.[4]](#ref4) chapter 4

## Week 6 Data persistence

### SharedPreferences and files

**Contents**

SharedPreferences API, Android Device Monitor, Java IO, writing and reading to files, internal/external storage

**Refs**

[Ref.[5]](#ref5) chapter 11/12

### SQL database

**Contents**

SQLite API, helper class, pre-creating databases

**Refs**

[Ref.[4]](#ref4) chapter 6


## Week 7 Graphics and animation

### Graphics

**Contents**

ViewPager, Drawable resources, extended View class

**Refs**

[Ref.[3]](#ref3) chapter 9

[Ref.[4]](#ref4) chapter 5

### Animation

**Contents**

Property animation, View animation

**Refs**

[Ref.[3]](#ref3) chapter 10

[Android official API guide: Adding Animations](http://developer.android.com/training/animation/index.html)


## Week 8 Location services and Google maps

### Location services

**Contents**

Getting location, retrieve updates, display address

**Refs**

[Android official API guide: Making Your App Location-Aware](http://developer.android.com/training/location/index.html)

### Google maps

**Contents**

Google maps

**Refs**

[Google Maps API for Android](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android/)


## Week 9 Services and wearables

### Notifications on Android wearables

**Contents**

Android services, broadcasting, notifications

### Android wear apps

**Contents**

Setting up wearable environment, optimize for screen technologies, build watchface service, initialize drawable resources and styles

**Refs**

[Ref.[1]](#ref1) chapter 15

[Ref.[3]](#ref3) chapter 15


## Week 10 Testing

### Unit testing

**Contents**

JUnit essentials, Unit test best practices, local unit testing, mocked unit testing

**Refs**

[Ref.[5]](#ref5) chapter 18

[vogella tutorials: Unit Testing with JUnit](http://www.vogella.com/tutorials/JUnit/article.html)

### Instrumented testing

**Contents**

Instrumented unit tests, UI testing using Espresso

**Refs**

[Android official API guide: Testing fundamentals](http://developer.android.com/tools/testing/testing_android.html)

<!-- ## Week 11 Multimedia

### Audio playback

**Contents**

Volume, playback, audio focus

**Refs**

[Ref.[3]](#ref3) chapter 10

[Android official API guide: Managing Audio Playback](http://developer.android.com/training/managing-audio/index.html)

### Photos and videos

**Contents**

Camera2, Streaming video, MediaPlayer, MediaController

**Refs**

[Ref.[3]](#ref3) chapter 11

[Android official API guide: Capturing Photos](http://developer.android.com/training/camera/index.html) -->
<!-- 

# Assessment plan

Refer to Moodle for this. -->

# Reading list

1. <a name="ref1"></a>[Learn Android Studio](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Learn-Android-Studio-Quickly-Effectively/dp/1430266015)
2. <a name="ref2"></a>[Learn Java for Android Development](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Learn-Java-Android-Development/dp/1430264543)
3. <a name="ref3"></a>[Android Apps for Absolute Beginners](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Android-Absolute-Beginners-Wallace-Jackson/dp/1484200209)
4. <a name="ref4"></a>[Beginning Android 4 Application Development](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beginning-Android-4-Application-Development/dp/1118199545)
5. <a name="ref5"></a>[Introduction to Android Application Development](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-Android-Application-Development-Essentials/dp/0321940261)

# Some useful resources

* [Official Android developer website](https://developer.android.com)
* [Online Android courses on Coursera](https://www.coursera.org/courses/?languages=en&query=android)
* [Past student coursework No. 1](https://github.com/furgerf/Squash/tree/master/Squash%20Simulation)
* [Past student coursework No. 2](https://github.com/adrianchifor/Swiftnotes)

<!-- # T0-DO list

3. Week3, creating old non-generic arraylist example, http://www.javatpoint.com/ArrayList-in-collection-framework
2. Week4, together with Toast, introduce Snackbar, https://developer.android.com/training/snackbar/showing.html
4. Week5, together with listview, introduce RecyclerView, viewholder, TextInputLayout, card view etc., https://developer.android.com/training/material/lists-cards.html -->


# About this Github repository

This Github repository is set up to host lab materials and code examples we use throughout the module. You can simply read and explore. However, writing to this repository is now allowed. If you would like a personal copy of it, you'll need to fork it. Read [GitHub help on Fork A Repo](https://help.github.com/articles/fork-a-repo/) for further info.

A number of colleagues and students contributed to this set of material by providing comments and/or corrections. I would especially express my thanks to the following people: Mark Tyers, Sumeet Gopiani, Adam Towse