Head First Android Development: A Brain-Friendly Guide

972 Pages·2015·63.66 MB·English

by  Dawn Griffiths

Head First: Android Development
Dawn Griffiths
David Griffiths
Beijing • Cambridge • Farnham • Köln • Sebastopol • Tokyo
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Authors of Head First Android
Development
Dawn Griffiths started life as a mathematician at a top UK university, where
she was awarded a first-class honors degree in mathematics. She went on to
pursue a career in software development and has 20 years experience working in
the IT industry.
Before writing Head First Android Development, Dawn wrote three other Head
First books (Head First Statistics, Head First 2D Geometry and Head First C)
and has also worked on a host of other books in the series.
When Dawn’s not working on Head First books, you’ll find her honing her Tai
Chi skills, reading, running, making bobbin lace, or cooking. She particularly
enjoys spending time with her wonderful husband, David.
David Griffiths began programming at age 12, when he saw a documentary on
the work of Seymour Papert. At age 15, he wrote an implementation of Papert’s
computer language LOGO. After studying pure mathematics at university, he
began writing code for computers and magazine articles for humans. He’s
worked as an agile coach, a developer, and a garage attendant, but not in that
order. He can write code in over 10 languages and prose in just one, and when
not writing, coding, or coaching, he spends much of his spare time traveling with
his lovely wife — and coauthor — Dawn.
Before writing Head First Android Development, David wrote three other Head
First books: Head First Rails, Head First Programming and Head First C.
You can follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HeadFirstDroid.
How to Use This Book: Intro
NOTE
In this section, we answer the burning question: “So why DID they put that in a book on Android?”

Who is this book for?
If you can answer “yes” to all of these:
1. Do you already know how to program in Java?
2. Do you want to master Android app development, create the next big thing
in software, make a small fortune, and retire to your own private island?
NOTE
OK, maybe that one’s a little far-fetched. But, you gotta start somewhere, right?
3. Do you prefer actually doing things and applying the stuff you learn over
listening to someone in a lecture rattle on for hours on end?
this book is for you.
Who should probably back away from this book?
If you can answer “yes” to any of these:
1. Are you looking for a quick introduction or reference book to developing
Android apps?
2. Would you rather have your toenails pulled out by 15 screaming monkeys
than learn something new? Do you believe an Android book should cover
everything, especially all the obscure stuff you’ll never use, and if it bores
the reader to tears in the process, then so much the better?
this book is not for you.
NOTE
[Note from Marketing: this book is for anyone with a credit card... we’ll accept PayPal, too.]
We know what you’re thinking
“How can this be a serious book on developing Android apps?”
“What’s with all the graphics?”
“Can I actually learn it this way?”
We know what your brain is thinking
Your brain craves novelty. It’s always searching, scanning, waiting for
something unusual. It was built that way, and it helps you stay alive.
So what does your brain do with all the routine, ordinary, normal things you
encounter? Everything it can to stop them from interfering with the brain’s real
job — recording things that matter. It doesn’t bother saving the boring things;
they never make it past the “this is obviously not important” filter.