What is Android?

Introduction

Android is an open-source operating system. It provides a customizable interface, multi-tasking, and access to a wide range of applications. It currently drives a wide variety of gadgets, such as smart TVs, wearables, virtual reality headsets, and automobile systems. Due to its adaptability, Android has become a major player in the technological world.

The Google Play Store offers access to millions of apps, including games, productivity tools, social media platforms, and much more, making it possible for users to customize their devices and increase their functionality.

What is Android?

Starting with the Android introduction, the first version of Android, Android 1.0, was introduced on September 23, 2008. Developed and supported by Google, Android has gained widespread adoption, making it the most prevalent mobile operating system worldwide.

It's an open-source operating system and is recognized for its intuitive interface, expansive collection of applications, and adaptability across diverse devices. It incorporates features like multitasking, and customizable settings, and grants users access to a vast array of applications through the Google Play Store. Its purpose is to provide a software platform that allows these devices to execute applications and carry out a variety of functions.

Android is based on the Linux kernel, which gives the operating system a secure and reliable foundation. It uses a layered architecture with fundamental parts including the Linux kernel, libraries, and runtime environment, as well as an application framework and user programs. Android applications are executed by the Android runtime, which guarantees their effective operation.

History of Android

• Android was founded by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White in 2003. Originally intended for digital cameras, it shifted focus to smartphones.
• In 2005, Google acquired Android Inc. The first public demonstration of Android occurred in 2007, and in 2008, Android 1.0 was released on the HTC Dream.
• Over the years, Android saw significant advancements, including versions like Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow, Nougat, Oreo, Pie, Android Q, Android 11, Snow Cone, and Tiramisu. With every advancement, some new features were introduced like Material Design, privacy, split-screen multitasking, improved performance, and gesture-based navigation.
• The latest major release, as of August 15, 2022, is Android 13, featuring communication enhancements and improved privacy.
• Android remains the dominant mobile operating system, powering diverse devices and offering a wide range of apps and services.

Why Android?

• A large developer community is supported by Android.
• The foundational Java and Kotlin language is utilized for creating apps.
• Android provides a robust marketing ecosystem for companies and app developers to promote their products and engage with a sizable user base by leveraging the Google Play Store, in-app advertising, Google Ads, push notifications, integration with Google services, social media marketing, and developer partnerships.
• The price of Android application development can be lower due to factors such as free development tools, device diversity for targeting a larger user base, affordable app submission and distribution on the Google Play Store, no licensing fees, and various monetization options. However, actual costs can vary based on app complexity and design.
• Employs a compact relational database called SQLite for storage.
• It is a secure platform with Google pushing security advancements with each of its OS releases.

Programming Languages Used in Developing Android Applications

• Java Java is a versatile and widely adopted programming language that has been the traditional language for Android development.

• Kotlin With the introduction of Android Studio, Google's official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android, Kotlin has gained significant popularity as a preferred language for Android development. Kotlin is Google's declaration as the official language for Android i.e. it is the official language for Android development. Kotlin is a modern and concise programming language that offers improved syntax, null safety, and seamless interoperability with existing Java code.

Features of Android

Android offers a wide range of features that contribute to its popularity and versatility. Here are some key features of the Android operating system:

• User-Friendly Interface: Android offers an intuitive user interface with customizable home screens. By organizing widgets, shortcuts, and app icons in a way that suits them, users may customize their devices.
• Multitasking: Android allows users to run numerous applications at once thanks to its multitasking feature. They can smoothly navigate between apps, view multiple apps at once in split-screen mode, or increase productivity by using picture-in-picture mode.
• Google Integration: Google services like Gmail, Google Maps, Google Drive, and Google Assistant are all effortlessly integrated with Android. Users can sync their data, access cloud storage, use maps to find their way around and take advantage of Google's powerful search and voice assistant features.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Android enables compatibility with a wide range of gadgets, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, wearables, and even some in-car entertainment systems. Users can get a consistent experience across various devices thanks to cross-platform support.
• Security Features: Android includes several security mechanisms to safeguard user data. To resolve vulnerabilities, Google releases regular security updates, as well as built-in malware protection, app sandboxing, safe app installation, and other measures.

Android Versions

Android was first made public by Google in November 2007, but it was first released on 23 September 2008. Since then, Google has launched numerous Android versions and with every new Android introduction, it came with additional features and enhanced functionality, including Apple Pie, Banana Bread, Cupcake, etc.

The below table shows a few of the versions that Google has released.

Categories of Android Applications

You may create a huge range of Android applications after learning Android development, including:

• Utility software.
• Entertainment software.
• Audio and music.
• Social software.
• Location-based applications and travel.
• Applications for media and video.
• Applications for communication.
• Applications for personalization.
• Application games.
• Apps for a lifestyle.
• Business software.
• Financial software.
• Applications in sports.
• Apps for education, etc.

Advantages of Android Development

Android development offers several advantages, making it a popular choice for building mobile applications. Here are some key advantages of Android development:

• Open Source: Android is an open-source operating system that gives developers access to and control over the underlying code. This makes application development more flexible and customizable.
• Large User Base: The highest market share among mobile operating systems, Android, has a sizable user base that is both varied and inclusive.
• Lower entrance hurdles: When compared to other platforms, Android programming has considerably lower entrance hurdles. The developer tools and Android SDK (Software Developer Kit) are both publicly accessible. This makes it simpler for developers—including freelancers and startups—to begin producing Android apps without incurring major up-front fees.
• Integration with Google Services: Google Maps, Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Play Services are just a few of the Google services that Android smoothly interacts with. With the help of these services, developers can improve the functionality of their applications with strong tools and APIs.
• Support for Multiple Programming Languages: Java and Kotlin are only two of the many programming languages that Android supports. Developers can select the language that best suits their tastes and skill set because of this language flexibility.

Disadvantages of Android Development

While Android development comes with numerous advantages, there are also some potential disadvantages that developers may encounter. Here are some of the disadvantages of Android development:

• Fragmentation: Android runs on a broad variety of devices from different manufacturers, which causes fragmentation in the device market. For example, let's say a developer creates a messaging app then he/she needs to account for various factors such as operating system because Android devices run on different versions of the OS, such as Android 10, Android 11, or Android 12, the developer also needs to account for factors like different screen sizes, resolutions, etc. It can be difficult and time-consuming to create an app that functions perfectly on all devices and requires substantial testing and optimization.
• Security flaws: Due to Android's ability to install programs from sources other than the official app store, the potential of malware or harmful apps has increased.
• Variations in User Experience: As a result of the fragmentation already discussed, it might be difficult to achieve a uniform User Experience across various Android devices. The user experience of developers' apps must be seamless and consistent across a variety of devices.

What is API Level?

The Android operating system (OS) version that an Android application is created to run on is referred to as the API level. An individual API level, which stands for a collection of programming interfaces and tools that developers can use to create their apps, is assigned to each iteration of the Android OS.

The minimum and highest API levels that an Android app can support are specified by the developer when creating the app. The target API level is the most recent version of the Android OS for which the app has been tested and optimized, whereas the minimum API level is the earliest version of the OS on which the app may operate.

For example, if a developer specifies a minimum API level of 21, it means that the app is designed to run on devices with Android version 5.0 (Lollipop) or later.

To support the required range of devices while still utilizing the most recent features and capabilities of the Android platform, developers must carefully examine the API level they select for their app.