I want to create a very basic android app but not sure where to start

[TwistedHelixis]

Hello all.

 

I really want to create a very very basic android app. I need the app to have a about 5 menue items that when pressed either open a new menu page or a page with an image and some text. An example would be UK tree types (this is not what I want to create by the way) where you have a menu similar to the following,

 

'List trees in alphabetical order' then the next page would be the trees listed, and the next page would be the individual trees with photos and text.

'List trees by location' blar blar blar

 

So its not a very complicated app I want to create, but I cant find the bast way to create it.

 

I looked at Android Studio but this seems like total overkill for my basic needs.

 

I have also looked at a few online app creation websites but they all seem to charge a fortune or put adds in your app.

 

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

Thanks.

[MrMat]

If you don't need it to actually be published on the store etc, this might be worth a shout: https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/

 

I've used it to create Android/IOS apps etc.

[TwistedHelixis]

Thanks but eventually I would like it in the app store.

[dhicks]

I really want to create a very very basic android app.

 

Is this as a learning exercise for your own interest, or is it some homework you've been set, or do you just have a really good idea for something that you want to implement? If the latter then I'd go for a web-based microservices-style implementation rather than a platform-specific app. Can you give us a bit more context as to what you're building and why?

[TwistedHelixis]

I have always wanted to learn to create apps but never wanted to work through other peoples ideas to learn, I work and learn best if its towards an end goal and I now have an idea and that end goal.

 

Basically my idea without giving my idea away is very country specific. I found lots of this type of app in the app store but based on North America / Canadian areas and not a single one for the UK, so I have found a gap.

 

So potentially it could make me a bit of money but for the moment its more about learning how to build the thing.

 

If you know of an online web-based service that does not charge a fortune, I would look at that.

 

Sorry to be so vague.

[3s-gtech]

How's your web programming? PhoneGap

[angrycomputingteacher]

I found a website where if you have a website in HTML and CSS you can make it into a Android app. Don't know if that would work. Website

[Meldrew]

I would recommend Intel XDK:

 

https://software.intel.com/en-us/intel-xdk

 

It has a drag and drop designer, but you can hand code too if you wish. It supports uploading to the various app stores or you can create an APK too.

 

Meldrew

[TwistedHelixis]

wow some of those look good. Just downloading.

[Arthur]

I looked at Android Studio but this seems like total overkill for my basic needs.

Maybe it's just me, but if I was doing it I would want to do it properly to start with no matter how basic the app.

 

If you could learn Android Development from scratch how would you re-do it?

 

You need not learn all the concepts of Java before trying to develop an Android application. To start with at least one week should be more than enough to get basic code working and you will learn more as you go on with Android development.

 

As an end-user whenever I have come across web-based Android apps they tend to be quite poor from a UX and/or UI point of view.

[Duranis]

I have used http://appinventor.mit.edu/ to do a few basic bits for things I needed but honestly haven't delved into it deep enough to say if it is capable for creating a production quality piece of software. It is very easy to use though.

[TwistedHelixis]

OK, after testing a few apps I have decided to learn Android Studio. I am working my way through the first tutorial.

 

thanks

[icemonkey]

How's your web programming? PhoneGap

 

Used this at Uni - definitely a good starting point! I remember we went through about 4 or 5 different versions in the 6 months we were developing - loads of new features added each time!

Even if web programming isn't your forte, PhoneGap is a bit more of an interesting way to learn than creating simple webpages..... even though it is just creating simple webpages