Mobile Application Development Notes
Subject Overview
Mobile Application Development covers Android architecture and the UI/
Subject at a glance
4
Units
32
Topics
5
Credits
4
Infographics
Unit-wise Syllabus
4 units — open any unit for detailed topic-wise notes, diagrams and important exam questions
- Overview of Java and Android
- comparison with other environments
- Android stack and application structure
- application context
- intents
- activity life cycle
- supporting multiple screen sizes
- 1. onCreate(): Set up the screen
- 2. onStart(): Becomes visible
- 3. onResume(): User can interact
- 4. onPause(): Partly hidden
- 5. onStop(): No longer visible
- 6. onDestroy(): Activity closed
Study guide
This unit introduces Android: its relation to Java, the Android stack, application structure, context, intents, the activity life cycle and supporting multiple screen sizes. Learn the activity life cycle methods and when each is called.
- Text and button controls
- toggle buttons
- images
- notifications and toast
- menus and dialogs
- custom lists
- Google Maps and GPS location
- shared preferences
- file access
- SQLite database
- view and drawable animation
Shared preferences
Small key-value settings
Internal storage
Private files
External storage
Shared files, media
SQLite
Structured local database
Network
Web services, cloud
Study guide
You study UI widgets (text, buttons, toggle buttons, images), notifications and toasts, menus, dialogs, custom lists, Google Maps and GPS, data storage with shared preferences, files and SQLite, and animation. Build a small app that stores data locally.
- Web services
- HTTP client
- XML and JSON
- service lifecycle and foreground services
- preparing for publishing
- signing and preparing graphics
- publishing to the Android Market
- 1
Test on devices and emulators
- 2
Set version and remove debug code
- 3
Sign the app
Generate a release key
- 4
Prepare graphics
Icon, screenshots
- 5
Upload to Google Play Console
- 6
Release and monitor
Study guide
You study web services, HTTP clients, XML and JSON, service lifecycle and foreground services, preparing apps for publishing, signing and publishing. The syllabus mentions the Android Market, which is now Google Play, and modern development uses Android Studio and often Kotlin.
- SQLiteOpenHelper and database creation
- opening/closing a database
- cursors and their types
- inserts/updates/deletes
- SQLite data types
- content values
- content providers and query providers
- SQLiteOpenHelper
- Creates and upgrades the database
- getWritableDatabase()
- Opens it for reading and writing
- ContentValues
- Holds column-value pairs for insert or update
- Cursor
- Iterates over query results
- ContentProvider
- Shares data with other apps
Study guide
You study SQLite connectivity: SQLiteOpenHelper, creating, opening and closing databases, cursors, inserts, updates, deletes, data types, content values and content providers. Build a CRUD app to practise all operations.
Why Mobile Application Development Matters
Mobile apps are how most people use technology, and Android developers are in strong demand, so a published app is a powerful portfolio item.
How to Prepare for Mobile Application Development
- Build and run a small app on an emulator and a real phone.
- Learn the activity life cycle and the intent system well.
- Use Android Studio and read the official Android documentation.
Mobile Application Development: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Android activity?
An activity is a single screen of an Android app with its own user interface and life cycle.
What is SQLite?
SQLite is a lightweight database built into Android for storing structured data locally.