What's New in Android 7.1

Learn about the new developer features of Android 7.1, available in the developer preview, including launcher shortcuts, the commit content API for rich media in input methods, and more.

Check out the API Overview: http://goo.gl/xa204A

Free ebook: Software Architecture Patterns

Whether you're a software architect or a software developer or engineer who fulfills some of the roles of a software architect in the course of your work, the more you understand about software architecture, the more capable you'll be.

Mark Richards' new report, Software Architecture Patterns, can help you learn about common software architecture patterns, how they work, the pros and cons, and when you would choose to use each one. It also introduces a few anti-patterns you'll want to know about. This report is a great way to further develop your architectural skills and become an even greater asset to your organization—and it's free.

GET YOUR FREE O'REILLY eBOOK

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The success of any application or system depends on the architecture pattern you use. By describing the overall characteristics of the architecture, these patterns not only guide designers and developers on how to design components, but also determine the ways in which those components should interact.

This O’Reilly report takes a deep dive into many common software architecture patterns. Each pattern includes a full explanation of how it works, explains the pattern’s benefits and considerations, and describes the circumstances and conditions it was designed to address. The report also includes an analysis and scorecard for each pattern based on several architecture and software development quality attributes.

Patterns include:

• Layered architecture
• Event-driven architecture
• Microkernel architecture
• Microservices architecture
• Space-based architecture
• In addition to these specific patterns, you’ll also learn about the Architecture by Implication anti-pattern and the causes and effects of not using architecture patterns.

Mark Richards
Mark Richards is an experienced hands-on software architect involved in the architecture, design, and implementation of Microservices Architectures, Service Oriented Architectures, and distributed systems in J2EE and other technologies. He has been involved in the software industry since 1983, and has significant experience and expertise in application, integration, and enterprise architecture. Mark served as the President of the New England Java Users Group from 1999 thru 2003. He is the author of numerous technical books and videos, including "Software Architecture Fundamentals" (O’Reilly video), "Enterprise Messaging" (O’Reilly video), "Java Message Service 2nd Edition" (O’Reilly), and 97 Thinks Every Software Architect Should Know (O'Reilly). Mark has a masters degree in computer science and numerous architect and developer certifications from IBM, Sun, The Open Group, and BEA. He is a regular conference speaker at the No Fluff Just Stuff (NFJS) Symposium Series, and has spoken at over 100 conferences and user groups around the world on a variety of enterprise-related technical topics.When he is not working Mark can usually be found hiking in the White Mountains or along the Appalachian Trail.

Gradle Recipes for Android: Master the New Build System for Android

Gradle Recipes for Android: Master the New Build System for Android

Android adopted Gradle as the preferred build automation system a few years ago, but many Android developers are still unfamiliar with this open source tool. This hands-on guide provides a collection of Gradle recipes to help you quickly and easily accomplish the most common build tasks for your Android apps. You’ll learn how to customize project layouts, add dependencies, and generate many different versions of your app.

Gradle is based on Groovy, yet very little knowledge of the JVM language is required for you to get started. Code examples use Android SDK version 23, with emulators from Marshmallow (Android 6) or Lollipop (Android 5). If you’re comfortable with Java and Android, you’re ready.

• Understand Gradle’s generated build files for Android apps
• Run Gradle from the command line or inside Android Studio
• Add more Java libraries to your Android app
• Import and export Eclipse ADT projects
• Digitally sign a Release APK for the Google Play store
• Use product flavors to build many versions of the same app
• Add custom tasks to the Gradle build process
• Test both your app’s Android and non-Android components
• Improve the performance of your Gradle build

Java Programming for Android Developers For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Java Programming for Android Developers For Dummies

Develop the next killer Android App using Java programming!
Android is everywhere! It runs more than half the smartphones in the U.S.—and Java makes it go. If you want to cash in on its popularity by learning to build Android apps with Java, all the easy-to-follow guidance you need to get started is at your fingertips. Inside, you'll learn the basics of Java and grasp how it works with Android; then, you'll go on to create your first real, working application. How cool is that?

The demand for Android apps isn't showing any signs of slowing, but if you're a mobile developer who wants to get in on the action, it's vital that you get the necessary Java background to be a success. With the help of Java Programming for Android Developers For Dummies, you'll quickly and painlessly discover the ins and outs of using Java to create groundbreaking Android apps—no prior knowledge or experience required!

• Get the know-how to create an Android program from the ground up
• Make sense of basic Java development concepts and techniques
• Develop the skills to handle programming challenges
• Find out how to debug your app

Don't sit back and watch other developers release apps that bring in the bucks! Everything you need to create that next killer Android app is just a page away!

Beginning Android Programming with Android Studio 4th Edition

A hands-on introduction to the latest release of the Android OS and the easiest Android tools for developers

Beginning Android Programming with Android Studio

As the dominant mobile platform today, the Android OS is a powerful and flexible platform for mobile device. The new Android 7 release (New York Cheesecake) boasts significant new features and enhancements for both smartphone and tablet applications. This step-by-step resource takes a hands-on approach to teaching you how to create Android applications for the latest OS and the newest devices, including both smartphones and tablets.

• Shows you how to install, get started with, and use Android Studio 2 - the simplest Android developer tool ever for beginners
• Addresses how to display notifications, create rich user interfaces, and use activities and intents
• Reviews mastering views and menus and managing data
• Discusses working with SMS 
• Looks at packaging and publishing applications to the Android market

Beginning Android Programming with Android Studio starts with the basics and goes on to provide you with everything you need to know to begin to successfully develop your own Android applications.

Android Studio: (About) 10 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know You Could Do

Java 8 Language Features on Android

With the help of the Jack toolchain, you’ll be able to cut out boilerplate code with the help of some Java 8 language features. Lambda expressions provide a compact way to express functional interfaces (interfaces with a single method) and method references allow you to use existing methods as lambda expressions - both features available back to API 9 (Gingerbread) devices!

Added in API 24 is the Stream API, default method implementations and static methods for interfaces, and repeatable annotations - you’ll have to be on an API 24 devices to take advantage of those features!

Check out the documentation for all the details: https://goo.gl/h3KUPP