Need to learn how to develop an android app!

By Prateek Bohra on March 23, 2015 10 Comments / 2759 views

Hi guys!

We have a family business (trading) having clients Pan-India. The clients are mostly small retailers and less tech-savvy people but the mobile penetration has led most of them to be android users. I have a business development idea that will link our existing clients to our portal wherein they’ll be able to post there orders/ check the order status/ account reconciliation status etc. But the fine print lies in my father, not willing to spend a penny over it. I am, on the other hand, adamant to bring it live and to help my father through it (I am sure the results will be bombastic).

To solve the purpose, I need to learn android App development. I think, I forgot to introduce myself in this excitement, I am from a Commerce background (CA Finalist) having zero knowledge about any of the languages, (C/C++/Ruby on rails/python). My only expertise in the field of computers is in Office package and crisp mails.

Help me guys!!! I need to learn making an android app and keeping it sustained within changing times/ compatible with most devicess/droid versions.

Comments

Prateek Bohra

10 Comments

Chetan Kaushal March 23, 2015, 5:19 pm

You need to first learn Java programming, get your OOPS concepts cleared, database like MySQL, a bit of XML, HTML, CSS will be handy, then you can got to Android Programming.
Binit Naulakha March 23, 2015, 6:43 pm

You can do one thing..
Make a website using any open source PHP website. You do not require any coding for that.
Next there are plugins and free ad enabled tools available online which will convert your website to a mobile app without writing a single line of code.
To know any details about the different open source programs , tell more about your concept and business and reply to this thread…
Regards
Rudrajeet Desai March 24, 2015, 10:38 am

Better not to make an App than making one that wont work properly and then create issues for your clients…

Making an Android App is not easy and requires multiple skill sets… Better would be to get your father to one of the Open Houses (28th March) and have him see what Tech can and has done to Brick n Mortar Businesses.

Hope that helps…
Prateek Bohra March 25, 2015, 5:42 am

Hi Chetan!

That was too technical for me to digest. Is there no easy way to make an android app? Just like Ee have WordPress for websites?
Prateek Bohra March 25, 2015, 5:45 am

Hi Binit! Thanks for the guidance, but won’t it be an information only App? I have used such apps developed by one acquaintance(he outsourced it) which was the replica of the website of their business.
rajeev kocher March 25, 2015, 5:56 am

If results you are of that would be Bombastic. Hire some experts to do that for you while in the time being you can focus on launching the app.
Prateek Bohra March 25, 2015, 5:59 am

Hi Rajeev Ji!
As I mentioned earlier, my father isn’t willing to spend anything on it. Moreover, I dont intend to launch it as a public use product but it will only be used within our existing ecosystem of clients. Therefore, hiring an expert to build it or ‘launching’ the App is out of question.
Partha Chakraborty March 26, 2015, 5:42 am

As someone who has started to learn android development, my rookie advice is to start learning and grasping ‘JAVA’ programming. Android programming is basically JAVA + XML. Here is a good resource to help you get started

https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/index.html
Chetan Kaushal March 26, 2015, 3:16 pm

It looks intimidating but its not. If you are passionate about coding you’ll find it fun and rewarding. You’ll just have to keep on coding.
Shantanu Deshmukh March 27, 2015, 3:30 am

Hi Prateek,

It will be a lot easier if you can find some engineering college student who develops android apps in your area. Some students are really passionate about development and they can help you in that.