i FirSt StArted plAying With the Android Sdk before it was offi cially released as version 1.0. Back
then, the tools were unpolished, the APIs in the SDK were unstable, and the documentation was sparse.
Fast forward two and a half years, Android is now a formidable mobile operating system, with a following
no less impressive than the iPhone. Having gone through all the growing pains of Android, I
think now is the best time to start learning about Android programming — the APIs have stabilized,
and the tools have improved. But one challenge remains: getting started is still an elusive goal for many.
It was with this challenge in mind that I was motivated to write this book, one that could benefi t beginning
Android programmers and enable them to write progressively more sophisticated applications.
As a book written to help jump-start beginning Android developers, it covers the necessary topics in
a linear manner so that you can build on your knowledge without being overwhelmed by the details.
I adopt the philosophy that the best way to learn is by doing — hence the numerous Try It Out sections
in each chapter, which fi rst show you how to build something and then explain how everything
works.
Although Android programming is a huge topic, my aim for this book is threefold: to get you started
with the fundamentals, to help you understand the underlying architecture of the SDK, and to appreciate
why things are done in certain ways. It is beyond the scope of any book to cover everything
under the sun related to Android programming, but I am confi dent that after reading this book (and
doing the exercises), you will be well equipped to tackle your next Android programming challenge.