Reddit reviews Android Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide (Big Nerd Ranch Guides)

If you're already familiar with Java I recommend Android Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide. You can find more suggestions on the wiki.

No, those are great ideas. I'm only learning myself but the development was kind of a "just one more feature" kind of deal. It's probably not a good idea to learn from me but heres the book I used.

If you're looking for a straight up tutorial in paper form, I'd pick up The Big nerd Ranch Guide.

Code Complete

Big Java Late Objects

The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

The Mythical Man-Month

Android Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide

cracking the coding Interview

Introduction to Algorithms

Thinking in C++

http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321804333

This is a really good resource. I'm also learning and this resource seems to be one of the most recommended.

Also check out the wiki at the top of this sub, it has a lot of other really good resources.

The best Android book IMO:

http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321804333/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408829231&sr=8-1&keywords=big+nerd+ranch+android

I also have a guide on how I got started with Android if you want to check it out:

http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/2dofph/just_published_my_first_app_a_comprehensive_guide/

Here are a few helpful resources to help you out.


Firstly, you probably need a beginners grasp on Java. For that, I would highly recommend:
http://www.amazon.com/Head-First-Java-2nd-Edition/dp/0596009208

You do not need to go through the entire book, But it would be more helpful to you.

Secondly, I highly recommend this android book:
http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321804333

They literally walk you step-by-step.


However, if you do not feel you can teach yourself programming there is always this option:
http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/
I haven't personally messed around with it but it doesn't require any programming experience.



Here is a free online class that starts tomorrow if you have the time.
https://www.coursera.org/course/androidpart1

or this one that is already finished but you can still access the material.
https://www.coursera.org/course/androidapps101

You could also go at your own pace through it.


Here is also a udemy course that also teaches you java. I would get it now before the price goes back up to 200 bucks.
https://www.udemy.com/android-lollipop-complete-development-course/?dtcode=hfFhrtG2ans8

I haven't personally taken it, but a friend of mine has and he loves it.




Basically, just start reading and learning. The big nerd ranch book that I listed has some really great beginner apps that teach you the basics.



Persistence is the key. Don't give up, fight through the pain. Google like crazy.It's worth it, trust me.

Yes, you should definitely avoid sources that are 2 years old. Try going for a book on Android that was recently published. These books cover the nuances of features only present in later Android OS. Heres a suggestion:

http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321804333

Googling of course helps you when you're stuck or don't know what to do, but I find internet resources are not the best at teaching you the ways of Android programming.

I went through the first several chapters of the Big Nerd Ranch book, it seemed pretty solid to me: http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321804333/

Good reviews, apparently they use the same curriculum for a coding bootcamp as well.

Can we get a sidebar for this question and beginner android resources in general? I see this question posted once a week. That being said here are the top answers/relevant links

• Kevin Darty's Post on Beginning Android Development
  
  
• Mark Murphy's The Busy Coder's Guide to Android Development
  
  
• Big Nerd Ranch Guide to Android Development
  -I'm not familiar with this one but its received great reviews.
  
  

I think I learn more from books. I would suggest this one.


Also the new boston has a good video serious but its almost two years old.

Big Nerd Ranch has a great guide

The Udacity course is great/free, but man, it gets really fast/dry midway through Lesson 4. I felt that the way they designed the app was a bit overkill for teaching what's supposed to be an intro to Android; in particular, the 4a/4b lessons on databases. Besides way too much copy/paste code in this section, I wasn't sold on the idea of a database for the app, especially given the amount of work. I found myself watching the video and copy/pasting a lot of code without really understanding it. I really enjoyed the first 3 lessons, but bailed during 4b.

While I highly recommend checking out the Udacity course (since it's free), I've preferred http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321804333 The book teaches similar concepts, but instead of putting them all into one app, spreads them across several. I particularly liked the later chapters, where you build a simple Flickr client. These chapters were particularly relevant to me, since they cover how to interface with an API, download pictures, integrate search, etc...

Something like the big nerd ranch for android is great:
Amazon Link

Focus more on the language and the Android SDK itself and less on the IDE.

I know from experience the Big Nerd Ranch books are one of the "goto" resources for Objective C and iOS development, I have never tried their Android book but it is highly rated on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0321804333/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?pc_redir=1395670735

I can highly recommend this book here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Android-Programming-Nerd-Ranch-Guide/dp/0321804333/

For developers who knew Java, http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321804333

If you have an understanding of how object oriented programming works, The Big Nerd Ranch guide to Android Programming is a great book. Not too expensive as far as CS textbooks go. If you aren't familiar with OOP or Java, though, you should start with basic programming in Java before moving on towards Android specific learning.

You can look into Cordova/Phonegap for development of hybrid apps. It might be easier and more straightforward to get something running on both IOS and Android if you're comfortable with web development. If you want to go native, there's a good Android intro course available here. It should set you on a right path (the course is over, but the material should be accessible). Also, you can consider this book

Read this

http://www.amazon.com/Absolute-Java-International-Walter-Savitch-ebook/dp/B007O10JCW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411539417&sr=8-1&keywords=absolute+java

then this

http://www.amazon.com/Effective-Java-Edition-Joshua-Bloch/dp/0321356683/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411539430&sr=8-1&keywords=effective+java

then this

http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321804333/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411539470&sr=8-1&keywords=android+ranch+guide

and lastly this

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Android-Application-Development-Meier/dp/1502311135/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1411539494&sr=8-6&keywords=professional+android

This guide has been invaluable for me: http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321804333
I've made two Android apps now, and I started with no experience of any kind in making mobile apps. It has great step-by-step examples, and they really focus on explaining the reasons behind why they're taking each step.
Can't even begin to explain how thankful I am that someone recommended that book to me. Hope it helps you as much as it did me! Good luck programming!!

I've been programming for six years now. Most of my work is in C++ and Java, but I also use Ruby and Haskell a fair bit.

This is the book I used when learning Android:

http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321804333/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369251396&sr=8-1&keywords=android+big+nerd+ranch#reader_0321804333

It's an amazing book. I really enjoyed it.

Totally agree. Save yourself some money and get a book like this. Or save all of it by patronizing your local library. YMMV.

Hawk_Blue, as many others have mentioned, Grats on the app!

I am curious, as it being 2015, is the 2013 edition book you suggested on amazon still viable? I plan on joining treehouse as well as pick up this book for better insight.

http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321804333/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408136373&sr=8-1&keywords=android+programming

Was listening to 'This Week in Tech' podcast by Leo Laporte, they had the authors of Big Nerd Ranch Guide to Android Development there. From what I've heard, it seems like a solid and, most importantly, recent book. I wanted to get it myself but decided to stick with online resources for now and buy the book later if I have money for it :P

This one worked quite well for my needs, covered a lot of topics with downloadable example code (though I'd recommend typing it all in by hand) Android Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide


I hear good things about The Busy Coder's Guide to Android Development for step-by-step and I think I might like it's model of subscription, staying updated and online chats, but I've not tried it myself yet and at $45 per year YMMV.

I used this one: http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321804333

If you get bored before finishing it, it should give you enough of a foundation to be able to go through the android documentation and be able to google your way around.

Android Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide gets good reviews on Amazon.

By chance does it have a section on either of:

• Creating an AsyncTask to persist through runtime configuration changes (such as when the user changes the screen orientation); or
  
• Creating an AsyncTaskLoader with a Loader to persist through runtime configuration changes (such as when the user changes the screen orientation).
  
  ?
  
  

Is this the book you're referring to?

I also came to Android development after a 10 years break from professional programming and no Java experience at all. I'd done some Javascript and Flash in the past, not much, but enough understand the Java syntax.

I found the Big Nerd Ranch Guide to be an excellent primer. I worked through about the first 3rd of the book to get to grips with the basics and then found that I understood the online tutorials a lot better. So I recommend that book.

I also recommend starting out with the Android Developer Tools bundle from Google, which includes Eclipse, the SDK and the Java stuff you need. Android Studio is better, but almost all the tutorials on the web and in books show you Eclipse. Once you've got your head around the Android part of it then have a look at moving to Android Studio.

Well, I said it before, I will say it again, this book is amazing

Then, I highly recommend, you learn JPA/Hibernate and DDD. The value in that alone is what many companies are after.

Then you have to choose what is that specifically you want to master:

If you want to go with EE, then read this

If you want to go mobile, read this

Obviously, if you still have time, Martin Fowler and Uncle Bob are your guides.

A couple of questions:

1. What Phone do you use?
   
2. What computer OS do you use?
   
   
   If you have a PC, you can only develop for Android.
   If you have a Mac, you can developer for iOS or Android.
   
   I highly recommend a book over a website. They are much more comprehensive and go into greater detail.
   
   Mac/iOS uses Objective-C.
   http://www.amazon.com/Objective-C-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/032194206X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419300572&sr=8-1&keywords=big+nerd+ranch+objective+c
   
   http://www.amazon.com/iOS-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321942051/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419300564&sr=8-1&keywords=Big+Nerd+ranch+ios
   
   Android
   
   http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321804333/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419300685&sr=8-1&keywords=Big+Nerd+ranch+android
   
   Big Nerd Ranch books are awesome.