App Development

Comprehensive 3-Month App Development Course Outline

Duration: 3 Months (12 Weeks)

Mode: Online / In-Person

Tools Used: Android Studio, Jetpack Compose, Kotlin, Firebase, GitHub

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of programming (optional)

Module 1: Introduction to Mobile App Development (Weeks 1-2)

Objective:

• Introduce students to the basics of mobile app development, Android architecture, and set up the development environment.

Topics Covered:

1. Mobile Development Overview

   • Differences between Android and iOS development

   • App development trends and career opportunities

   • Types of mobile apps: Native, Hybrid, and Web apps

2. Setting up Android Development Environment

   • Installing Android Studio and SDK

   • Navigating through the IDE and setting up an emulator

   • Understanding Gradle and project structure

3. Version Control & Git Basics

   • Introduction to Git and GitHub

   • Setting up repositories for app projects

   • Best practices for version control

4. First Android Application

   • Writing the first "Hello World" Android app

   • Understanding AndroidManifest.xml, activities, and layouts

   • Running apps on physical devices and emulators

5. Introduction to Kotlin Programming

   • Why Kotlin for Android development

   • Writing basic Kotlin syntax: Variables, Data Types, and Functions

Module 2: Kotlin Programming Fundamentals (Weeks 3-4)

Objective:

• Equip students with a solid understanding of Kotlin programming to build Android applications.

Topics Covered:

1. Core Kotlin Programming Concepts

   • Variables, Constants, and Data Types

   • Control flow (if-else, when, loops)

   • Functions: Declaration, Parameters, Return types, Lambda expressions

2. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in Kotlin

   • Classes, Objects, and Inheritance

   • Visibility modifiers (public, private, protected)

   • Interfaces and Abstract classes

3. Handling Data in Kotlin

   • Collections (Lists, Sets, Maps)

   • Arrays, ArrayLists, and their use cases

   • Null safety and Elvis operator

4. Error Handling

   • Try-catch blocks and exception handling

   • Best practices for error management in Android apps

5. Kotlin Coroutines (Introduction)

   • Basics of asynchronous programming in Kotlin

   • Introduction to Kotlin coroutines and lifecycle-aware components

Module 3: User Interface Design with Jetpack Compose (Weeks 5-6)

Objective:

• Teach students modern UI design using Jetpack Compose, the latest toolkit for building native Android UIs.

Topics Covered:

1. Introduction to Jetpack Compose

   • Overview of Jetpack Compose vs XML layouts

   • Setting up a Compose-enabled project

   • Basic Composable functions

2. Building User Interfaces with Compose

   • Layouts: Column, Row, Box, and Modifiers

   • Designing responsive layouts for different screen sizes

   • Adding text, images, and styling components

3. Material Design with Jetpack Compose

   • Using Material components (Buttons, App Bars, FABs)

   • Implementing theming and dark mode support

   • Typography, colors, and shapes in Compose

4. Handling User Interactions

   • Managing state in Compose

   • Click listeners, gestures, and input fields

   • Working with forms and validating user input

5. Animations in Jetpack Compose

   • Basics of animations: Animatable, transitions

   • Animating components (fading, scaling, rotation)

   • Implementing complex animations for enhanced user experience

Module 4: Working with APIs, Networking, and Data Storage (Weeks 7-8)

Objective:

• Enable students to create dynamic apps by integrating third-party APIs and storing data locally.

Topics Covered:

1. Networking in Android

   • Understanding REST APIs and HTTP requests

   • Using Retrofit for API calls

   • Parsing JSON data using GSON and Moshi

2. Handling Network Responses

   • Working with asynchronous tasks and Kotlin coroutines

   • Error handling in network calls (timeouts, no internet)

   • Handling complex data with pagination

3. Persistent Data Storage

   • Introduction to Room Database for local data storage

   • CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete)

   • Using SQLite and Data Binding

4. Shared Preferences

   • Storing key-value pairs for app settings

   • Encrypting sensitive data (user credentials)

5. Firebase Integration

   • Introduction to Firebase Realtime Database

   • Storing and retrieving data from Firebase

   • Firebase Authentication (Google, Email, and Password-based authentication)

Module 5: Advanced Android Features (Weeks 9-10)

Objective:

• Explore advanced Android components, enabling students to build feature-rich applications.

Topics Covered:

1. Background Services & WorkManager

   • Understanding services in Android (foreground, background)

   • Scheduling tasks with WorkManager

   • Downloading files in the background

2. Push Notifications with Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)

   • Setting up Firebase Cloud Messaging in Android apps

   • Sending push notifications from Firebase Console

   • Handling notification clicks and actions

3. Using Android Sensors

   • Accessing device sensors (GPS, Accelerometer, Camera)

   • Building location-aware apps with Google Maps API

   • Capturing images and video from the camera

4. Media Handling

   • Displaying images using Glide or Picasso

   • Playing audio and video in apps

   • Streaming media and buffering techniques

5. Integrating Third-Party Libraries

   • Incorporating popular libraries (e.g., Glide, Retrofit, Dagger)

   • Understanding Gradle dependencies

   • Best practices for managing large projects

Module 6: Testing, Debugging, and Deployment (Weeks 11-12)

Objective:

• Prepare students to optimize, debug, test, and deploy their apps on the Play Store.

Topics Covered:

1. Debugging in Android Studio

   • Using the Logcat to track and debug issues

   • Debugging app crashes and performance issues

   • Profiling apps for memory, battery, and CPU usage

2. Testing Android Applications

   • Writing unit tests for Android apps

   • Using Espresso for UI testing

   • Automating testing with Android Test Orchestrator

3. Optimizing Android Apps

   • Best practices for app performance (reducing memory leaks)

   • Optimizing app size (APK size reduction techniques)

   • Efficient image and media handling

4. Deploying Android Apps

   • Signing APKs for release

   • Generating AAB (Android App Bundle) for the Play Store

   • Uploading apps to the Google Play Console

5. Marketing and Monetizing Apps

   • App Store Optimization (ASO) techniques

   • Monetization strategies: Ads, In-App Purchases, Subscriptions

   • Managing app updates and user feedback

Capstone Project: Build Your Own App (Final Week)

Objective:

• Develop and present a fully functional Android app as a final project.

Project Guidelines:

• Choose a project idea (e.g., a to-do list, weather app, or e-commerce app)

• Implement core features learned throughout the course

• Focus on UI/UX design, functionality, and performance

• Present the project to the class and get feedback

Additional Resources:

• Online Documentation: Access to Android and Kotlin official documentation

• Community Support: Join our online community for discussions and peer reviews

• Career Support: Tips on building a developer portfolio, resume assistance, and guidance on freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.