Tool for android app development

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dukesx

New member
hey guys i was wondering if there is any app for windows (not online) that gives drag and drop support for android app development ? Googles android studio seems quite complex ... if someone helps me with this , it would be great and maybe i can team up with someone and make apps :)
 
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strokerace

Banned
I believe what you want is the IDE toolkit. Its what all the Android devs use. I think its called jave IDE or something like that. Search google for Android ide and it should come up
 
smalpierre

smalpierre

New member
Maybe try Apache Cordova if you don't want to end up in Java Hell ...

https://cordova.apache.org/

If that doesn't do it for you, try Lazarus - it's a delphi clone. It cross compiles to a lot of things, and last time was looking to develop a mobile app cross compiling to Android and iPhone was in the works and almost ready.

Or try Qt if you'd rather develop in C++

I've used Qt before, and it's pretty decent, but Lazarus just like Delphi when you create an app - you literaly click on a form, place and size it on screen, plop on some elements - text boxes, buttons, set some attributes - and it looks EXACTLY like it will look like when it's run - down to the placement on screen.

Mind you - I've only used them for desktop applications ... I'd say Delphi, I'm pretty sure it does cross compiles to mobile too and it's the inspiration for Lazarus, but it's also in the $1000+ range

strokerace said:
This is what you can try to build android apps with https://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
Click to expand...

I don't think the SDK gives you any kind of an IDE - not a drag and drop app builder anyway - but you do have to have it - at least if you're building in Java I think. I'm not sure if you need it with Lazarus or Qt, but it's very possible.

Oh - a lot of people have used Eclipse (I never liked Eclipse) and Netbeans - the full Java version, not the PHP one I used.

But you're not going to develop for iDevices like that I don't believe - you're writing Java for droid, and Objective C for the iDevices ... Easier to build the app once and cross compile.
 
S

strokerace

Banned
smalpierre said:
Maybe try Apache Cordova if you don't want to end up in Java Hell ...

https://cordova.apache.org/

If that doesn't do it for you, try Lazarus - it's a delphi clone. It cross compiles to a lot of things, and last time was looking to develop a mobile app cross compiling to Android and iPhone was in the works and almost ready.

Or try Qt if you'd rather develop in C++

I've used Qt before, and it's pretty decent, but Lazarus just like Delphi when you create an app - you literaly click on a form, place and size it on screen, plop on some elements - text boxes, buttons, set some attributes - and it looks EXACTLY like it will look like when it's run - down to the placement on screen.

Mind you - I've only used them for desktop applications ... I'd say Delphi, I'm pretty sure it does cross compiles to mobile too and it's the inspiration for Lazarus, but it's also in the $1000+ range

strokerace said:
This is what you can try to build android apps with https://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
Click to expand...

I don't think the SDK gives you any kind of an IDE - not a drag and drop app builder anyway - but you do have to have it - at least if you're building in Java I think. I'm not sure if you need it with Lazarus or Qt, but it's very possible.

Oh - a lot of people have used Eclipse (I never liked Eclipse) and Netbeans - the full Java version, not the PHP one I used.

But you're not going to develop for iDevices like that I don't believe - you're writing Java for droid, and Objective C for the iDevices ... Easier to build the app once and cross compile.
Click to expand...


Yes, that tool is all Java. I have used it to do some work on Android. I am not a fan of Java, nor will I claim I know any java. Its just a program that I heard other Android devs on the xda forums talk about. Its also one of the reason why I never went into android app stuff. I am not a fan of Java.
 
H

Hanzo

New member
Now trying to learn Android development.
Don't think that "Drag'n'drop" is a good idea.

If you don't want to learn it - don't waste your time on something that will be buggy and heavy by definition.

IMHO.
 
G

ghasemeng

New member
android studio IDE is very simple and perfect at the same time!
you can develop your projects very simply.
each project is as following:
1. manifest file for permissions and recognizing components
2. build.gradle file to add libraries and specify min and target sdk versions and progaurd your project.
3. project panel in right screen side to explore all files and folders in your project.
4.you can simply create your component such as activity,service and etc and implement your java code.
5.also you can simply include jar files in lib folder.
6. you can have multiple module in one project.
7.you can import module library to include libraries in your project.
8. you can update sdk and tools by sdk manager very simple.
9.you can add genymotion plugin to run your apps.
10.there is very different plugins that helps you to write your code simple.
11.you can use svg images in drawable folder of your module.
.........
and etc.
I think that if you want write an android project,you should use android studio!
 
W

w00F

New member
I was not a java dev at all but mostly PHP and got to the point of needing to make an android app.
ANdroid studio seems quite complex at the first look but with the latest GUI editor and the good basic tutorial available on both android studio website and online you should be able to make some nice apps quickly. In less than 3 mointh i went from simple app to an app with fragments, async queries, streaming and i even used google maps with custom markers!
And being the official dev tool, that'll be the best way to create and test your app in my opinion.
 
ANSH3LL

ANSH3LL

New member
In case you reconsider and want to actually code an android app yourself, which is better anyway, you could learn python, which is definitely easier than java, and then use it together with the kivy module to build your app. Kivy works for many more platforms though and as a plus, you can take advantage of the power python offers out of the box, while remaining easy to use.
 
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sxiii

New member
As I am lazy developer, I sometimes test new frameworks for apps development. At some time I decided that I will use two days to develop two android apps and publish them to market (never done that before). So I took the not-so-flexible but still useful online andriod app builder from MIT called AppInventor, sitted next to it for few hours and in the first day I developed & published to Google my first app (it was accepted on the same day, which is good). On the next day, I developed second one.

So to summarize my own experience: if you want to develop some really-easy app like text & buttons or fullscreen web browser that opens a specific web site; the AppInventor is fast and really good tool for the task.

If you are going to make your cool application with heavy logic and own controls etc. etc, you will have to stick to some fully-fledged desktop-installed android IDEs, which names you could find in this topic.

Good luck with your study & research!
 
E

electrocute

Guest
i suggest you to use "kotlin". it support large library of java and help you to develop complex design app in easy manner and also try MITAppInventor. google it for more details
 
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