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Android Lecture Notes

The document provides an overview of the Android operating system, detailing its definition, features, and core design principles. It outlines the Android architecture, application structure, and core components, including activities and UI elements. Additionally, it discusses process management and architectural patterns like MVC and MVVM to enhance app development efficiency.

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Ndze Kum
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5 views5 pages

Android Lecture Notes

The document provides an overview of the Android operating system, detailing its definition, features, and core design principles. It outlines the Android architecture, application structure, and core components, including activities and UI elements. Additionally, it discusses process management and architectural patterns like MVC and MVVM to enhance app development efficiency.

Uploaded by

Ndze Kum
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

INTRODUCTION TO MOBILE (UNDERSTANDING THE ANDROID ENGINE)

1. OVERVIEW OF ANDROID

1.1 Definition of Android

Android is a mobile operating system (OS) developed by Google.

It is built on the Linux kernel which handles:

- Process management

- Memory management

- Hardware communication

Key Terms:

Operating System: Software that manages hardware and runs applications

Kernel: Core part of OS that connects software to hardware

Open Source: Code is publicly available (AOSP)

1.2 Android as a Software System

Android is:

- Distributed

- Event-driven

Designed for:

- Limited battery, RAM, CPU

- Multiple apps

- Strong isolation

1.3 Features of Android


- Open ecosystem

- Multitasking

- Customizable UI

- Multiple device support

- Play Store distribution

1.4 Core Design Principles

Process Isolation: Each app runs in its own process

Component-Based: Apps made of activities, services, etc.

Event-Driven: Runs only when needed

Managed Runtime: Uses ART

2. ANDROID ARCHITECTURE

Layers:

- Linux Kernel: hardware interaction, security

- HAL: connects hardware to APIs

- Native Libraries: SQLite, WebKit, OpenGL, SSL

- ART: execution, garbage collection

- Application Framework: system services

- Applications: user apps

3. APPLICATION STRUCTURE

Project Structure:

- manifests/
- java/kotlin/

- res/

- Gradle

[Link]:

Defines activities, permissions, services

Core Components:

- Activity: UI screen

- Service: background tasks

- Broadcast Receiver: listens to events

- Content Provider: shares data

APK & DEX:

APK: final app file

DEX: optimized bytecode

Gradle:

Handles dependencies and builds

4. ACTIVITIES & UI

Activity Lifecycle:

onCreate, onStart, onResume, onPause, onStop, onDestroy

Main Thread:
Do not block (avoids ANR)

Concurrency:

Threads, handlers, coroutines

UI:

XML, Views, ViewGroups

Layouts:

LinearLayout, ConstraintLayout

Components:

TextView, EditText, Button, RecyclerView

Rendering:

Measure → Layout → Draw

Events:

Click, swipe, touch

Intents:

Explicit and Implicit

5. PROCESS MANAGEMENT

Priority Levels:
Foreground, Visible, Service, Background, Empty

Low Memory Killer:

Kills low priority apps

6. ARCHITECTURAL PATTERNS

MVC:

Model, View, Controller

MVVM:

Model, View, ViewModel

Lifecycle Awareness:

Prevents crashes and memory leaks

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