Thriving in Android Development Using Kotlin: A project-based guide to using the latest Android features for developing production-grade apps

Gema Socorro Rodríguez

Jul 2024 · Packt Publishing Ltd

About this eBook

Build a range of Android applications including a messaging app, a photo editor, and a video streaming platform while learning how to address common real-world issues such as authentication, connecting to synchronous and asynchronous remote sources, rendering complex UIs with Jetpack Compose, and moreKey Features

• Understand complex concepts in a coherent way by solving challenging real-world problems and developing three practical projects
• Use the latest features of libraries in Jetpack Compose, Room, CameraX, ExoPlayer, and more
• Leverage best practices for UI creation, app structure, data handling, and lifecycle management
• Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Book DescriptionWith resources on Android and Kotlin abound, it’s difficult to find content that focuses on resolving common challenges faced by app developers. This book by Gema Socorro Rodríguez – a Google Developer Expert for Android with over 15 years of experience and a proven track record as an effective instructor – is designed to bridge the gap between theory and real-world application. It equips you with the skills to tackle everyday problems in Android development through hands-on projects. Under Gema's expert guidance, you’ll build three sophisticated Android projects. You'll start your development journey by building a WhatsApp-like application, learning how to process asynchronous messages reactively, render them using Jetpack Compose, and advance to creating and uploading a backup of these messages. Next, you’ll channel your creativity into Packtagram, an Instagram-inspired app that offers advanced photo-editing capabilities using the latest CameraX libraries. Your final project will be a Netflix-style app, integrating video playback functionality with ExoPlayer for both foreground and background operations, and implementing device casting features. By the end of this book, you'll have crafted three fully functional, multi-platform projects and gained the confidence to solve the most common challenges in Android development.What you will learn

• Create complex UIs with Jetpack Compose
• Structure and modularize apps with a focus on further scaling
• Connect your app to synchronous and asynchronous remote sources
• Store and cache information and manage the lifecycle of this data
• Execute periodic tasks using WorkManager
• Capture and edit photos and videos using CameraX
• Authenticate your users securely
• Play videos in the foreground and background and cast them to other devices

Who this book is for

If you're a mid-level Android engineer, this book is for you as it will not only teach you how to solve issues that occur in real-world apps but also benefit you in your day-to-day work. This book will also help junior engineers who want to get exposed to complex problems and explore best practices to solve them. A basic understanding of Android and Kotlin concepts such as views, activities, lifecycle, and Kotlin coroutines will be useful to get the most out of this book.

Ratings and reviews

surjít meitei

About the author

Gema Socorro Rodríguez is a Google Developer Expert for Android with over 15 years of experience. After completing her studies by building a mobile project in 2009, she began working on more mobile apps and fell in love with Android. Since then, she has been part of several teams developing mobile apps. As her experience grew, she realized she wanted to share her knowledge with the community, leading her to give talks and organize workshops. She has also been an instructor in a mobile-specialized bootcamp. She is currently a Senior Android Engineer at Cabify, a popular ride-hailing company with a presence in Spain and most Latin American countries.