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App/Android Development Courses

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  • 24-02-2012 1:17pm
    #1
    Pikeman
    Registered Users Posts: 40 ✭


    Working in the print design area for years now. My company is looking to get into the area of App Development, ePublishing etc for some of our publications. They have told me to look for a course that would help me upskill into this area.

    Would only know a small bit about web design etc myself so any ideas of courses that would take me from pretty much scratch to functional App developer/designer?

    Cheers


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    #2
    Tom Dunne
    Registered Users Posts: 23,212 ✭✭✭✭Tom Dunne


    You would probably be better off learning to program first, and then make the jump to app development.

    Java courses are the first I would recommend.


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    #3
    Julius Seizure
    Closed Accounts Posts: 459 ✭✭Julius Seizure


    Any ideas on how to go around joining one of these courses? I'm going into 4th year and as a project have started app development. I'm already very up to speed and can work with rom packaging, adb, root with my eyes shut. I know the specific android side of building an app but I've hit a wall because really, I don't know the proper syntax of Java well and so it's difficult. I'm in Kilkenny but am fine with dublin or Waterford as I can pop on the train.


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    #4
    Mr.Crinklewood
    Registered Users Posts: 12,453 ✭✭✭✭Mr.Crinklewood


    This any good to you:-

    http://www.groupon.ie/deals/national-deals/e-Careerscom/9286900?nlp=&CID=IE_CRM_1_0_0_228&a=1676


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    #5
    Tom Dunne
    Registered Users Posts: 23,212 ✭✭✭✭Tom Dunne


    I would have grave reservations about that course. It's all online and extremely basic. For something like Xcode, you really need experience developing or an experienced instructor in front of you.

    Do yourself a favour and put the €49 into books on the topic - at leat you will have something to show for it afterwards.


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    #6
    Mr. CooL ICE
    Registered Users Posts: 17,551 ✭✭✭✭Mr. CooL ICE


    Hey, I'm also in the process of learning android app development. Although I'm finished my degree a few years, I'm re-learning how to program after a few stagnant years in jobs I really don't like.

    Some more experienced android developers might say this is terrible advice, but from what I can tell, your knowledge of Java doesn't need to be very extensive to be successful with android development. I started a course to take my SCJP in preparation for android and initially regretted not finishing the course, but the more I learn about android, the more I realize that thorough knowledge of Java becomes irrelevant. Loads of standard Java libraries are omitted for android. If you have a good background in OOP design, that should suffice and your Java syntax will pick up by itself.

    I would echo what Tom Dunne says and get a decent book. Be wary of the many, many books that were written even before Cupcake and aim for something more modern (at least Froyo).


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    #7
    The Corinthian
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,777 ✭✭✭✭The Corinthian


    LordChessington wrote: »
    Some more experienced android developers might say this is terrible advice, but from what I can tell, your knowledge of Java doesn't need to be very extensive to be successful with android development. I started a course to take my SCJP in preparation for android and initially regretted not finishing the course, but the more I learn about android, the more I realize that thorough knowledge of Java becomes irrelevant. Loads of standard Java libraries are omitted for android. If you have a good background in OOP design, that should suffice and your Java syntax will pick up by itself.
    I'd both agree and disagree with you. I'd agree in that you certainly do not need to be a Java guru to be a competent or even, sometimes, expert Android developer.

    However, one simple reason I'd disagree is that many of those looking to learn have little or no knowledge of Java whatsoever - I suspect the OP may be in this category. So you do still have to learn how to develop in Java, even if you don't need to be a guru.
    I would echo what Tom Dunne says and get a decent book. Be wary of the many, many books that were written even before Cupcake and aim for something more modern (at least Froyo).
    I wouldn't get a book on Android, because of this. I wrote a book on WAP development just over ten years ago and because publishing suffers Real World delays, by the time the book came out, it was already out of date and WAP was already going out of fashion. Thank God I took an advance.

    Books simply can't keep up a lot of the time. A book on Java (the Java you'll need to know is pretty stable nowadays)? Sure. But Android? Better off working off the Web.


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    #8
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    The Corinthian wrote: »
    Books simply can't keep up a lot of the time. A book on Java (the Java you'll need to know is pretty stable nowadays)? Sure. But Android? Better off working off the Web.

    While I agree with you in some ways the fundamentals of Android don't really change and learning the life cycle and such is important, a book will cover the basics required in dept if you get a good book. I've also found publishers to be OK with keeping up with Android, usually only one iteration behind.

    So I think a book to learn the basics is OK but the web is then better for learning more advanced and newer features.


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    #9
    Julius Seizure
    Closed Accounts Posts: 459 ✭✭Julius Seizure


    Guys, the new boston has a great series on youtube, 200 vids that teach you android and Java at the same time. For the most part. (anyone who watches it will get it :P)


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    #10
    dinnymac
    Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭dinnymac


    Having look at this tread and more, a lot of people looking for mobile app courses are looking for quick fixes (and nothing wrong with that may I add...)
    I'm just wondering if the option of a full time honours degree came available, lets say a computer science honours degree that specialised in mobile application development would you think prospective leaving cert students/mature/back to education students, that there would be a need for it; this in is relation to other college courses that have sprung up that have specialist computer science degrees in gaming/web/cloud etc...
    Thanks...I'm just being curious...


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    #11
    homerjay2005
    Registered Users Posts: 29,346 ✭✭✭✭homerjay2005


    Tom Dunne wrote: »
    Do yourself a favour and put the €49 into books on the topic - at leat you will have something to show for it afterwards.

    any new books or courses in particular you or anybody would recommend?


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    #12
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 3,621 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    homerjay2005 wrote: »
    any new books or courses in particular you or anybody would recommend?

    http://www.amazon.com/Android-Programmers-App-Driven-Approach-Developer/dp/0132121360

    This isn't bad. Walks you through a few different types of apps.


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    #13
    homerjay2005
    Registered Users Posts: 29,346 ✭✭✭✭homerjay2005


    anybody able to recommend a good classroom based course in Dublin for 6-12 months?

    i see them in Tralee, Waterford as degrees, but not alot in Dublin thats classroom based.


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