Android App Development

This module, "Java for Android," focuses on programming core features and classes from the Java programming language used in Android, covering key Java programming language features, access to structured data, and customizing the behavior of existing classes via inheritance and polymorphism. Learners will apply these Java features in the context of core Android components by using common tools such as Android Studio and working on hands-on projects throughout the module.

The "Android App Components - Intents, Activities, and Broadcast Receivers" module delves deeper into core Android app components, such as intents, activities, and broadcast receivers. Learners will also learn about Android concurrency frameworks, basic Java file I/O classes, and Android storage mechanisms. Throughout the module, learners will work on a project involving downloading, storing, and displaying images from remote websites, incrementally adding additional capabilities based on the material covered in the lecture videos.

The "Android App Components - Services, Local IPC, and Content Providers" module builds upon the core Android app components and concurrency frameworks covered in the previous module. Learners will focus on started and bound services, local inter-process communication (IPC), and content providers, with a hands-on project involving a material design-based RSS reader app, incrementally adding additional capabilities based on the material covered in the lecture videos.

The "Engineering Maintainable Android Apps" module demonstrates various methods for engineering maintainable Android apps, including test-driven development methods and applying common Java/Android software patterns to improve the extensibility and clarity of Android apps. The module also emphasizes the benefits of good software engineering practices targeted at creating maintainable code for mobile apps.

The Capstone project, "Capstone MOOC for 'Android App Development,'" integrates material from throughout the Specialization to exercise and assess the ability of learners to create an interesting Android app. This project enables learners to apply knowledge and skills learned in previous MOOCs in the Specialization, including Java programming features, Android activity, broadcast receiver, service, and content provider components, and unit, integration, and user interface testing. The project itself is intentionally designed to enable learners to create a customized app that demonstrates their creativity and mastery of the Specialization topics.