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Post: Android App Development for Beginners: Using Android Studio with Kotlin and Jetpack Compose

Android App Development – Android Studio Development Essentials

Overview

Android Basics with Compose
Instructor: Bernard Aybout

Course Summary:
Android Basics with Compose is an online, self-paced course focused on building Android apps using the latest best practices. You’ll learn to use Jetpack Compose, the recommended toolkit for creating user interfaces on Android.

Course Objectives:

  • Master the fundamentals of Kotlin and Jetpack Compose.
  • Build basic Android apps.
  • Implement Modern Android Development practices with app architecture and Jetpack libraries.

Prerequisites:

  • Basic computer skills
  • Basic math skills
  • A computer that meets Android Studio’s system requirements
  • (Optional) An Android device

Unit 1: Your First Android App

Duration: 10 hours
Pathways: 3

Learn to:

  • Write simple Kotlin programs that display text output.
  • Download and install Android Studio.
  • Build an Android app with a simple UI to display text and images.
  • Run the app on a device or emulator.

Pathways:

  1. Introduction to Kotlin (3 hours): Learn programming basics in Kotlin.
  2. Setup Android Studio (4 hours): Install and set up Android Studio, create your first project, and run it on a device or emulator.
  3. Build a Basic Layout (3 hours): Create an app with a simple UI to display text and images.

Unit 2: Building App UI

Duration: 21 hours
Pathways: 3

Learn to:

  • Use conditionals, function types, classes, and lambda expressions in Kotlin.
  • Add a button to an app UI and respond to user taps.
  • Work with data entered by the user.
  • Use state to display data and automatically reflect changes.
  • Write unit tests for isolated functions.

Pathways: – Android App Development

  1. Kotlin Fundamentals (8 hours): Learn more about Kotlin, object-oriented programming, and lambdas.
  2. Add a Button to an App (6 hours): Respond to button clicks in an Android app.
  3. Interacting with UI and State (7 hours): Create a tip calculator app to calculate tips from user input.

Unit 3: Display Lists and Use Material Design – Android App Development

Duration: 15 hours
Pathways: 3

Learn to:

  • Use data classes, functions, and collections in Kotlin.
  • Create a scrollable list displaying text and images.
  • Add click listeners to interact with list items.
  • Enhance apps with Material Design, using colors, shapes, and typography.

Pathways:

  1. More Kotlin Fundamentals (8 hours): Learn additional Kotlin concepts to build more interesting apps.
  2. Build a Scrollable List (4 hours): Create an app with a scrollable list of text and images using Compose.
  3. Build Beautiful Apps (3 hours): Use Material Design, animations, and accessibility best practices to enhance app appearance and usability.

Unit 4: Navigation and App Architecture – Android App Development

Duration: 27 hours
Pathways: 3

Learn to:

  • Explain activities and their lifecycles.
  • Understand Modern Android architecture.
  • Use StateFlow and UDF patterns for state and events.
  • Add a ViewModel to save data and state.
  • Set up and use the Navigation component with Compose.
  • Adapt for different screen sizes.

Pathways:

  1. Architecture Components (9 hours): Learn about app architecture, ViewModels, UI State, and StateFlow.
  2. Navigation in Jetpack Compose (6 hours): Use the Navigation component to build complex apps with multiple screens.
  3. Adapt for Different Screen Sizes (13 hours): Adapt apps for various screen sizes and provide a better user experience.

Unit 5: Connect to the Internet – Android App Development

Duration: 14 hours
Pathways: 2

Learn to:

  • Use Kotlin coroutines for concurrent tasks.
  • Understand HTTP and REST to retrieve data from the internet using Retrofit.
  • Display images using the Coil library.
  • Implement dependency injection for easier testing, maintenance, and scaling.

Pathways:

  1. Get Data from the Internet (6 hours): Implement coroutines and learn about HTTP and REST.
  2. Load and Display Images from the Internet (3 hours): Use Coil to download and display images in the app.

Unit 6: Data Persistence – Android App Development

Duration: 10 hours
Pathways: 3

Learn to:

  • Store data locally on the device.
  • Use SQL to manage data in a SQLite database.
  • Add a database to an Android app using the Room library.
  • Use Preference DataStore to store user preferences.

Pathways:

  1. Introduction to SQL (2 hours): Use SQL to read and manipulate data in a relational database.
  2. Use Room for Data Persistence (6 hours): Create and use relational databases in an Android app with the Room library.
  3. Store and Access Data Using Keys with DataStore (2 hours): Store simple key-value pair data with Preferences DataStore.

Unit 7: WorkManager – Android App Development

Duration: 6 hours
Pathway: 1

Learn to:

  • Use WorkManager API for background tasks.
  • Add WorkManager to an Android app.
  • Create a Worker object and enqueue work.
  • Use the Background Task Inspector to inspect and debug WorkManager tasks.

Pathway:

  1. Schedule Tasks with WorkManager (3 hours): Handle background work that needs to run regardless of the application process.

Unit 8: Views and Compose – Android App Development

Duration: 4 hours
Pathways: 2

Learn to:

  • Use Compose and the older UI toolkit based on Views together.
  • Add a composable in an app built with Views.
  • Use AndroidView to display views.
  • Add existing View-based UI components in a Compose app.

Pathways:

  1. Android Views and Compose in Views (3 hours): Build apps with Android Views and add composables.
  2. Views in Compose (1 hour): Add and use existing Views inside a Compose app.

About the Author: Bernard Aybout (Virii8)

I am a dedicated technology enthusiast with over 45 years of life experience, passionate about computers, AI, emerging technologies, and their real-world impact. As the founder of my personal blog, MiltonMarketing.com, I explore how AI, health tech, engineering, finance, and other advanced fields leverage innovation—not as a replacement for human expertise, but as a tool to enhance it. My focus is on bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical applications, ensuring ethical, responsible, and transformative use across industries. MiltonMarketing.com is more than just a tech blog—it's a growing platform for expert insights. We welcome qualified writers and industry professionals from IT, AI, healthcare, engineering, HVAC, automotive, finance, and beyond to contribute their knowledge. If you have expertise to share in how AI and technology shape industries while complementing human skills, join us in driving meaningful conversations about the future of innovation. 🚀