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Become an Android Developer from Scratch (Udemy.com)

Simply the best place to start learning Android Development.

Created by: Adam Lupu

Last updated September 2015

Our take

Based on the ratings of 35,174 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in September 2015. No course pays to be reviewed.

A free, Java-first introduction to Android that has pulled in about 640,000 students since it launched in 2014. The first five weeks of the syllabus are pure Java: reading code, memory, collections, control flow, objects. Android itself starts around week six with UI, activities, list views, fragments, persistence and a short networking section, then a few lectures on publishing. That structure makes it a fit for someone who has never programmed and wants the language explained before the platform. It is not for anyone who wants Kotlin or Jetpack Compose, which don't appear at all.

Reviewers like Adam Lupu's teaching. Several call the explanations clear and say the code-along discussions show how a working developer thinks, not just which buttons to press. One student with no IT background says he built his first app on the strength of it. The complaints are about age. The course was last updated in September 2015, and reviews say the exercise code no longer compiles, the last exercise files are missing, and the examples look confusing next to modern tooling. A few also say the Java sections move too fast for true beginners, and one wanted more list view and text field examples.

Value is easy to judge because it costs nothing. Next to the Kotlin and Android 14 courses it sits beside, this is the cheapest way to find out whether Android development is for you, and the Java fundamentals still hold up. Treat it as a primer, expect to fix build errors yourself, and plan on a current course afterward.

Best forComplete beginners who want Java explained before Android and don't mind a free, older course.
Skip it ifYou want Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, or exercise code that compiles in today's Android Studio.

Pros

  • Free, with 121 lectures and about 12 hours of video spread over 15 sections.
  • Five weeks of Java basics before any Android, so non-programmers aren't thrown in cold.
  • Code-along videos talk through why a developer makes each choice, which reviewers find valuable.
  • Downloadable starting points and solutions for every project and challenge.

Cons

  • Last updated September 2015: Java only, no Kotlin, and reviewers say the exercise code no longer compiles.
  • Some final exercise files are missing and a few explanations lose people new to Java.
  • Only one quiz and no coding exercises, so practice comes from the code-alongs alone.
Just built my first App thanks to this course! I would recommend it to literally anybody, no IT background is actually needed and everything is explained so clearly!
Lorenzo Cavagnino, a student

Listed as all levels, but it is really a first course: a laptop and no prior coding is the only requirement.

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What you will learn

  • Create your own professional quality Android apps
  • Deploy to the Google Play store
  • Interview for a job anywhere in the world

Course content

15 sections · 121 lectures · 12 hours of video 1 quiz

  1. 1Reading Java: Find the clues in the code (WEEK 1A) 2 free previews7 lectures · 1 quiz · 29 min
  2. 2Computer Memory: Think like your machine (WEEK 1B) 1 free preview8 lectures · 28 min
  3. 3Data Structures And Collections: Know your stuff (WEEK 2)7 lectures · 23 min
  4. 4Control Flow: Stop time and direct traffic (WEEK 3) 2 free previews15 lectures · 48 min
  5. 5Object Orientation: Recycle code (WEEK 4)9 lectures · 53 min
  6. 6Data Manipulation: Write independent, dependable code (WEEK 5) 1 free preview10 lectures · 59 min
  7. 7Android UI: Know your user (WEEK 6)12 lectures · 1.2 hours
  8. 8Activities and Intents: Know your Android OS (WEEK 7A)11 lectures · 1.3 hours
  9. 9Listviews: Get your scroll on! (WEEK 7B)11 lectures · 1.3 hours
  10. 10Fragments: Build for multiple devices (WEEK 8)7 lectures · 1.1 hours

Who it is for

The instructor says it suits

  • Beginners
  • Web developers looking to get into mobile
  • Programmers who haven't programmed in Java
  • Aspiring Android developers
  • Anyone with a good idea and the drive to create it

What you need before you start

  • Modern laptop or computer

How it compares

Against the other 166 rated Udemy courses in Android Development on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.6 out of 5higher than 82% of them
  • Reviews35,174#1 of 167 by number of reviews
  • Length12.3 hourslonger than 55% of them
  • Last updatedSeptember 2015earlier than 96% of them

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Course Description

Do you want to build applications for the most popular operating system in the world?

Do you want the opportunity to put your apps on over 1 billion devices?

"Become An Android Developer From Scratch” is designed to be the best first step to launching your career as an Android Developer. Whether you've never programmed before or are coming to mobile development for the first time, if you're truly inspired to learn Android Development, this is where you need to start.

This course has been in development for over two years, continuously perfected through research and testing in training bootcamps throughout the US. It represents a collaboration between a professional educator with over 20 years of experience in helping people learn and a professional mobile developer who has helped companies like Sony, Verizon, and nVidia build stunning mobile applications.

Starting with how the Java programming language works and progressing all the way to advanced Android concepts, you will get expertly produced instruction, visually descriptive explanations of deep concepts, screencasts that talk you through not just the “how” but also the “why,” and code challenges to test yourself and mark your progress.

Here’s what students are saying:

“Very clean and well done. Covers everything that you need to know for getting started whether you know how to code starting out or not. If you are at a loss trying to start making android apps this is the course for you.”

“I like this course, this would transform any normal person to a full fledged android developer.”

“This one is, by far, the most comprehensive, easy-to-follow, and genuinely well put together one of the bunch.”

“Inspirational! - got me over the hump (complete android beginner)”

Why it’s working...

One of the things we're most excited to offer with this course is access to the inner workings of the mind of a professional mobile developer. Throughout the course you will be able to listen in as our Learning Scientist teases apart all the thoughts that run through a professional mobile developer’s mind as he’s writing the code you will learn to create. It’s like sitting down in a movie with the writer, director, and lead actor. But in this case, it’s all in support of your transformation from novice to professional.

You will build several applications throughout the course, and the starting point for each project (as well as solutions to each challenge) will be available for download. You will also get all the visuals and info-graphics used throughout the course for reference and study.

"Become An Android Developer From Scratch" will give you a new, richer perspective on how mobile devices work. After you’ve completed this rigorous, challenging, and super fun course, you will be able to create your own apps, deploy to the Google Play store, and even interview for a job anywhere in the world.

The real value...

The most important thing you will get from completing this course is the confidence to say “I’m an Android Developer!” You’ll be able to interact with other students and professionals in the Android community with pride and self-assuredness. You’ll also become an independent learner, able to discern where to go for information and how to continue advancing your skills.

No course is going to make you into an expert. It’s up to you to challenge yourself and find your path to making the apps you dream about. Become an Android Developer from Scratch is the best place to begin. Are you ready to get started?

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Instructor Details

Adam Lupu

Adam Lupu has been a professional educator for the past 20 years. He's taught, tutored, and coached over 1000 students, and he holds degrees in Physics and Literature as well as a Masters in Learning Sciences from Northwestern University. He has spent the last 4 years studying how people learn to code and develop applications and now he's putting his research into practice with online courses in mobile development and code literacy on Udemy.

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Reviews

4.6

35,174 ratings on Udemy

Select a bar to show only those reviews.Select the bar again to show every rating.

By Sampurna Mukhoty on 6/10/2018

The course was really amazing. I got to know about android coding and also got to know about Java. I learned to design android app on my own. In fact I can publish them in Amazon App store and can earn as an Android app developer. On the other hand while doing all these coding, my typing speed increased. The entire session was great. Thank you so much.

By Michael Shao on 8/9/2017

This online course provided an in-depth experience to Java programming for beginners and experienced developers alike. The course covers basic logic flows to more advanced algorithms and data manipulation like consuming API services, and parsing JSON. The course ends with a mock interview and preparation guide which definitely prepares students for the real world. Pace was fairly quick but there was a fair balance of slides and code-along to go with each section. Overall definitely recommend to those interested in becoming an Android Developer. Well done!

By Kayla Cox on 7/8/2017

First of all, thank you so much to the developers of this course for putting this together. The information was really clear, and useful, and the pacing was exactly what felt comfortable at, as a new developer. I enjoyed the code alongs, as well as the general feel of this course. There were jokes that really made me laugh, but it didn't get so silly that it was distracting. The reason I don't give it the full 5 stars is that this really needs to be updated. Most, if not all of the Android Studio projects that are a part of this course don't work right out of the box. It takes some troubleshooting to figure out why it's not working. The up side to that, is that I got better at troubleshooting. The Navigation code along is deprecated at this point. Overall, while I wish the course were more up to date, I would recommend it to anyone who is wanting to learn Android Studio.

By Mark Burrows on 4/21/2017

This course was amazing, not only did I relearn and reinforce my knowledge on coding during the entire course but I also added to that knowledge. It also got my brain working extra hard and creative as I think of the possible apps I could make with each new lessons. It also gives me a better understanding of what goes on behind the scene with apps.

By Vojtech Zehnalek on 11/21/2016

It is probably the most enjoyable course out there. Adam Schwem makes programming look pretty cool. Compared to other courses, I also love that he writes a nice clean code and shows us how to make the code reusable. The lesson on UI was also much better than is similar courses. The interview style was nice as it covered some interesting topics, but because it was during the coding itself it was often disturbing (the developer could not focus on both the interview and coding). ; So I recommend it for: - learning to write a clean code - the UI lesson; What would make it the best course here: - updating to Android N - many parts are updated already and beginners will have to overcome a lot of small but annoying compatibility bugs - getting deeper - at least using SQLite and downloading data from internet - showing how to build an app from design to delivery - the interview could work well for this and "the preparation phase" is seriously neglected in Udemy courses

By James Dethlefsen on 11/4/2016

Good intro videos for a novice starting to learn Android development. Update: Half-way through the course and have learned how to create a simple app and all the basics to begin programming on any Android device. The video course makes it easy to follow and understand. Android Studio is amazing! I really enjoy the fact that I am learning on the IDE that professional programmers use. All these tools I am learning is making programming and testing fast and simple for me. I am really enjoying this video course. Completion Update: Finished the course and I feel like I have learned so much in a small amount of time. The two instructors did a really good job of explaining a wide set of tools and programming practices that were unfamiliar to me and now I have a deeper understanding of how and why things are the way they are in the Android platform. Thank you for providing these videos, I really liked the mock job interviews at the end it was a nice insight for what is to come.

By Marcelo Bernardo on 3/3/2016

A sistemática do curso é boa para a parte inicial, até o meio do curso. Quando fica mais complexo necessita maiores explicações, que não são dadas. Também não gostei da metodologia do programador escrevendo código enquanto responde perguntas de um interlocutor porque ele escreve sobre uma coisa e fala sobre outra. No geral é bem razoável, o instrutor tem boa dicção e fala muito bem e os exemplos são elucidativos.

By Andres Amortegui Martinez on 2/21/2016

Es excelente en cuanto al contenido, sin embargo sería muy bueno que le agregaran subtitulos a todos los vídeos, ya que no todos tienen esta opción actualmente. Adicionalmente en la ultima parte del curso me gustaría que agregaran ejemplos de respuestas a las preguntas del archivo en .pdf llamado DELTA-Interview-prep, muchas gracias.

By Julien . on 10/11/2015

The instructors are fantastics, i'm looking foward to join their next courses. The content is great, I already knew how to code with my C++ background so it wasn't hard for me to get along with Java. What I can say is that the examples and metaphor were well chosen for ease of understanding. I really liked the CODE ALONG lectures. The best way to get better at coding is to watch someone do it while he explains his thinking. So when he's coding and the other instructor ask why he does X thing, it helps alot more to understand the logic behind the code! I recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn android development even people who already know how to code. Thanks you Adam Schwem, Adam Lupu and Tareq Sattar. You did an awesome job! *For total beginners, who never code, you may need to use a bit of google/tutorialspoint for extended informations about Java. Nothing too scary but you need to understand that it's not a 45 hours course on Java programming. You may be OK if you are a quick learner but if you're not... Google will help you fill the blanks ;)!

By Robert Hutchinson on 8/12/2015

When I started it seemed that the course moved a little slow as I'd had some prior experience with Java. This became quickly void after the course dove into all things android. The tutors are very clear with their explanations and reasons for doing what they're doing. I asked a few questions throughout the course on the discussions and in messages and I got a useful and speedy response very time. I'm now writing my first app....

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Quality Score

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Overall Score : 92 / 100