One of the best parts of a career in Android development is the vibrant community. The Android developer ecosystem is dynamic and symbiotic, with devs sharing tips, tricks, and tutorials across the internet and in real life at hackathons, conferences, meetups, and more.
As you bone up on your skills as an Android developer, be sure to check out the following toolkit of 30 online resources for everything from keeping up to date on industry intel to keeping your skills sharp.
NEWS: Stay in the know on the industry
Android Weekly: This free weekly newsletter includes everything from articles and tutorials to videos and GitHub libraries. It’s a must-subscribe for Android developers of all skill levels.
AndroidHive: India-based Ravi Tamada’s all-things-Android hub shares the latest and greatest about Android.
Google Developers Twitter account: Where better to get news about Android than from the source itself? Get the latest information in real time.
Android collection on Medium: For rich content from Android publications, bloggers, and lay members of the internet, turn to Medium. Search by tag (“Android,” but also “Android App Development” and “Android Apps”) or turn to the Google Developer Experts collection to discover helpful and inspiring news and notes.
TIPS, TRICKS, AND TUTORIALS: Strengthen your skills
Vogella: The programming tutorials on this site are go-tos for Android developers. Get a deep dive into everything from debugging Android apps to using the Google Maps Android API.
Android developer hub: The official Android developer site is fit to burst with tools, training, downloads, code samples, a thorough package library, and much more.
Android Open Source: Another perk of developing on Android is that the entire source code is available for free online. The Android Open Source site offers the information you need to create custom variants of the Android stack and to port devices and accessories to the platform. The site also includes guides to performing different actions with the Android source code, like how to run the Android emulator, as well as Google Groups discussions around projects like porting Android to a new device.
Tuts+: The video courses and written tutorials on this website help you learn everything from how to add spellcheck functionality to your apps to how to use Fabric, Twitter’s mobile development platform.
Codementor: In Codementor’s Android Learning Center, experienced Android developers share tutorials, videos, guides, and tips. You can also sign up for email updates from the site.
The Android Arsenal: This categorized directory of free Android libraries and tools is extremely useful to developers.
INSPIRATION: Stimulate your brain
Android Niceties: This Tumblr blog collects screenshots from some of the most visually compelling Android apps available for download today. Scroll through for a serious dose of inspiration.
Android Developers YouTube channel: Google’s Android Developers YouTube page includes videos from live Android events, as well as demos and tutorials. But most recently, the channel has been airing a series of high-quality inspirational stories from companies like The Hunt and Haystack TV leveraging Android development in cool, impactful ways.
App Design Served: Pore over the work of fellow Android developers in this Behance-curated collection of phone and tablet app screenshots. Be sure to search by Android to view the most relevant work examples.
Fragmented Podcast: In this Android developer podcast, Donn Felker and Kaushik Gopal engage in bi-weekly banter about building great software and becoming even better Android developers. Topics range from helpful tools to patterns and practices, and are occasionally rounded out with inspiring interviews with the best of the industry.
COMMUNITY: Mix and mingle with fellow developers
Quora: Members of the Android community are always willing to respond to each other’s questions (like “Why are Android apps written in Java, but the OS is written in C++?” or “What is the best online course for developing Android apps?”) and provide long, detailed answers. You could spend hours browsing through past questions, or pose your own.
Stack Overflow: This online forum is bubbling with inter-developer engagement. Professional and hobbyist programmers alike ask questions, answer them, comment on those answers, and in so doing, network dynamically among the developer community. It’s a great destination whenever you’re stumped, you want to learn how to do something, or you’d like to meet someone who’s doing that thing.
GitHub: GitHub is the largest code host in existence, with more than 22.7 million code repositories. Head to GitHub to collaborate with other developers, take a look through interesting programming projects, and contribute to making cool software around the globe.
AndroidDev subreddit: This hodgepodge of Android news, tools, Q&As, and conversations is a valuable launch point into the Android developer community. Feel free to join the conversation whenever you’re so inclined, or just read, learn, and observe.
Google+: Google+ has a selection of active Android communities as well, including a hub ofAndroid GitHub projects, an official Android Developer group, and an Android Developer Toolscommunity.
JOBS: Find high-quality gigs
LinkedIn: When you want to find work, no matter your industry, a solid first destination is LinkedIn. Search for companies you admire to view their available opportunities, connect with other developers and recruiters via Groups or by requesting to add them as a connection (do so with a personalized message rather than LinkedIn’s baked-in default), and keep your profile up to date to attract the interest of hiring managers.
Guru: Looking for freelance work? Browse the Web, Software & IT section on Guru and drill down into the Android label to find great gigs from a wide range of companies that pay by the hour or by fixed rate.
Stack Overflow Careers: An abundance of open Android developer jobs is browsable on Stack Overflow’s Careers microsite. Search by gig, company, or city. You can even import your information from LinkedIn for super simple profile creation.
GitHub Jobs: Another great resource for Android developer job opportunities is GitHub Jobs. You can filter by title, expertise, company, location, and even benefits.
REAL-TIME INSIGHT: Follow Twitter stars from the Android developer community
Juhani Lehtimaeki: Follow the author of Smashing Android UI and CTO of Android app development agency Fat Robot for news about, and reflections on, all things Android.
Cyril Mottier: This master mobile developer has been officially labeled a Google Developer Expert on the Android platform by Google itself.
Richard Hyndman: You might recognize Google’s Android Developer Advocate from the Google Developers YouTube channel. On Twitter he shares news, insights, and funny photos with his 15,000+ followers.
Andy Rubin: When the creator of Android himself tweets—even if it’s only every so often—you listen.
JR Raphael: Veteran Android journalist, and creator of Computer World–owned Android Power, JR Raphael is a must-follow for news, cool finds, and funny musings, all Android-related.
Jake Wharton: An Android engineer at Square and frequent presenter at conferences and meetups, Jake Wharton offers on Twitter a compelling combo of interesting and amusing thoughts and valuable programming insight.
The Bottom Line
No matter where you are on your journey to professional Android developer, resources exist in abundance that can help you build upon your existing knowledge and continue to excel.
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