I am playing with Android development for quite some time, and although I
have found it very easy to use the documentation is really bad for a
beginner. Just like in any opensource project you have to really put your
effort to get yourself familiarize with the references and examples. Once
you get used to it it is very easy and you can create a professional
looking app in few hours (well, a simple web browser is just few minutes
but something that does more than that takes a bit more of course...)

You literately just drag and droop visual elements on the screen and use
the pre written Java modules, no need to reinvent the wheel (even if you
need a hexagon shaped one). That is the biggest advantage of using Java
over Basic or anything else in my opinion even if other language looks
easier to pick it up at the beginning.

Tamas



On 8 February 2012 14:54, M.L. <m@lkeng.net> wrote:

> On Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 2:20 AM, RussellMc <apptechnz@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I'm sure Mr Gargoyle has lots to say on this subject but the answer
> > can be subtly complex.
> > I'm hoping Mr PICList has more distilled wisdom.
> >
> > I'm looking for an entry method  to Android "smartphone" programming
> > which requires the minimum possible
> >
> > MUST be Android.
> >
> >  - learning
> >  - effort
> >  - time to "hello world" level programming  involved
> >
> > Take it home this evening, be running programs by bedtime* ... would
> > be acceptable.
> > (* today!)
> >
> > for
> >
> >       (i) An intelligent person with minimal exposure to computer
> > languages or programming
> >           (Maybe a Doctor, Lawyer, Artist, Mechanic, ...)
> >
> >       (ii) An intelligent person with good genera programming
> > concepts but with
> >            no language knowledge assumptions made.
> >            (eg they may be a genius in System 360 assembler but have no
> >                  other programming exposure)
> >
> > (So it's "EASY", it's just like C/C++/Java/BASIC/Forth/ ... is
> meaningless)
> >
> > Being free is not essential but is highly desirable.
> > The solution  can obviously  sacrifice functionality and speed of
> > execution for simplicity.
> >
>
> Russell I don't know if I meet the semantic requirements to reply, but
> I'll try.
> I downloaded the Android SDK last year and followed a tutorial via
> Google (Google proper, not a search) to get started with Android. I
> had a "Hello, Android!" app up and running in an hour or two. I am not a
> Java programmer, nor do I aspire to be so, therefore I suppose I am in
> category (ii.)
>
> The SDK reference is really good compared to what we encounter in the
> embedded world.
>
> --
> Martin K.
>
> --
> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
> View/change your membership options at
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
>



--=20
int main() { char *a,*s,*q; printf(s=3D"int main() { char *a,*s,*q;
printf(s=3D%s%s%s, q=3D%s%s%s%s,s,q,q,a=3D%s%s%s%s,q,q,q,a,a,q); }",
q=3D"\"",s,q,q,a=3D"\\",q,q,q,a,a,q); }
--=20
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
.