Introduction to Android

by Qualitians · Published August 23, 2016 · Updated June 5, 2020

Android Application Development

Android is the technology framework from google which provides a rich application framework with which you can create mobile based apps and games in Java Language Environment. Android applications are written into java programming language and Android SDK compiles the code written for app along with data & resource file into an APK file format. APK stands for android package. APK file contains all the files needed for an application and is supported by all the android devices to install an android application.

Very first android version launched in 2009 and that was android 1.1, since then it’s continuously updating and getting better. Android is an operating system that supports large number of applications, so that user can install applications according to his/her needs. Android is very famous due to its performance apart from its robust code. So now maybe you all have some questions in your mind like; what makes android so fast?, What drives android?, What makes android to run so smooth? So the answer to all your questions is ARMs.

ARMs stands for “Advanced RISC Machines” and previously it was “Acorn RISC Machines”.

ARM → Advanced RISC Machines
RISC → Reduced Instruction Set Computer (An advancement over CISC, Introduced by intel)
CISC → Complex Instruction Set Computer (Introduced by Intel)

Advantages of RISC over CISC are – Speed, simpler hardware, Short design cycle.

Android applications are written in java programming language which is an open source language and anyone can create code for the android applications and further upload that on android marketplace for some price or free. Android comes with marketplace called “Google play store” which allows android users to select, download the applications developed by third party developers and use them. For software development in android, android provides “Android SDK – Software Development Kit”.