App Inventor 2: Create Your Own Android Apps

App Inventor 2: Create Your Own Android Apps

Publisher
O'Reilly
Published
2014
Pages
332
ISBN-13
9781491906842
Format
print
Language
English

Yes, you can create your own apps for Android devices—and it’s easy to do. This extraordinary book introduces you to App Inventor 2, a powerful visual tool that lets anyone build …

Book Summary
App Inventor 2: Create Your Own Android Apps is a hands-on guide that teaches anyone to build Android apps using MIT's visual programming tool. Through step-by-step projects like a quiz app and a parked-car finder, readers learn programming blocks, multimedia, sensors, and even LEGO robot control. The second half serves as a manual for deeper computer science fundamentals, making it ideal for beginners and educators.
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About App Inventor 2: Create Your Own Android Apps

This book introduces App Inventor 2, a powerful visual tool that lets anyone create Android apps without prior coding experience. The first half features step-by-step instructions for building more than a dozen fun projects, including a text answering machine, a quiz app, and an app for finding your parked car. Each project reinforces core concepts like using programming blocks, designing custom multimedia quizzes, creating 2D graphics and animation, building location-aware apps with phone sensors, and even controlling a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robot. The second half is an Inventor's Manual that explains the fundamentals of app building and computer science, making the book suitable as a textbook for beginners and experienced developers alike. By working through the projects, readers gain practical skills and a deep understanding of how to turn their ideas into functional Android apps.

Who should read App Inventor 2: Create Your Own Android Apps?

This book is perfect for beginners with no programming experience who want to create Android apps, as well as educators seeking a textbook for teaching app development and computer science fundamentals. Experienced developers can also benefit from the visual approach and the Inventor's Manual to quickly prototype ideas. Hobbyists, students, and anyone interested in controlling robots or building location-aware apps will find the projects engaging and accessible. No prior coding knowledge is required.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • ✓ Step-by-step projects make learning app development accessible and fun
  • ✓ Covers a wide range of topics from basic blocks to sensors and web integration
  • ✓ Includes an Inventor's Manual for deeper understanding of computer science concepts
  • ✓ Suitable for both beginners and experienced developers as a textbook
  • ✓ Engaging projects like quiz apps and LEGO robot control keep readers motivated
Cons
  • ✗ Focuses solely on App Inventor 2, limiting applicability to other development environments
  • ✗ Some projects may feel dated as Android and App Inventor evolve
  • ✗ Requires access to a computer and Android device for testing
  • ✗ Does not cover advanced topics like publishing to app stores in depth
  • ✗ Visual programming approach may not appeal to those wanting to learn traditional coding languages
Frequently asked questions
Do I need programming experience to use this book?
No, the book is designed for beginners and uses a visual block-based approach that requires no prior coding knowledge.
What version of App Inventor does this book cover?
The book focuses on App Inventor 2, the current version of MIT's visual programming tool.
Can I use this book as a textbook for a class?
Yes, the second half includes an Inventor's Manual that explains computer science fundamentals, making it suitable for classroom use.
What kinds of apps will I learn to build?
You'll build a variety of apps including a text answering machine, a quiz app, a parked-car finder, multimedia quizzes, games with 2D graphics, and even an app to control a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robot.
Does the book cover publishing apps to the Google Play Store?
While the book focuses on building apps, it does not go into detail about publishing to app stores; it emphasizes creation and learning fundamentals.

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