Summary

This course explores how the Gradle build tool compiles and packages apps, and you'll learn to customize the build process. The first half of this course is for anyone interested in Gradle, build automation, and continuous delivery of software.

The latter half of the course reveals the magic that happens after you hit the "Run" button in Android Studio. You'll also explore advanced Android topics, learning to configure free vs paid app flavors, create and integrate Android libraries, test your app, and prepare your app for the Play Store.

Expected Learning

As your software projects get more ambitious, the process of building and deploying your apps will become more and more involved. However, modern software development requires rapid iterative releases, known as continuous delivery. Gradle is a next-generation build automation system that makes continuous delivery of complex projects a reality.

Gradle supports many languages and tools, and is tightly integrated with Android Studio. This course is useful for any developer seeking to understand Gradle, but focuses on Android builds. The default Android build settings are enough to put a simple debug app on your phone, but to build an app that's ready for the Google Play Store, you'll need to understand your build process and how to customize it.

Syllabus

Lesson 1: Gradle Fundamentals

Learn the syntax and semantics of Gradle build scripts, and understand the lifecycle of a Gradle build.

Lesson 2: Gradle for Java

Understand the Gradle Java plugin, build and test Java projects, and manage dependencies.

Lesson 3: Gradle for Android

Discover the Gradle integration with Android Studio, and build an app with multiple product flavors.

Lesson 4: Advanced Android Builds

Create Android libraries, and use advanced features of the Android Gradle Plugin to configure signing, obfuscation, and testing.

Final Project

Build and test a joke telling app with a free ad-supported version and a paid version. As a bonus, deploy a Google Cloud Messaging backend to supply the jokes.

Required Knowledge

This is an advanced course aimed at students with experience developing Android or Java apps.

If you lack this experience, please take Developing Android Apps and Advanced Android App Development prior to taking this course.

• To follow along with course activities, you must have access to the latest release of Android Studio
• You should have access to an Android device for running and testing your apps.
  
• You should also be familiar with Github. Take our course on Using Git and Github if you lack this background.