Introduction to XML: Defining Android Apps, UI Design, and Constants

Abstract

During this chapter, we will take a closer look at how Android’s XML capabilities allow application developers, and more importantly, application designers, to define their Android 7 application user interface (UI) design, styles, themes, constants, permissions, icons, activities, services, and how they function within the Google Play e-storefront, all without having any knowledge of Java programming. Of course, I am going to teach you Java programming in this book, starting with the next chapter, but you could hire people to do just Android 7 design, and all they would have to know is how to use the XML and Visual Design Editor features that we are going to learn about during this chapter. It is important to note that these same XML concepts that you will be learning in this chapter apply to both the 32-bit Android 4.4.4 OS as well as to the 64-bit Android 5.0, 5.1, 6.0, 7.0, and to the new Android 7.1.1 OS.