Thursday, 18 February 2021

What is Android and its architecture ? Step By Step in Details.

 What is Android?

Android is an open source and Linux-based operating system for mobile devices such as

smartphones and tablet computers. Android was developed by the Open Handset Alliance, led

by Google, and other (84) companies. Some of major companies from them are as below:


HTC

Sony

Dell

Intel

Motorola

Qualcomm

Texas Instruments

Google

Samsung Electronics

LG Electronics

T-Mobile

Sprint Corporation (now merged with T-Mobile US), 

Nvidia

Wind River Systems



  • Open source platform


  • Users can customize their own application screens.


  • Easy to design and develop the applications


  • Development languages are also open source (Java, Kotlin, Flutter etc)


  • Android development IDE (Android Studio) is open source



Code name     Version         API level    Release date
Blender         1.1 2     February 9, 2009
Cupcake 1.5 3     April 27, 2009
Donut 1.6 4     September 15, 2009
Eclair 2.0 - 2.1 5 - 7     October 26, 2009
Froyo 2.2 - 2.2.3 8     May 20, 2010
Gingerbread 2.3 - 2.3.7 9 - 10     December 6, 2010
Honeycomb 3.0 - 3.2.6 11 - 13     February 22, 2011
Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 - 4.0.4 14 - 15     October 18, 2011
Jelly Bean 4.1 - 4.3.1 16 - 18     July 9, 2012
KitKat 4.4 - 4.4.4 19 - 20     October 31, 2013
Lollipop 5.0 - 5.1.1 21- 22     November 12, 2014
Marshmallow 6.0 - 6.0.1 23     October 5, 2015
Nougat 7.0 24     August 22, 2016
Nougat 7.1.0 - 7.1.2 25             October 4, 2016
Oreo         8.0 26     August 21, 2017
Oreo         8.1 27     December 5, 2017
Pie 9.0 28     August 6, 2018
Android 10 10.0 29     September 3, 2019
Android 11 11 30     September 8, 2020
Aestro         1.0 1     September 23, 2008


                                          Android Architecture or Android Software Stack is categorized into five parts:

                                          1.         Linux Kernel
                                          2.         Native Libraries (Middleware),
                                          3.         Android Runtime
                                          4.         Application Framework
                                          5.         Applications


                                                  


                                          Linux Kernal is the root of android architecture. Linux kernel is responsible for device drivers, power management, memory management, device management and resource access.


                                          Native libraries such as WebKit, OpenGL, FreeType, SQLite, Media, C runtime library (libc) etc. The WebKit library is responsible for browser support, SQLite is for database, FreeType for font support, Media for playing and recording audio and video formats.

                                          Android Runtime, there are core libraries and DVM (Dalvik Virtual Machine) which is responsible to run android application. DVM is like JVM but it is optimized for mobile devices. It consumes less memory and provides fast performance.


                                          Android Framework includes Android API's such as UI (User Interface), telephony, resources, locations, Content Providers (data) and package managers. It provides a lot of classes and interfaces for android application development.


                                          All applications such as home, contact, settings, games, browsers are using

                                          android framework that uses android runtime and libraries


                                          Main Application Building tools/ resources /blocks are as below:


                                          Activity - screens


                                          Views - Buttons, labels, dropdowns, containers, Input boxes etc.


                                          Intent - denotes the intention of users.

                                          •        Start another Activity Screen
                                          •             open Contacts
                                          •             open Browser
                                          •             open SMS
                                          •             start any Service etc.


                                          Service - to complete the long task at background


                                          Content Provider - to communicate between other application on device


                                          Fragment - lightweight screen


                                          Manifest - contain the blueprint of an application


                                          Android Studio Download- 


                                          https://developer.android.com/studio



                                          Android Development Configuration Recommended For Developers



                                          RAM  - Recommended & Low Budget Choice: 8GB RAM

                                                                  Best Choice: 16GB RAM or higher


                                          Processor - Recommended & Low Budget Choice: i5 7th Gen Processor

                                                                  Best Choice: i7 7th Gen Processor or higher


                                          One most important point that the developer to keep in their mind is that

                                          once they are going to purchase in market, i suggest to purchase Laptop

                                          instead of desktop PC because laptop is can be carry easily to get help

                                          from friends during the development.


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