Best way to get started with any new platform and SDK is to dive in to some working samples. Don't you think? Samples, samples, samples!

Without samples you're lost. Or at least I am. I like to learn by example. If all I had was an SDK with a brilliantly-documented API, yet no examples, I'd be completely lost.

Getting Ready

First things first. Before you can do any Android dev you'll need Eclipse. There are of course other ways but I'll assume you want to do it the "normal" way.

1. Go and download and install Eclipse Classic.
2. Now, go and download the Android SDK.
3. Now, install ADT in Eclipse.

With the SDK installed it's worth taking a moment to download all the additional packages. From your Start menu, find the new "Android Tools" folder and run the "SDK Manager" shortcut to launch that program shown below. It should prompt you to download available updates. Install everything.

You're now ready to go.

Getting Started

Let's start by creating a working Android app that shows you what's available via the API. It's not a useable app, per se, but it does a good job of feeding the imagination.

First, create a new project from the file menu and select Android Project, as below:

On the next screen we tell Eclipse to use code from an existing project. Then we browse to the samples folder in the location you installed the Android SDK and choose the "ApiDemos" folder, like so:

Complete the rest of that dialog and press Finish. You'll end up with a ready-to-run Android app inside Eclipse.

Now, browse to the source ("src") folder and find the ApiDemos.java file. Open it and then press the Run button in the toolbar.

This should let you get as far as having the APIs demo running on either an emulator or (if you have your phone connected and the right drivers installed for it) directly on your phone.

What I'd suggest is that you package this app up as an .apk file and actually install it on your phone. Then you can play around with it at your leisure and get a feel for what's possible. If you see something in the demos that you think would be useful in your own apps then you can easily find the source code for each of the demos and rip out what you need.

Where Next?

The APIs demo is a great way to see what's possible. If you dig deep enough you'll soon see where I ripped my pointless app from.

There are plenty more apps in the Samples folder of the SDK. Why not have a play and see if you don't get inspired.

Tomorrow I'll talk about get getting a bit more advanced and finding "inspiration" from the source of Android itself.