Engineering Maintainable Android Apps

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/engineeringandroidapps

Introduction

### Course Review: Engineering Maintainable Android Apps #### Overview If you are an aspiring Android developer or a seasoned coder looking to refine your skills, the **Engineering Maintainable Android Apps** course on Coursera is an excellent option. This four-week Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) delves deep into essential methods for building Android applications that are not only functional but also maintainable and scalable. It’s designed for those who are keen to improve their coding practices through test-driven development, unit testing, and adhering to good software engineering principles. #### Course Highlights The course builds its foundation on some critical aspects of software engineering that every Android developer should master. The syllabus is structured into several key areas: 1. **Software Engineering & Testing I & II**: These modules introduce students to the principles of software engineering as applied to Android development. You will learn about different methodologies that promote maintainability, which is crucial as your applications grow and change over time. 2. **Unit Testing Fundamentals**: A significant component of the course is dedicated to unit testing using the JUnit 4.0 framework. You’ll get practical insights on writing effective unit tests that ensure code quality and reliability. The emphasis on test-driven development (TDD) will help you cultivate a mindset focused on problem prevention rather than problem correction. 3. **Robotium Testing Framework**: The course further introduces automated testing through the Robotium framework. Robotium allows for the graybox testing of multi-Activity Android apps, enabling students to automate the testing process seamlessly. This is particularly valuable as it reduces repetitive manual testing efforts and boosts productivity. 4. **Software Patterns Application**: The course covers common Java/Android software patterns that improve the extensibility and clarity of your applications. Learning to apply these patterns effectively is crucial for anyone looking to write clean, maintainable, and efficient code. #### Learning Experience Throughout the course, various FAQs, quizzes, and practical assignments reinforce the concepts taught. You can expect a hands-on approach, allowing you to apply what you have learned in practical scenarios. The instructor provides adequate resources and clear demonstrations, ensuring that students can follow along easily. The collaborative environment of Coursera allows learners to engage with one another, share insights, and tackle problems collectively, which enhances the learning experience. Moreover, the community-driven nature of the platform means that you can reach out for help, advice, or discussions at any point during your learning journey. #### Recommendations I highly recommend the **Engineering Maintainable Android Apps** course for anyone serious about advancing their Android development skills. Here are a few reasons why: - **Practical Knowledge**: The skills acquired here are incredibly applicable in real-world scenarios. Mastery of unit testing and TDD can set you apart in a competitive job market. - **Structured Learning**: The four-week duration is well-structured and broken down into manageable modules that can fit into a busy schedule. - **Community Access**: Learning through a platform like Coursera provides opportunities for networking with peers and experts in the field, which could lead to future collaborations or career opportunities. - **Lasting Skills**: By the end of this course, you will have a thorough understanding of how to implement best practices in Android development, making your apps more maintainable over time. #### Conclusion In summary, the **Engineering Maintainable Android Apps** course on Coursera is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to excel in Android development. With a focus on test-driven development, efficient testing practices, and software design patterns, this course equips you with the knowledge necessary to create high-quality, maintainable Android applications. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, the insights gained from this course will undoubtedly elevate your coding standards and project outcomes. Sign up now and take your Android development skills to the next level!

Syllabus

MOOC Overview

Engineering Maintainable Android Apps, which is a 4 week MOOC that shows by-example various methods for engineering maintainable Android apps, including test-driven development methods and how to develop/run unit tests using JUnit and Robotium (or equivalent automated testing frameworks for Android), as well as how to successfully apply common Java/Android software patterns to improve the extensibility and clarity of Android apps.

This module provides an introduction to Unit Testing using the Junit 4.0 Framework in Android, as well as an introduction to Testing Frameworks using the Robotium open-source test framework for writing graybox testing cases to automate the testing of multi-Activity Android apps.