Advanced Android Development (Architecture & Performance) (AND-301)

Master the complexities of modern Android development with AND301: Advanced Android Development (Architecture & Performance). This course is designed for experienced developers ready to build enterprise-grade, high-performance, and maintainable applications. You'll delve into industry-standard architectural patterns like MVVM, implement robust dependency injection with Hilt, optimize app performance, and ensure top-tier user experience and testability. Prepare to solve real-world challenges, enhance your problem-solving skills, and position yourself for lead developer roles in the competitive mobile landscape.

Target Audience

• Experienced Android developers who have completed intermediate-level courses or possess equivalent knowledge.
• Developers looking to deep dive into advanced architectural patterns, testing strategies, and performance optimization.
• Professionals aiming for lead Android developer or mobile architect roles.
• Anyone aspiring to build large-scale, robust, and production-ready Android applications.

Prerequisites

• Strong proficiency in Kotlin and Jetpack Compose.
• Solid understanding of `Activities`, `Fragments`, and Jetpack Navigation.
• Experience with data persistence using Room Database and network communication with Retrofit/Coroutines.
• Familiarity with Git for version control.

Course Benefits

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Design and implement scalable Android applications using advanced architectural patterns (e.g., MVVM, MVI).
• Effectively manage dependencies and improve code testability with Dependency Injection (Hilt).
• Master advanced asynchronous programming techniques with Kotlin Flows for reactive UIs.
• Write comprehensive unit and UI tests for Android applications.
• Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks, memory leaks, and jank.
• Implement best practices for UI/UX, accessibility, and app security.
• Prepare and publish high-quality applications to the Google Play Store with confidence.

Course Outline

Module 1: Modern App Architecture & MVVM Deep Dive

• Review of Android Architecture Components and their roles.
• Understanding MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel): Principles, advantages, and implementation.
• Implementing a clean architecture with data, domain, and presentation layers.
• Introduction to MVI (Model-View-Intent) (optional overview).
• Advanced State Management with `ViewModel`, `LiveData`, and `StateFlow`/`SharedFlow`.
• Hands-on: Refactor an intermediate application to fully adhere to the MVVM architectural pattern.

Module 2: Dependency Injection & Advanced Asynchronous Operations

• Understanding Dependency Injection: Concepts, benefits, and types.
• Implementing DI with Hilt (Dagger Hilt): Setup, modules, and component hierarchy.
• Advanced Kotlin Coroutines: `CoroutineContext`, `Dispatchers`, structured concurrency.
• Introduction to Kotlin Flows. Hot vs. Cold Flows, `StateFlow`, `SharedFlow`.
• Combining and transforming Flows, error handling in Flow.
• Hands-on: Integrate Hilt into the refactored MVVM application, and replace `LiveData` with `StateFlow`/`SharedFlow` for more reactive data streams.

Module 3: Testing, UI/UX, & Performance Optimization

• Unit Testing with JUnit and Mockito: Testing `ViewModels`, Repositories, and business logic.
• UI Testing with Espresso/Compose Testing: Testing UI interactions and navigation.
• Automated testing principles and Test-Driven Development (TDD).
• Advanced UI/UX: Custom views, animations, transitions, and motion layout.
• Accessibility: Making apps usable for everyone, accessibility services.
• Performance Profiling: Identifying memory leaks, UI jank, and battery consumption using Android Profiler.
• Hands-on:Write unit tests for your MVVM app's `ViewModel` and Repository, and create a few UI tests for key user flows. Implement a custom animation or transition.

Module  4: Security, Publishing & Beyond

• App Security: Data encryption, secure network calls, user authentication best practices.
• Introduction to Firebase: Authentication, Firestore, Cloud Functions (overview).
• Preparing your app for release: ProGuard/R8, signing, app bundles.
• Google Play Store Best Practices: Store listing optimization (ASO), alpha/beta testing, managing releases.
• Introduction to CI/CD for Android applications (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment).
• Hands-on Capstone Project: Secure your existing application with basic user authentication (e.g., mock login), prepare it for a simulated release, and discuss ASO strategies.

Career Outcomes

After completing this course, participants will:

• Be equipped to lead the development of complex, high-quality Android applications.
• Possess deep knowledge of modern Android architecture and best practices.
• Be proficient in writing robust, maintainable, and thoroughly tested Android code.
• Have the skills to optimize app performance and ensure an excellent user experience.
• Be highly competitive for senior and lead Android developer positions.
• Confidently manage the entire app development lifecycle from conception to deployment on the Play Store.

Are you ready to build the next generation of outstanding Android applications? Take the leap into advanced development and define your future!