Google Aims To Democratize Android App Development

by Sam Dean - Jul. 12, 2010Comments (4)

Today, Google is out with a free software framework called Google App Inventor for Android, which promises to make it easy for anyone to create applications for Android smartphones. This move from Google is a shrewd one, and falls right in line with open source principles and the power of crowdsourcing. At the same time, though, apps and app stores are such critical components in any successful smartphone strategy that Google should observe some sensible rules.

Apple has received much criticism from developers and others for what are seen as closed policies related to its app store, and lack of proper communication with app developers. With App Inventor for Android, Google is casting a very wide net, and hoping that anyone and everyone will embrace an open app development ecosystem, where creating apps is theoretically very easy. Google tested the new software in high schools and universities to meet its open goals.

App Inventor for Android focuses on drag-and-drop tools and reusable, graphical components. It's a direct extension of the object-oriented, visual development tools that have revolutionized app development. It's also the kind of thing that Google can do well. The company understands the power of putting a flexible, open tool in the hands of many, especially now that Android has become an irrefutable open source success.

With App Inventor for Android, Google's best course of action will be to encourage very open app development, and pursue the creation of app stores that cater to the masses and make applications easily discoverable. One aspect of Google's positioning of the new software that you just gotta like is that the company reasons that as mobile phones become platforms that people rely on all the time, they should be able to create their own apps. Of course they should, and if they're allowed to build them and share them in a truly open way, then Google may give Apple some new kinds of headaches.

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by jon soderberg on Jul. 27, 2010

Ive signed up for the android app inventor beta test. I work in civil engineering as a project inspector and depending on the type of project Id love to be able to create a custom field diary.

The app would have a diary that I could use to create notes during the day, a spreadsheet component for doing simple field calculations, embed pictures, voice recording etc. The app would access GPS for geotagging data and picture locating. The app would leverage other google products like calendar, maps/earth, sites, docs, email, wave... html 5 is here!

Id hope to be able to quickly customize the app for different projects quickly and simply. A key component is the ability to access CAD, GIS and PDF's that are created during project design.

feedback?

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by Frida Adams on Sep. 03, 2010

Its true, that 71% of all Android users want to have an Android phone as their next phone. Though the iPhone users are even more loyal, their 89% number is quite normal for Apple users in General. However, there is not just one phone with an Android OS – there are a lot by now! Therefore, it is hard for Google / Android to provide the very same user experience on every Android phone.

Frida Adams from Rapidsoft Technologies

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by free android app on Sep. 27, 2010

I just love android mobiles, I visited these so much and these are in my favorites always.

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by omalmals on Oct. 19, 2010

Android App maker is a big disappointment. They hyped it as something that non-programmers could use to make apps...well, I'm not a programmer but I know the very general concepts of if/then, else, and all that and while it's slightly easier than programming (I like the little puzzle piece concept) it's not going to replace programmers any time soon. It's just too confusing and hard for anyone but a programmer - and programmers can program so why do they need this? It's also lacking some BASIC abilities - like the ability to change the ID icon for your app. That should be a given - but it's a major project and well beyond anyone I know that's not a programmer. I think they've missed the mark. It needs some major changes before it's ready for "anyone" to make apps. They need more "normal people" as beta testers - and I think they'd find this is way out there in the degree of difficulty for the average person.

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