Welcome to the Treehouse Community
Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.
Looking to learn something new?
Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.
Start your free trial
eric Crawford
2,381 PointsJava skills needed for Android Track
So I started the Android Track and realized I didn't know a thing about Java. In fact I'll admit i'm completely new to programming and have really only learned some HTML and CSS coding.
I've picked the obvious Java to learn, but i'm wondering how far into the Java track i should go before going back to Android. I was kind of thinking i can learn Java "on the way" as I progress through the Android track after learning at least Java basics.
Just looking for some guidance here.
thanx, Eric C.
4 Answers
Benyam Ephrem
3,185 PointsMy advice is learn your Java and get a strong foundation of how the language functions. I am 16 years old and I learned Java in 2 months without focusing extremely hard. I can guarantee you can do the same in half the time. I wish I had someone who could explain Java to me in plain English when I first started haha, I learned some from an AP Java book and the rest from Treehouse (each 1 month adding up to 2 months). If explained simply, Java is really not that hard.
My biggest advice I wish someone had told me when I started is to STAY PERSISTENT.
To be honest coding SUCKS to learn but it is FUN when you can navigate your problems very proficiently because you understand the way Java flows and you can create things because you know how.
Get a strong foundation in Java and when you hop into Android you will be much more prepared and trust me, IT IS POSSIBLE TO LEARN FAST! I'm 16 and I'm almost done with the Android track and I'm amazed how far I've come. It has genuinely sucked really bad sometimes but you'll get through it.
Make sure you know these things:
Classes, Objects, Access Level Modifiers, Constructors, Methods (know getters and setters), "If" and "For" statements, Data Types, Operations, The word "null", The overall syntax of Java, The use of "static", Inheritance, Try to learn about Threads , Code's Scope,
(I'm probably missing tons of stuff but whatever)
To be honest Java is not very hard to understand...once you understand how it works...like there comes a point where stuff just clicks and you "get it", like how everything comes together to run a program and your mind switches to that gear. It's hard to explain but the more you do it, at least from what I experienced, the more your brain just gets accustomed to how it works, TRUST ME.
Android just builds on the use of Java and you'll learn how to use Java to handle data and tell the UI what to do. In Android Studio the UI is coded in eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and it is ridiculously easy to read and use. It will take you like 10 minutes to understand it.
Just stick to it because trust me PERSISTENCE is your BEST FRIEND if you want to learn how to code any language.
If you have ANY questions just ask me and I will answer them. I would've learned like 10x faster if I had someone right next to me answering my questions but I never had that.
Good Luck!
eric Crawford
2,381 PointsAfter reading that motivational speech of a comment all i can say is ~Word~ to that my wise young friend. I kinda feel like Rocky with "Eye of the Tiger" playing in the backround. In fact, im gonna go finish my last test for Java Basics right now! PUMPED to code yeah lets go>>
Thanx man, i really do appreciate it, and ill be sure to reach out when needed.
Jacob Bergdahl
29,119 PointsIf you are serious about wanting to do Android apps, then you should all courses in Java first. It will help you understand what you're doing greatly.
eric Crawford
2,381 PointsThanx J i will take your advice.
rjendeavours
Courses Plus Student 4,965 PointsJust to put a different spin & opinion out there.....
The beginner android courses have been designed for someone who has never wrote a single line of code before. I think the teachers even say as much right at the start of the course.
So my opinion is that you jump right in and get going with android. Although Android uses Java, it also uses XML and there is certain syntax involved in making the two communicate.
Think of it like this....in 1-4 weeks you can either have done a few of the Java courses and have no knowledge of Android Development other than how to code Java, OR you can jump into the deep end and have completed a few of the beginner Android apps, to which you will then be able to sit and workout how you can manipulate what the teachers taught you, and use that to build your own Android apps.
If the teachers thought you needed to know Java before you started it would be in the course. Plus the first couple of android tracks are very very simple.
Best of luck
micram1001
33,833 Pointsmicram1001
33,833 PointsIf you are just going to focus on Android development, knowing the basics of Java will help. It is best to know how to use Android Studio to design and layout apps. The Android course becomes harder as you move along the assigned track. Good Luck, Mayk