I played with Visual Basic and small-time HTML stuff in high school as a sort of hobby, but I never really went anywhere with it. I think I have the right mindset to do this, but I'm just not sure where to start. I'm not even sure if it's worth starting.
I'd like to start writing applications for smartphones, so I was wondering if anyone here might recommend specific literature to me. In addition, I would appreciate any estimates from you guys as to how long it would take a reasonably intelligent person to write a full-fledged application from scratch.
Thanks in advance.
Personally I learned by playing around, looking at tutorials and examples. I personally learn best looking at a simple application someone has made and then just modifying it slightly with my own changes, and then from there start making my own stuff. anddev.org has some useful tutorials and such.
For how long it takes to write an application it really depends on the level and detail you want to put into the application and the complexity core functionality.
Android Development for Dummies any good?
So I am in need of some willing individuals that wouldn't mind taking some time to make a stellar guide to top all guides for first time users and veterans alike. After searching for hours for something that I thought was simple and easy, I decided to do something about it. I came up with a great idea, but can't do it alone.
The format will have a wiki feel to it, but allow the user to narrow down what they're looking for a lot quicker without having to scroll through a giant wall of text to find it. Eventually, many main topics will be integrated into my choose your adventure video project currently in the works.
As there will be main sections to this "guide", we will be working as a team to create a unique experience for us here in these forums to make the information flow user friendly, evolve with the time, and be right at our fingertips. I have some great people on board already and we're excited to get started, but here's what we're looking for:
-1 individual knowledgeable with the Mac OS for vibrant/android integration
-1 to 2 individuals very familiar with ADB and commonly used commands as well as rooting in general
-1 to 2 individuals familiar with the extraction, compilation, and signing processes for theming
-1 to 2 individuals for general app help/reviews
-1 to 3 individuals to help with general info and maintenance of the guide
In addition, all individuals should know their way around Microsoft Word (pref '07+)
If you think you fit the bill, the best way to let me know is to shoot me a PM with your qualifications, or you can respond below and I'll do my best to keep an eye out. The initial time investment will probably be in the neighborhood of 1-3 hours depending on how we decide to arrange the layout. After that, it should be minimal to maintain unless you feel like going overboard.
Good afternoon everyone!
My business partner and myself are currently trying to develop a product and have hit the limitations of our capabilities. Without going into too great of detail, we are looking to develop something using a Raspberry Pi or similar device for us in the automobile. We are vehicle guys and were able to mash something together to accomplish our goal, however it is definitely not production grade.
We are looking for someone to partner with us on development of this product. We are looking to move on this at an aggressive pace, so if you are interested please message me ASAP and we can discuss further.
Thank you for your time and attention,
Dave Eichorn
I was actually thinking of doing something along this lines except leaning toward the cubieboard or pandaboard. The pandaboard had more development behind it to where you could add touch screen, gps and a gsm sim card to it with more ease. By time I got my initial cost analysis done, the cost seemed to high and I abandoned the idea a long with the crude app I made for testing purposes.
I have an app that I want created, it has a very specific function and will be very useful. It will require knowledge of roms, NV writing, and OTA programming. I have a very planned workflow, and a virtually limitless hardware supply for testing various handsets. This could potentially be a great earner, and I'm also prepared to throw some cash at the project to get someone interested. If any of you feel like you fit that bill, get in touch with me and let's get serious...this app is needed MONTHS AGO and will continue to be needed for a long time & could grow exponentially. If anyone is interested, let's talk & get in business.
Ask here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2349036
Hello,
I'm not sure if this is the best place for this post, but it's the smartest, and largest android based community I know
I wanted to know where would be the best place for me to look for a hardware engineer. The caveat would be I need to find someone willing to talk a bit first before actually being paid. I need the help of one so I can make a more sound mock-up of what I'm doing and planning prices before talking to the VCs I have contacts for. That said, I COULD always find a way to basically hire a hardware engineer for consulting but I would really want to find a hardware engineer somewhat as passionate as I am about quality and creativity forward thinking. I already have a few software teams in mind to ask but will only do so once I have the funding.
So my question to you at XDA, where would I go about doing this? I should also mention the engineer I would look for would need to know about mobile phones. The thing is, I CAN start prototyping and the funding process using generic insides from a chinese phone BUT the end goal for me is custom hardware with the utmost care and quality put into it. So I would basically be lying to VCs (which let's be honest, everyone does) but then I would be delayed in having a hardware engineer still, and I'd rather have as much time to get the ball rolling as possible. Hell even if the hardware engineer could give advice on the future and pricing but says going with chinese insides until the money comes in would work.
I just have no idea where to find one, craigslist, ask around from friends, post at a certain website? Luckily what I will be doing for the next year shouldn't take the engineer more than a couple hours a week if even. So for quite a few months it should be pretty low key for them if they wanted to keep doing whatever job they were doing until I could afford to hire them full time. In about 6 months I want to start the prototyping to have early look units available for reviewers by November/December of this year.
Thank you for taking the time to read and help! If anyone is curious without saying too much I am looking towards making a pure android ubuntu edge quality phone, but most likely higher quality. The end goal is to use the main funding to make a phone directly aimed at the wants of you guys at XDA, but that's at least a year or so away sadly, and first things first.
iytrix said:
Hello,I'm not sure if this is the best place for this post, but it's the smartest, and largest android based community I know I wanted to know where would be the best place for me to look for a hardware engineer. The caveat would be I need to find someone willing to talk a bit first before actually being paid.
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You're in San Jose!! They grow on trees there! Just get some kid on the street and half their family will be HW engineers.
Anyway, this is the right place, but you are basically saying that they should "talk" to you, for free, for a while. So I doubt anyone would come forward. At least that's my experience in reading and seeing similar posts here in the last 2 years. Why would someone with the know how, risk spending months talking HW details, just to find him/herself abandoned?
You're project seem very noble and tasty, but we have to repackage it with some better incentives.
E:V:A said:
You're in San Jose!! They grow on trees there! Just get some kid on the street and half their family will be HW engineers..
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Hahahaha! So true! I remember when I first was looking to move out with a roommate almost EVERYONE was an "engineer" of some sort.
In hindsight I shouldn't have deleted the quote to respond. I think I remember all of what you said.
Yeah I understand that fully. This has just been an idea brewing in my head for about 3 or so years and my original plan was to befriend someone that was a hardware engineer and after building trust and enthusiasm start working on things. Me personally, I would do all of this for no profit on my part. Do I want it? Yes, but I only care about food, living, car payments, and getting this project rolling. I would like to work with people passionate enough about this to have a close mindset, but I realize that's not realistic, especially since it's my idea I'm asking people to believe in enough to work for it.
I think what I will probably have to do is, once I get enough stuff written up to present to an engineer to entice them on the project, also get some contract ready that promises them some share in things. The only thing is that could get very messy, and I would also need to add some more binding things so that they couldn't just leave on their own and take some profits, but I know I will need SOME way to entice people to want to work on this beyond just showing them the plan and idea.
I'm also trying to get in the more professional mindset. Making new company named emails and profiles so when I talk to people it's not just from a personal account. For XDA though I assumed people would take a senior member a lot more seriously than a brand new account though.
Are you from the Bay Area as well or do you just know of it? I find it weird that in this area people want to know investors and have their teams. I am in the opposite position where I have no team but have investors I am able to get a meeting with.
As a side note, a main reason why this turned from an idea to a thing that I HAD to do is I was getting fed up with all the phones that are coming out. There are many markets and categories missing from phones and I am hoping I can be the one to fill the gaps. I see tons of complaints online on various aspects of phones and so few companies seem to listen. Then once in a while a phone seems to be close to perfect and then the company doesn't ever come close again or removes wanted features. My only real fear is if the market moves too fast with some proprietary tech. But seeing as we've had bendable screens for...what 3 years now and the most we've gotten is slightly curved phones no one likes? I hope to change that, to get people more interested and caring for their phones.
Just figure out where they hang out online, and post...
You could post wherever idle HW engineers go to look for jobs too.
And there is no such thing as an "unemployed engineer".... They're (we're) consultants / contractors in between assignments, LOL.
mikereidis said:
Just figure out where they hang out online, and post...
You could post wherever idle HW engineers go to look for jobs too.
And there is no such thing as an "unemployed engineer".... They're (we're) consultants / contractors in between assignments, LOL.
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That's why I'm here to see if anyone knew where they went to hang out online haha. How would I go about that? Like a site or forums that's like a github for engineers instead of coders (although github is more pure code.....stack overflow I should say, but I think I make enough sense).
Haha! That seems very true. I'm sure I could find one to help me at least get the planning done but I would love to find one who wants to see this project through and through, and stay on for the full production of the phones, and the other ones I plan on making in the following years if this one succeeds.
Oh and, since from what you've said you SEEM to be a hardware engineer, how would I go about asking for the right kind? Could anyone with a degree or knowledge be able to easily adapt to making phones properly, or would I need to ask for one with a certain specialty? If so, what's the official term for the specialty?