Best Language for Android Development

[palla sridhar]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for offering your book in JavaRanch.
1. I'd like to know , what is the best programming language for Android development, iPhone, iPod applications and as such for the whole Mobile industry.
2. Where to start basically, if we need to learn Mobile development?
3. Apart from Java, are there any scripting languages for Mobile apps.?

[Mark L. Murphy]

1. I'd like to know , what is the best programming language for Android development, iPhone, iPod applications and as such for the whole Mobile industry.

The best programming language for Android development, today, is Java. The only programming language for iPhone/iPod, AFAIK, is Objective-C. "For the whole mobile industry" is beyond my ability to answer.

2. Where to start basically, if we need to learn Mobile development?

First pick a platform (Android, iPhone/iPod, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Symbian, or the upcoming Palm WebOS). Then we can talk about resources for the platform...at least if the platform in question is Android. I would not be qualified to point out resources for the other platforms.

3. Apart from Java, are there any scripting languages for Mobile apps.?

Hmmm...I don't tend to think of Java as a scripting language, so my answer may not line up with what you want.

Symbian has Python support, and I think Ruby as well. Palm's WebOS is built atop HTML/CSS/Javascript. There has been preliminary work on Jython and JRuby support for Android.

[Ko Ko Naing]

There has been preliminary work on Jython and JRuby support for Android.

This would be very interesting to see such support in Android. It sounds like mobile platforms are becoming more and more like enterprise platforms, providing developers choices to make from various languages.

[Tomasz Prus]

What about Scala programming language, there is no support for it?

[Mark L. Murphy]

What about Scala programming language, there is no support for it?

I believe there has been preliminary work on getting Scala to run on Android. However, the OP asked about scripting languages, and AFAIK, Scala is compiled. I'm not a Scala user, so I may be incorrect on that point.

Generally speaking, any language that runs on the JVM that does not generate bytecodes on the fly should work on Android. For example, Beanshell works, if you recompile from source (the compiled version was created with JavaSE 1.4.2).

[palla sridhar]

Hey Mark,

Thanks for your answer.

First pick a platform (Android, iPhone/iPod, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Symbian, or the upcoming Palm WebOS). Then we can talk about resources for the platform...at least if the platform in question is Android.

Ya, if my platform is Android, what are the resources from basic to expert level.

Also can you tell me the earning or job chances in Android development.

[Ulf Dittmer]

A number of languages that run on the JVM could be made to run on Android, e.g. JavaScript.

[Mark L. Murphy]

Ya, if my platform is Android, what are the resources from basic to expert level.

I would start with the resources listed in my knol. The resources listed there will give you just about every level of support there is. Android development really only took off when the G1 was released, so the roster of resources is still growing.

Also can you tell me the earning or job chances in Android development.

It is a mixed bag. Some employers are crying for Android talent, but they may not be in position to work with contractors or overseas staff.

Android is still fairly new, so while there are some Android opportunities, there will hopefully be more over time.