Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/engineeringandroidapps
In the fast-paced world of mobile development, building robust and easily maintainable Android applications is paramount. Recently, I completed Coursera’s “Engineering Maintainable Android Apps,” a comprehensive 4-week MOOC that truly delivered on its promise. This course is an absolute must-have for any Android developer looking to elevate their code quality and long-term project success.
The course excels in its by-example approach. Instead of dry theory, it dives straight into practical application, demonstrating various methods for engineering maintainable Android apps. A significant portion is dedicated to Test-Driven Development (TDD), a methodology that, while often discussed, can be challenging to implement effectively without guidance. “Engineering Maintainable Android Apps” breaks down TDD into digestible steps, showing how to develop and run unit tests using JUnit and Robotium (or equivalent frameworks). The hands-on experience with automated testing is invaluable for building confidence in your code.
Beyond testing, the course delves into common Java/Android software patterns. It clearly illustrates how to apply these patterns to enhance the extensibility and clarity of your Android applications. Understanding and implementing patterns like MVVM, Dependency Injection, and others can drastically reduce technical debt and make future updates and feature additions a breeze.
The syllabus is structured logically, covering key areas in detail:
* **MOOC Overview:** Sets the stage with the importance of maintainability.
* **Software Engineering & Testing I & II:** Focuses on the core principles and practical application of testing methodologies.
* **Security & Sustainability I & II:** While the syllabus snippets don’t detail these extensively, the mention of security and sustainability suggests a holistic approach to app development, ensuring apps are not just functional but also secure and long-lasting.
The Security & Sustainability modules, particularly the introduction to Unit Testing with JUnit 4.0 and graybox testing with Robotium for multi-Activity apps, are particularly strong. The practical exercises and automated quizzes throughout the course solidify the learning, allowing you to immediately apply what you’ve learned.
**Recommendation:**
If you’re an intermediate Android developer or even an advanced beginner looking to write cleaner, more robust, and future-proof code, I wholeheartedly recommend “Engineering Maintainable Android Apps.” It provides the practical skills and conceptual understanding needed to build Android applications that are a joy to maintain and evolve. Invest in this course, and you’ll see a significant improvement in your development workflow and the quality of your apps.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/engineeringandroidapps