Android App Widgets Jump Start PRO

The android app widgets are tiny applications the user can install on his android device home screen desktop. While the home screen activity belongs to a separated process (from the one the app widgets code belongs to), it would be more accurate to define the app widgets as small user interfaces the home screen activity desktop renders in according with code executed within the scope of a separated process we develop.

In order to develop a simple app widget we should first write the code that will be responsible for creating a AppWidgetProviderInfo object. The AppWidgetProviderInfo object will be responsible for providing information about the app widget to the hosting activity. In most cases, the hosting activity will be the home screen activity. The simplest way to create such object will be to create a simple XML document and place it within the res/xml folder.

The next step should be coding the xml layout document that describes the user interface of our app widget. The following code defines a layout xml that describes a simple app widget with one button.

The next step would be to define the app widget provider class. This class should extend AppWidgetProvider, a class that extends BroadcastReceiver. During the execution of our app widget, an object of our AppWidgetProvider class will be responsible for telling the hosting activity (home screen activity in most cases) that belongs to a separated process what the app widget should do. After all, the app widget is just a small view portion out of the view the hosting activity (home screen) renders.

The next thing would be inform the android paltform about our AppWidgetProvider class. We should do it using the android manifest xml file. The application element should include the following:

The following video clips explains how everythings works together. You can find the source code itselfs as well as the slides at www.abelski.com. Check the App Widgets Development course. That course also explains how to develop a simple app widget that includes a configuration activity. You can find more info about the professional commercial version of that course at www.xperato.com.

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