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androidapp-inventor

Android App Inventor: Is it worth learning (yet)?

I have read that it will allow creating an Android app without (much) programming skill.

I am a programmer and have already developed some apps for the Android. Is the App Inventor worth while for me to learn for one of

  • Converting completed apps over to App Inventor
  • Converting in progress apps over to App Inventor
  • Starting new apps with App Inventor

And what are the general limitations?

Solution

  • From what I understand of the AppInventor platform you are not going to get far with your first two goals (converting completed apps and converting in progress apps).

    It is definitely worthwile to start new apps. It does help in rapidly putting prototypes together. From what little I have used in the platform these are the biggest limitations.

    1. Code is not portable. That is you are forced to use appInventor. You cannot export/import code to Java or out of the platform.

    2. You are restricted to one screen per application. The workaround is to have each screen as a separate application or do some fancy layout tricks (hide/show elements).

    3. You cannot upload applications developed in AppInventor to the App Marketplace.

    All this being said it is still quite a powerful tool. The AppInventor forums are quite active and people have done some neat stuff with it.

    My advice go ahead and give it a spin!