Develop Reference

Create circle button with custom background image

So I have a background texture (image) that I put on all of my buttons. I want to create a circular button with an icon that retains this background texture.
So far, I have noticed it isn't supported to do this on the shape side:
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<solid android:color="#drawable/myTexture" /> <!-- this isn't supported -->
</shape>
Lastly I would otherwise try to use <layer-list>, however as I stated above, I need to still crop the texture to my shape I'm creating.
Is the only way to do this to make my own circular images that combine the background texture and the button icon? This seems a bit excessive, as I would think there should be a programmatic way to accomplish this, but I could be wrong.
Here is an example of what I mean above:
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item android:drawable="#drawable/myTexture" />
<item>
<shape android:shape="rectangle">
<corners android:radius="40dp" />
<size
android:height="80dp"
android:width="80dp" />
<solid android:color="#color/black" />
</shape>
</item>
</layer-list>
In the picture bellow: black is the circle shape, silver is the texture/image (black for contrast)

I haven't solved the programmatic way, but I did end up creating new graphics that combined the icon and the background texture. Using this singular image, I was able to create circular ImageButton's.

Half circle button match circular image android

What is the best way to implement the below graphics in android?
For the image view I am using
de.hdodenhof.circleimageview.CircleImageView
I need to have a button over the bottom 1/3 of the image view and match the curve. Is there a way similar to iOS where I can place the two in a layout and then just set the curve of the layout and clip to bounds? Or what is the best way to solve this? I do have an xml file for the button and I can get a match if I cover half the image, but have not been able to figure out less than that. Here is my button shape:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<size
android:width="10dp"
android:height="5dp"/>
<corners
android:bottomLeftRadius="1000dp"
android:topLeftRadius="0dp"
android:bottomRightRadius="1000dp"
android:topRightRadius="0dp" />
<solid android:color="#color/transparent_lightGray" />
</shape>

rounded view's corners android, NOT round background

I know how to give round borders using XML in Android. I thought it would be cool to make the radius of one corner of my textView excessively large. The problem is, the text keep spilling out. Can I make my textview have a TRULY round corner? (Not just the background). If this was CSS this would be so easy. I am new to Android.
So in terms of CSS, I want to set my overflow to hidden so to speak.
Please help me.

In short, no. All Views are rectangular and fit in bounding boxes.
The best way to achieve rounded corners is the way you mention; using a shape drawable with corner radius set as the background to your TextView.

Like ataulm said, all Views are rectangular.
Create a shape drawable allows you to create a background with rounded corners. You'd have to use padding to make sure the text doesn't clip in certain areas.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<solid android:color="#ffffffff"/>
<stroke android:width="4dp"
android:color="#ff0000"/>
<padding android:left="4dp"
android:top="4dp"
android:right="4dp"
android:bottom="4dp"/>
<corners android:bottomRightRadius="7dp"
android:bottomLeftRadius="7dp"
android:topLeftRadius="7dp"
android:topRightRadius="7dp"/>
</shape>

How to control the gradient on a shape?

I have a screen with a label on top. This label is done with a TextView.
As a background I'd like to have a vertical gradient, starting with color1, changing to color2 and back to color1.
At the moment I have:
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:shape="rectangle">
<stroke android:width="1px" android:color="#000000" />
<gradient
android:startColor="#FFFFFFFF"
android:centerColor="#FF8800"
android:endColor="#FFFFFFFF"
android:type="linear"
android:angle="270"
/>
<corners android:radius="10dp"/>
</shape>
My problem is that the centerColor line is too thin. I want it to ocupy all the letters space.
I can't find any way to make the gradient to be faster.
I've already tried to use a layout-list but with no success.
Any idea?

This is a much more different track to follow but have you considered working with 9-patch image files? This will allow you to stretch the parts of the gradient that you wish to and make the centre line as big as needed by segmenting up the background properly.
Here are some great tutorials I have used to learn about them:
draw 9 patch tutorial
And from Google's own Android mouth:
Android 9 patch
All Drawable resources for Android

Android Rounded Edges for backgrounds

I was wondering if anyone knew how to make rounded background edges for only certain corners.
For example, in the lock screen of Android 2.2 there were the two slidingDrawers to unlock the phone and take a picture or something.
The slidingDrawers had a rounded corner with an icon within it. Anyone know how to make the corners of a background rounded?

There are lots of ways in achieving that.
You could use a 9patch drawable, and I'm guessing that's what they used.
You can also use a shape drawable, with proper corners.
Other than that, your question is too ambiguous. But this should provide enough for a good answer to your problem.

you can create a xml file inside the drawable folder with some code like this ,
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<solid android:color="#FFFFFF"/>
<corners android:radius="5px"/>
<padding android:left="0dp" android:top="0dp" android:right="0dp" android:bottom="0dp" />
</shape>
change the radius values for the amount of rounded edge you need. Apply this xml as the background of your textview or edittext or anything.