I am wondering what exactly API level means. I couldn't seem to find an answer by searching on Google.
Could anyone please explain what the term API level means?
This actually sums it up pretty nicely.
API Levels generally mean that as a programmer, you can communicate with the devices' built in functions and functionality. As the API level increases, functionality adds up (although some of it can get deprecated).
Choosing an API level for an application development should take at least two thing into account:
Current distribution - How many devices can actually support my application, if it was developed for API level 9, it cannot run on API level 8 and below, then "only" around 60% of devices can run it (true to the date this post was made).
Choosing a lower API level may support more devices but gain less functionality for your app. you may also work harder to achieve features you could've easily gained if you chose higher API level.
Android API levels can be divided to five main groups (not scientific, but what the heck):
Android 1.5 - 2.3 (Cupcake to Gingerbread) - (API levels 3-10) - Android made specifically for smartphones.
Android 3.0 - 3.2 (Honeycomb) (API levels 11-13) - Android made for tablets.
Android 4.0 - 4.4 (KitKat) - (API levels 14-19) - A big merge with tons of additional functionality, totally revamped Android version, for both phone and tablets.
Android 5.0 - 5.1 (Lollipop) - (API levels 21-22) - Material Design introduced.
Android 6.0 - 6.… (Marshmallow) - (API levels 23-…) - Runtime Permissions,Apache HTTP Client Removed
API level is basically the Android version. Instead of using the Android version name (eg 2.0, 2.3, 3.0, etc) an integer number is used. This number is increased with each version. Android 1.6 is API Level 4, Android 2.0 is API Level 5, Android 2.0.1 is API Level 6, and so on.
An API is ready-made source code library.
In Java for example APIs are a set of related classes and interfaces that come in packages. This picture illustrates the libraries included in the Java Standard Edition API. Packages are denoted by their color.
The API is the android platform that make up the core language that
you will use when developing, and as you get the API version higher
the SDK tools should also be updated (which are the tools for
developing and debugging).
You should also take into account the market and how many devices
will support my selected API and choose the lowest API target
possible for your app to adapt more devices.
Related
I am thinking to make an application but at the time I don't have API 21 and API 22 installed on my SDK due to some network problems and I'm unable to download any thing at the moment. I was wondering if I can make an app effective enough to target many devices without using API 21 and API 22.
Bilal, judging from your comments to others, I'm getting the impression that you don't fully understand how the API levels work in Android. Let me try and explain.
The minimum API level is pretty self-explanatory, as it refers to the minimum Android OS version that can run your app. You want to set this as low as possible to target the most devices. To determine which level you set depends entirely on your application. For example, if your app requires access to the Calendar APIs, your minimum API level would be 7, because that is when those APIs were introduced.
You almost always want to set your maximum API level to the highest possible. Google encourages this, because it allows you to take advantage of all of the new APIs that have been released. But what about the devices that are outdated? You can still enable backwards compatibility with those devices using the Support Library.
Finally, it is not necessary to download each and every API level in the SDK manager. You only need to download the most recent.
I have an Android device, apparently with API Level 10.
I'm developping an Android Application and I need to test it on API level 12.
I don't know much about Android and API levels, so my question is: Can I update my device to a higer API level ? (it says no New version available, aren't hier APIs considered new version?)
(I can't use the Emulators, as they really need a huge amount of ressources to start.)
Alternatively, is it possible to test the following code, on my API Level 10 device ?
UsbManager manager = (UsbManager) this.context.getSystemService(Context.USB_SERVICE);
I have the following warning:
Yes higher API levels = latest releases.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_version_history#Version_history_by_API_level makes the correlation between API and version number (2.3.4).
You should work with a device supporting latest api and high resolution because many of your users might have that and you NEED as a developer to see and test your work on these platforms.
Get yourself a nexus phone, you can upgrade these to the latest Android version.
Android version release : Google releases it --> manufacturers and Telecom Carriers checks and adjust the release before making it available to you. Hence, for old phone, the manufacturers and carriers don't make the effort and you are stuck to old versions.
If you do no want to or if you cannot find a more recent handset, you can install a custom ROM to try to reach API 12. But in any case, if you start developing, you ll need good handset soon.
good luck
You can try to see if there is a custom rom for your device that is of a higher api version. But this won't accurately test your app because there is probably a very good reason that a newer operating system was not made available for your device. As such, your app and the SDKs in the new API will probably not be able to make use of the hardware resources available, and you won't get an accurate representation of your app's performance.
You mentioned you can't use emulators but have you considered Genymotion's emulators? Although it is resource intensive it is better than Google's emulators and is faster than actual devices.
Assuming your using Eclipse ADT. You DONT have to update your device to level or API 12. All you have to do is specify the minimum required SDK, which is API 8 in most Eclipse ADT setups. and set your target SDK to API 12. That way your app will run on devices from API 8 through to API 12 Including you device. FYI the latest API is now 19 (Android 4.4) Hope this helps.
I am developing a snake and ladder game for Android handsets. Currently I am using Android API Level 10 (2.3.3)
ImageView doesn't support setX, setY till API level 10; this feature's support starts from API level 11. So I want to add that support to API Level 10. Any help or suggestions will be highly appreciated.
This is not possible.
An API level reflects a version of Android running on a device. You cannot change the version of Android on millions of devices just by asking on StackOverflow. Those device users can upgrade, or they can download a modded ROM for their device that supports API Level 11 or higher.
Android version 2.3 - 2.3.2 (API 9) are declared as obsolete, and according to Android Market statistics, are very rare (0.5% of market users).
The question is:
Why is API 9 declared obsolete and more importantly, is there any reason why should I not use it? I've been using API 9 and see no problems with it... am I missing something?
Better not fix it if it's not broken, right?
EDIT:
Clarification:
If I would update my applications' API from 9 to 10, what would be the benefits?
I can only see negative effects:
1% of users will suddenly find out that the app doesn't work on their phones any longer. This is even worse with paid apps. Or that I'd be forced to maintain two versions of each app.
Have a look at the description of API levels. Gingerbread API (9) has been replaced by Gingerbread MR1 (10). You should upgrade to this API.
The current version of the android OS is 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). 2.3/2.3.2 is quite a few versions ago and was quickly replaced by 2.3.3. (api lvl 10), so it is very reasonable (as time progresses and changes / updates are introduced) to "shelve" a specific version so to speak.
However, the one strength in the android OS is backwards compatibility. While older devices (pre 2.3) will not be able to run your applications, all applications going forward will. There is technically no problem running the older OS's but bug fixes/changes...etc mean you may be inadvertently using buggy code that contains security flaws or other issues.
It's best to pick the API version that will reach the majority of your target market most effectively.
For example, if you wanted to take advantage of some screaming new OpenGL features on the newer higher powered phone you wouldn't want to run it an older API level and possibly create a storm of angry users because their phone doesn't have the HP to run it!
However a more simple application might be fine just running on an older OS (like the Chuck Norris random fact generator).
You should always go for the lowest possible API to use. Simply because the lower your API level is, the more users can you reach.
So looking at the current stats, you are able to reach 97.9% if you "dumb" yourself down to API level 7.
But why API level 9 is obsolete? One could not know for sure, but most likely because it had some major flaws.
The Lvl9 is obsolete because if you want to develop for Gingerbread you should use 2.3.3+ (Lvl 10). This is because the "old Gingerbread" (lvl 9) has some significant issues.
Well, I don't really think you should be worry about the OS itself. But many Droid programers, like myself, are not testing Gingerbread version on emulators. Mostly, because it's not showing on the SDK interface (appears only when you check the obsolete filter). So, I guess that other programers are ignoring this version also. That's the only problem I can think.
My Android application uses minSdkVersion=3 and targetSdkVersion=8. I used 8 because that is the highest level of API the application was tested on; however, it was written for level 3 and does not use any features beyond that level (except one for level 4 using reflection). Could using targetSdkVersion=8 be causing:
the Android Market to filter the application for some devices? My intention is for the application to be available for ALL devices >= level 3 with NO filtering.
problems in the application since targetSdkVersion=8 will, according to google: "disable compatibility settings that are not required for the target version (which may otherwise be turned on in order to maintain forward-compatibility) or enable newer features that are not available to older applications".
No. targetSdkVersion:8 just tells the system that you support SDK 8 features, like installing to SD card. minSdkVersion is what will filter the app and hide it for users with a lower SDK.