Android App Components: Fragments & Background Services

Name: Android App Components: Fragments & Background Services
Rating: 3.7 (21 reviews)

Master flexible UIs & build powerful background capabilities into Android apps, monitor your data streams & take action

Created byPackt Publishing

Last updated 5/2019

English

What you'll learn

How to implement multiple code samples.
Learn how to send work requests to the background service.
Create layouts for multiple screens at runtime.
Perform long-running tasks using background services.
Master restrictions in using background services in Android Oreo along with workarounds such as using JobIntentService.
Deal with common problems and issues that might arise when using the services in your live projects.

Course content

2 sections • 66 lectures • 5h 47m total length

The Course Overview4:12
This video will give you an overview about the course.
Configure Android Studio and Create Your Project3:34
The aim of this video is to explore the best practices of setting up your project.
Start your Kotlin project
Find out about the importance of your package name
Learn to decide the best API number according to your projects
Create a Layout and Explore Layout Editor7:28
The aim of this video is to explore the layout editor and create your layouts faster.
Create your empty layout
Explore the layout editor and its options
Learn to preview your design in development
Create Your Fragment Class3:26
The aim of this video is to explore Android studio's configure component to create fragments.
Create your fragment and its related XML at the same time using Android Studio's configure component
Explore the support library and platform to create fragments
Inflate your fragment's layout
Display Your Fragment2:50
The aim of this video is to display your fragment statically inside an activity.
Define your fragment inside your activity
Find out when to use static fragments
Display your fragment inside your activity
Handling Fragment’s Lifecycle5:43
The aim of this video is to help you understand fragment's lifecycle, their execution order, and implementation.
Explore fragment lifecycle and learn about your fragment’s visibility
Explore the order of lifecycle events execution
Explore each lifecycle event in detail
Co-Ordinating with Your Activity's Lifecycle1:47
The aim of this video is to help you explore the best ways to communicate between your activity and fragment within their life cycles.
Explore how an activity’s lifecycle affects its attached fragment
Explore the order of lifecycle events execution
Learn to coordinate with your activity
Displaying Your Fragment Programmatically4:35
The problem with inflating your fragment inside activity xml is that they are static. In this video, we will explore more dynamic solutions.
Inflate your fragment within your activity
Display your fragment on emulator
Explore fragment's transaction
Add and Remove Fragments3:06
The aim of this video is to explore how to add and remove your fragment.
Add your fragment within onclick event
Remove your fragment within onclick event
Learn how to handle and issue fragments
Replacing Fragments3:14
The aim of this video is to learn how to replace your fragment.
Learn to replace fragments constantly
Explore how to make your UI more dynamic
Explore fragment replacement via fragment transaction
Handling Configuration Changes While Adding, Removing, and Replacing Fragments7:33
Configuration changed might cause user session loss or in worse, app crash. In this video, we will learn to handle configuration changes while adding, removing, and replacing fragments, as safe as possible.
Dive deep into configuration changes concept
Learn to handle configuration changes while adding, removing, and replacing fragments
Learn to handle configuration changes by TAG and ID of your fragment
Exploring Back Stack4:30
User Back button click while in process, might cause user session loss or in worse, app crash. In this video, we will explore the concept of back stacks deeply and will handle back button.
Dive deep into back stack concept
Learn to handle back button press
Communicating with Activity – Creating Event Callbacks8:24
The aim of this video is to help you understand fragment's communication with an activity using event callbacks.
Learn how to find a view from the activity and the fragment
Explore the callback concept and the best times to use it
Explore call back events and learn to use them for communicating between activity and fragment
Communicating with Activity – Pass Arguments5:40
The aim of this video is to help you understand fragment's communication with activity using Bundles.
Explore the Bundle concept
Explore the Argument concept
Pass an argument to communicate with your fragment
Communicating with Activity – Factory Method2:59
The aim of this video is to help you understand the fragment's communication with activity using factory method.
Learn the factory pattern
Use factory pattern to communicate with your fragment
Explore the usage of interfaces in factory method while communicating with fragments
Communication between Fragments within Activity8:22
The aim of this video is to help you understand the communication between fragments within the activity.
Pass data from one fragment to the container activity and receive it from another fragment
Explore the log concept and the best ways to use it
Use factory method and event callbacks at the same time to communicate with fragments
View Model3:42
The aim of this video is to explore the view model.
Learn about view model scope
Explore the relation between your activity or fragment lifecycle and the view model
Add view model to your project
Communicating with Fragments – View Model6:43
The aim of this video is to help you understand the communication between fragments using view model.
Implement view model in your project
Pass data using a view model class
Explore the benefits of using the view model
Explore Screen Compatibility5:02
The aim of this video is to help you explore screen compatibility.
Learn about the features to make a screen compatible UI
Learn to disable the compatibility
Measuring Screen Size5:29
The aim of this video is to help you understand how you can measure screen size programmatically.
Measure screen width
Measure screen height
Measure screen pixel density
Using the Right Layout5:16
The aim of this video is to help you understand how Android system handles different screen sizes.
Create a master-detail application
Specify width limitation for your layout
Change your layout at runtime
Using Fragments as Dialogues3:13
The aim of this video is to implement a fragment dialogue.
Explore the full screen concept
Create the layout for the full screen
Using Fragments as ViewPager6:47
The aim of this video is to learn how to implement ViewPagers.
Implement a ViewPager
Create an adapter for your ViewPager
Handle the back button with ViewPager
Services4:14
The aim of this video is to help you explore services.
Learn about process, thread, and service
Learn what services are
Explore service types
Explore Service’s Lifecycle3:35
The aim of this video is to help you understand service lifecycle.
Explore lifecycle callbacks
Define your service in the manifest
Create a Service5:25
The aim of this video is to help you understand how you can create and start a service.
Learn to start a service from another component
Learn to trace the events of a service
Explore onstartcommand flags
IntentService()2:33
The aim of this video is to help you explore IntentServices.
Explore the intent service events
Explore how intent services handle multithreading
Handling Long-Running Tasks5:06
The aim of this video is to help you understand how to handle long-running tasks with services.
Add a thread to the code and see how the app crashes
Create an async task to handle the process
See the result
Bound Services6:15
The aim of this video is to help you explore bound services.
Learn to connect to your bound service within your activity
Customize your service to make it boundable
Messenger3:18
The aim of this video is to help you understand how you can use messengers in your application.
Learn to connect to your messenger within your activity
Learn to create a messenger handler
Learn to pass data to you messenger class
AIDL3:55
The aim of this video is to help you understand how to implement AIDL file.
Learn to create an AIDL file
Learn to bound to an AIDL service
Learn how to change your service to bound to an AIDL
Explore IPC2:17
The aim of this video is to help you learn inter process communication (IPC).
Explore the IPC concept
Learn to choose between AIDL and messenger
Start a Foreground Service3:24
The aim of this video is to learn how to implement a foreground service.
Create a notification within your service
Learn to handle creating a foreground service for Android O
Explore the Initial Project2:06
The aim of this video is to help you explore the initial project that we are going to develop.
Learn how to create a basic ToDo list app
Learn how to create a layout for your fragment dialog
Add Fragments to the Project4:06
The aim of this video is to help you add a dialog fragment to your project and pass the input value to your activity.
Learn to create a class for your fragment dialog
Learn to get input from the fragment dialog
Learn to pass data from the fragment dialog to the activity
Add Services to the Project1:28
The aim of this video is to help you interact with your service.
Pass the data in your service
Start your service
Interact with Your Service from the Fragment3:54
The aim of this video is to help you interact with your service from the fragment.
Pass data to your service
Display your received data as a notification

The Course Overview6:37
This video gives an overview of the entire course.
Exploring Android Components2:36
The video starts with section overview and thereafter introduces various Android Components and why they are called building blocks of Android apps.
Learn about the different building blocks in Android
Exploring Activity, Broadcast Receiver, and Content Provider9:18
In this video, we will get a brief introduction to the Android Components such as Activity, Broadcast Receiver and Content Provider. Using practical apps example get clarity about.
Understand what is Activity
Understand what is Broadcast Receiver
Understand what is Content Provider
Introduction to Service5:11
In this video, we will get familiar with what is a Service in context of day to day usage of applications.
Understand Google Playstore update apps without affecting user’s current Activity
Understand how a Service consumes device memory (RAM ) in the background
Understand the examples of Service
Types of Service4:52
This video gives you overall idea of various categories of Service.
Explore Started Service
Understand the two sub-categories of Started Service
Learn what is Bound Service
Foreground Versus Background Service9:58
In this video, we will understand that a Started Services is categorised into Foreground Service and Background Service.
Explore examples of Foreground Service: such as Music Player app, updating apps from playstore and so on
Study examples of Background Service such as Gmail, WhatsApp or Facebook app
Learn key differences between Foreground and Background Service
Understanding Threads and Processes6:43
In this video, we will understand that Threads and Processes are very crucial concepts in order to understand the concept of Service. The video is a prerequisite to upcoming sections.
Understand what is a Thread and its types such as Main ( UI Thread ) and Worker (Background Thread)
Learn what are short and Long running operations and how a Thread is used to accomplish such operations
Understand how a Thread and Process is created when an application is launched
Different Ways to Perform Background Operations2:48
In this video, we will see how apart from Service, a background task can be executed using JobScheduler API or Job Dispatcher API.
Study the various ways to perform background operations
Project Setup5:36
In this video we will get Section overview and setup project in Android Studio.
Understand the initial Project setup
Implementing Background Service6:08
In this video we will, learn to create Background Service step by step.
Explore various methods such as onCreate, onStartCommand, onDestroy and onBind
Start and Stop a Background Service6:42
In this video, we will explore various scenarios in which you can start or stop a Service.
Understand what happens if you start a Service twice
Understand what happens if you stop a Service twice
Return Flags for Background Service3:44
In this video, we will learn about few predefined flags that can be returned in onStartCommand method.
Explore the return flags that can be used in onStartCommand()
Background Service Runs in Main Thread5:25
In this video, we will learn how does Started Service uses Main Thread to execute tasks.In this video, we will learn about the MVVM Architecture.
Explore how system generates ANR when UI is blocked
Using AsyncTask with Background Service10:05
In this video, we will see how AsyncTask is one of the most primitive way to perform long running task in Background.
Learn how one can use Aysynctask with Background Service
Why IntentService?6:18
In this video, we will see how IntentService is an advanced form of Background Started Service and it uses worker thread to perform long running operations without blocking the UI.
Learn how IntentService is different from Started Background Service
Understand what are the important method names that one needs to override while implementing IntentService
Learn about the properties of IntentService
Performing Operations Using IntentService in a Worker Thread9:33
In this video, we will learn to create IntentService step by step.
Get hands-on on IntentService in Android Studio
Started Service Versus IntentService2:26
In this video, we will Explore the key differences between a Started Background Service and the IntentService.
List the differences between Started and IntentService
Create and Send a Work Request to an IntentService6:18
In this video, we will understand that, by default, a Background Service has no mechanism to send back results to the calling components.
Understand our problem statement
Learn how to send data via Intent to an IntentService
Use Local Broadcasts to Interact with Background Service3:10
In this video, we will visually explore how to broadcast event from a Service and receive result in the calling component such as Activity.
Understand how to use Local broadcasts to interact with Background Service
Reporting Work Status to the Calling Component10:13
In this video, we will Implement Local Broadcasts to send back results to the calling component.
Explore how to pass data from a Background Service to the Activity
Exploring Lifecycle of Started Service6:52
In this video, we will see how a Started Service has its own Lifecycle similar to an Activity.
Explore visually the execution of Lifecycle methods
Learn what is Active Lifetime of a Started Service
Importance of Lifecycle Methods2:36
In this video, we will Explore theoretically the importance of Service lifecycle methods.
Understand the significance of onCreate and onDestroy
Understand the Importance of onStartCommand and onHandleIntent
Enhancing Application Security Using Started Service6:33
In this video, we will understand that using Started Service can jeopardise app’s security.
Learn the security issues while using Started Service
Understand the guidelines to be followed to make our app secure
What’s New for Background Execution in Android Oreo8:31
In this video, we will see that there are certain restriction imposed on Background Services from Android Oreo onwards.
Understand the Limitations of Background Services
Learn the Solution of all those limitations
Background Service Limitation11:23
In this video, we will practically check out what are the Background Service limitations.
Explore limitations in Pre-Oreo and Oreo emulator
Work Around – JobIntentService4:13
In this video, we will understand the solution of the limitations imposed on Background Services from Oreo onwards.
Understand how to implement JobIntentService
Learn the advantages of JobIntentService.
Demo – JobIntentService11:55
In this video, we will Integrate JobIntentService in our application.
Run background operations using JobIntentService
Test application in both Pre-Oreo and Oreo devices.
Best Practices for Implementing Background Service in Apps4:44
In this video, we will summarize the course along with points to remember for best practices for implementing Background Services in our apps.
Summarize the topics covered so far
Learn the best practices in terms of compatibility
In Conclusion the Next Steps1:28
In this video, we will conclude the course with topics to explore after this course.
Conclude the course with some best practices to be followed
Test Your Knowledge

Requirements

A basic understanding of Kotlin would be an added advantage but isn't mandatory.
Experience with background services will not be required.

Description

Are you willing to learn the basic functionality of how services and fragments work, build applications working in the background, by exposing you to using Android Background Service capabilities effectively? Then this course is for you

This hands-on course you will start by getting familiar with the fundamental concepts of fragments and adding fragments to an activity, fragment transactions & much more. Then you will get hands-on with the various kinds of services, threads, and processes, and their life cycle; then you'll move on to inter-process communication. Moving further you will learn to use IntentService, which utilizes a worker or background thread to execute tasks, explore what's new in the Background Service in Android Oreo and check out its limitations, and then overcome those limitations.

Contents and Overview

This training program includes 2 complete courses, carefully chosen to give you the most comprehensive training possible.

The first course, Hands-On Android Application Components: Services and Fragments you will start by getting familiar with the fundamental concepts of fragments and adding fragments to an activity, fragment transactions, their lifecycle, and how they communicate with activities. You'll also explore fragment stability during screen rotation, and screen sizes. Then you will learn about services, another application component that will continue to run in the background even if the user switches to another application. Here you will get hands-on with the various kinds of services, threads, and processes, and their life cycle; then you'll move on to inter-process communication. Lastly, you will implement everything you've learned and built a TODO application; you'll learn to pass and manage arguments and master the communication flow between services and fragments in multiple ways. By the end of this course, you'll have a very strong foundation in Android fragments and Android services.

The second course, Hands-on Background Services in Android you will learn a variety of topics like starting and stopping your service, interacting with the background service and creating and sending a work request, exploring the lifecycle of your service along with understanding the security issues in using it. You will learn to use IntentService, which utilizes a worker or background thread to execute tasks. You will explore what's new in the Background Service in Android Oreo and check out its limitations, and then overcome those limitations. You will then learn the best practices and how to deal with problems and issues that might arise. By the end of the course, you will have a strong foundation in background services in Android and will be able to build the functionality you need to ensure you won't drain the battery excessively, compromise the user's security, consume too much data, or hamper the device's performance.

About the Authors:

Mona Vafa is an energetic mobile developer with 4+ years' robust code experience in Java-Android and iOS. She enjoys every minute spent developing apps on her computer. There is always something new to learn so what she loves the most is being challenged and sharing her experience. Currently, Mona is working as a freelance software developer and is a proud online trainer. Apart from this, she loves to travel, explore new places, and read books.
Book of Brains creates and distributes high-quality technology training content. We aim to teach technology the way it is used in industry and the professional world. Our trained team of professionals delivers hands-on workshops and training content for mobile as well web development technologies. We constantly monitor current industry trends and keep our training materials and workshops up to date.

Who this course is for:

This course targets Android developer, UI/UX designer, mobile developer keen to enhance their application user interface design skills will benefit from this course.

Android App Components: Fragments & Background Services

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Hands-On Android Application Components: Services and Fragments37 lectures • 2hr 45min

Hands-on Background Services in Android29 lectures • 3hr 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: