Then I kept reading and soon discovered that not only do I need to fill out an application for the beta, I won't be able to get Java source code from the IDE. Bummer. I'm learning how to program currently and in Java no less, which is what Android apps are programmed with primarily. This is my first programming language and I'll admit it is tough. I'm not taking any structured classes but using instead used textbooks from Amazon and tutorials and forums from the web. It's a bit chaotic but i'm getting it. This all started from my love of computers and tech and my new love for Android.
So anyway I fill out the application and leave the site with mixed feelings. Later that week I listened to an audio webcast and although I forget which show, It hit me hard when they brought up the new App Inventor program and how it could flood the Android Market with yet more trash applications. They said it's not proper programming and could be more detrimental than helpful. By the time it ended, I was convinced that App Inventor was the Devil and I should sell my computer, move to the bible belt and pray for forgiveness.
Fast forward a week, and there I was driving to work listening to another webcast, I remember this one cause It's one of my favorite's -This Week In Google with Leo Laporte, Gina Trapani and Jeff Jarvis, and they are discussing Google App Inventor. Leave it to Gina to always say the most simply logical things, she thought it was a great idea, would be a good tool for teaching and coming from a developer I considered her words. The very same week they discussed it on Java Posse my absolute favorite and I'll never forget how impressed Joe was that the IDE was embedded in the browser. That's pretty flipping cool. To top it all off, one of the people on the App Inventor project team is an old friend of the some in the Java Posse. I at least had to see it myself.
That was over a month ago, as it took this long to hear back from Google. I've been playing with the App Inventor for a few days now. I've done all the intro tutorials and a couple advanced ones. To best some it up, It's analogous to anything creative I've learned: Guitar, Drums, Drawing, Tattooing, and even my day job operating a multi-million dollar machine. It's a great companion to everything I'm doing to learn to program. Like BlueJ, I can see how objects interact with each other. The naming schemes and operations are consistent with the programming norms that I've so far been exposed to. It's not Java syntax, but nevertheless should pay off in the future.
I think this is a great program for me. I also think it's a great tool to teach programming fundamentals. In just a few days a lot of the concepts I've been learning make a lot more sense. I'm going to continue with my other Java and Android studies though. As for this adding a bunch of crap to the Market? I doubt it. Thats not what this is for. If you get a few odd balls who want to try and sell HelloPurr for $5 It's a small price to pay for introducing people to programming.
-Side Note. In case your curious I am currently studying:
-Objects First with Java by Barnes and Kolling, a companion to the BlueJ IDE.
-Headfirst Programming by Griffiths and Barry, one of the Headfirst Labs books from O'rielly Media.
-Headfirst Java by Sierra and Bates.
-Hello Android 3rd Edition by Ed Burnett
