Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Android

Matthew Ong
Matthew Ong
6,041 Points
Posted by Matthew Ong
Matthew Ong
6,041 Points

Does Treehouse have any courses in animation for Android?

Hey treehouse members! I was wondering if there were any courses that go over simple animation in Android. I know that the crystal ball app went over it but that course is now discontinued.

I'm hoping to make a couple android games in the future and am getting stuck with where to start with graphics. There are a ton of options to choose from, like canvas vs openGl vs countless other libraries.

Can anyone recommend some resources or a good starting point? For my first app I want to start off simple so I'm making a slot machine game, with a simple slot reel spinning as the only animation. I just really don't know how to even start.

Thanks guys!

2 Answers

Ryan Farber
Ryan Farber
5,329 Points

Well, it depends. What are your main goals in creating these apps? Hobby? Job? If I can get more information, i can send you in the right direction

Matthew Ong
Matthew Ong
6,041 Points
Matthew Ong
Matthew Ong
6,041 Points

I'm just doing it for fun right now, but I would like to go into computer science as a career and potentially app development, so I'm trying to learn as much as I can.

Ryan Farber
Ryan Farber
5,329 Points

Well, you are definitely on the right track! I'm about to graduate with my CS degree in a month. This is a good site to supplement what you learn.

If you are doing it for fun, I would recommend learning as much as possible about different libraries.

https://android-arsenal.com/free

If you want to get a job in android game development, learn about some of the game engines

http://unity3d.com/unity/multiplatform/mobile

https://www.unrealengine.com/what-is-unreal-engine-4

Explore Android NDK

https://developer.android.com/tools/sdk/ndk/index.html

When learning, try to not re-invent the wheel from scratch. See what others have done to give you an idea of where and how to start. I caution you though, don't copy and paste, it will just take you that much longer to learn how to really do it.

https://github.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=slot+machine+android

Let me know if you have more questions.

Matthew Ong
Matthew Ong
6,041 Points
Matthew Ong
Matthew Ong
6,041 Points

Wow thanks so much! I'll definitely check out all of those links :)

Ben Jakuben
STAFF
Ben Jakuben
Treehouse Teacher
Ben Jakuben
Ben Jakuben
Treehouse Teacher

Great resources, Ryan Farber! For the very basics, check out this Forum post with a few examples of some simple animations: Android Animations. Also have a look at the developer documentation (with sample code).

Lastly, here are those missing videos you are after! They are still available, just not through the library. We're talking about having an Archive section: