Android Operating System

Building mobile applications can be as easy as opening up the IDE, throwing something together,doing a quick bit of testing, and submitting to an App Store – all done in an afternoon.Or it can be an extremely involved process that involves rigorous up-front design, usability testing, QA testing on thousands of devices, a full beta life cycle, and then deployment a number of different ways.In this post we are going to brush up our knowledge about android operating system.

What is Android?

                               Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google, based on Linux Kernel and designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Android was developed by the Open Handset Alliance, led by Google, and other companies.
                 The first beta version of the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) was released by Google in 2007. After that the first commercial version, Android 1.0 was released on September 2008.On 27th of June 2012, at the Google I/O conference, Google announced their next android version, 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Android Applications

                                 Android applications are usually developed in the Java language using the Android Software Development Kit. Once developed, android application can be packaged easily and sold through a store such as, Google playstore, SlideMe, Opera mobile store, Mobango, F-droid and the Amazon appstore.

Android powers hundreds of millions of mobile devices in more than 190 countries around the world. It's the largest installed base of any mobile platform and growing fast. Every day more than one million new android devices are activated worldwide.

Android Versions

Code names of android ranges from A to N currently, such as Aestro, Blender, Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice cream sandwitch,Jelly Bean, Kitkat, Lolipop, Marshmallow and Nougat. API level is an integer value that identifies the framework.

Android Architecture 

Android operating system comprise of different software components arranges in stack. Different components of android operating system are

     1.Linux Kernel

 

Linux Kernel provides a level of abstraction between the device hardware and it contains all the essential hardware drivers like camera, keypad, display etc. And it handles all the things that Linux is really good at.

     

     2.Libraries

It provides the different libraries useful for well functioning of android operating system. These libraries are java libraries built specific for android operating system like SQLite, SSL, OpenGL, Media framework, Webkit etc. 

    3.Android Run time

It provides the most important part of android called Dalvik Virtual Mechine. It is similer to JVM, but the different is that is is designed and optimized for android. Dalvik virtual mechine uses some core functions of  the linux.

    4.Application framework

It provides many high level services to applications in the form of java classes. Application developers are allowed to make use of those services in their applications.

    5.Applications 

We'll write our applications to be installed on this layer only.

Some interesting facts about android

1. Currently android is running in 25 billion mobile handsets.
2. Android is the most popular mobile operating system.
3. Android versions are names alphabetically and all the names are eatable food items.
4. Android development is carried out by Google inc which Acquired Android Inc., A Small Startup, in 2005.
5. Apple and Windows Phone Are Android’s Biggest Competitors still market share of both apple and window together is far behind android.

Hope you guys got a clear idea about android operating system,If you guys would like to share any thoughts about this post with us, comment below. Good Bye :)