In this chapter, you have learned how you can export your Android application as an APK file and then digitally sign it with a keystore you create yourself. You then learned about the various ways you can distribute your application, and the advantages of each method. Finally, you walked through the steps required to publish on the Android Market, which makes it possible for you to sell your application and reach out to a wider audience. Hopefully, this exposure enables you to sell a lot of copies and thereby make some decent money!
EXERCISES
1. How do you specify the minimum version of Android required by your application?
2. How do you generate a self-signed certificate for signing your Android application?
3. How do you configure your Android device to accept applications from non-Market sources?
Answers to the Exercises can be found in Appendix C.
WHAT YOU LEARNED IN THIS CHAPTER
| TOPIC | KEY CONCEPTS |
| Checklist for publishing your apps | To publish an application on the Android Market, an application must have the four required attributes in the AndroidManifest.xml file: • android:versionCode • android:versionName • android:icon • android:label |
| Signing applications | All applications to be distributed must be signed with a self-signed certificate. The debug keystore is not valid for distribution. |
| Exporting an application and signing it | Use the Export feature of Eclipse to export the application as an APK file and then sign it with a self-signed certificate. |
| Deploying APK files | You can deploy using various means, including web server, e-mail, adb.exe, DDMS, etc. |
| Publishing your application on the Android Market | Apply for the Android Market with a one-time fee of U.S. $25 and you will be able to sell and host your apps on the Android Market. |