Kismet Arts Tangent

Vocab

px
Pixels – corresponds to actual pixels on the screen.

in
Inches – based on the physical size of the screen.

mm
Millimeters – based on the physical size of the screen.

pt
Points – 1/72 of an inch based on the physical size of the screen.

dp
Density-independent Pixels – an abstract unit that is based on the physical density of the screen. These units are relative to a 160 dpi screen, so one dp is one pixel on a 160 dpi screen. The ratio of dp-to-pixel will change with the screen density, but not necessarily in direct proportion. Note: The compiler accepts both “dip” and “dp”, though “dp” is more consistent with “sp”.

sp
Scale-independent Pixels – this is like the dp unit, but it is also scaled by the user’s font size preference. It is recommend you use this unit when specifying font sizes, so they will be adjusted for both the screen density and user’s preference.

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Strings

Every text displayed should be wrapped into a string for packaging sake. The program gets a little piffy (note the caution icon–yellow triangle– on “large text”) when you try to “hardcode” text. So, day one of coding my new app, Calcu, is making strings so the buttons have something legit to display. A big learning moment was installing the Obelus (the division symbol– yeah I didn’t know the name of it either!). Using a character map to find the unicode, I was able to reference this particular character with “&#247.” Very exciting.

Text Alignment

I aligned the zero in the text box with gravity. Android:gravity=”top|right” different from html. I like it. I imagine a magic gravity wand drawing all text into that part of the box. It’s not a matter of alignment. It’s forces of nature at work!

Links for symbols:
Unicode and HTML – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

List of XML and HTML character entity references – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Day 2 of Java. With the help of my teaching friend, we are creating a calculator app. For someone who’s never programmed their calculator in middle school, it’s quite a feat. This a great exercise in how to start thinking like a computer. I drew out the layout of the calculator and started to define what exactly the buttons do, which is surprisingly cognitively taxing.

This is also a great time to start some naming conventions. One of the hardest parts of programming and code in general (in my opinion) is remembering the names of all the variables. This Pseudocode, a planning step, is a great time for calmly and rationally naming things. When I am rushed, I often name my stuff unintelligible ranty words like “bullioncube” and then have no idea what it means later. This was fun because I was visualizing how a computer thinks, while anticipating how I would think about it. You have to give everything a name, but in a way, that name has to be so logical that you will know what it does without having to look up what it does in your notes. That’s why I thought it would be good to name the first number entry as “column_A” because I think about adding like a spreadsheet, where Column A is the first thing and Column B is the second. But, there are no columns in this program.

Another example: In this program, the input value and the output value show up in the output screen. We named that value, “io_value.”

We realized that some of our functions are made up of sub-tasks that can be reused in other functions. It’s very satisfying to note where the sub-tasks are reused. It feels like less work and overall more elegant and sophisticated. More on that, it’s a logic puzzle, where it helps to be familiar with the concepts presented in Boolean Algebra. If/then statements become your best friend.

1) Figure out who are you? Types of programmers- The 5 types of programmers « Steven Benner’s Blog. Are you a person who fixes things? Or makes things? What is exciting to you about programming?

2) What do you want to make? Prototyping- wireframe and visualize what you want to happen in the program

3) How do you want to make it? Pseudocode- write out longhand what you want to happen

4) With what tools? Languages- consider the right tool for the right job. Compiled vs script.

Oooh… I love small footprints…

▶ Introduction to Programming – Basics – YouTube.

Programming is logical thinking.

Getting Started: Download the Environment

Java SE Downloads. Java Development Kit

Android SDK | Android Developers I asked what is this? and my buddy said, a glorified word processor that’s specifically made for programming, with some libraries of other people’s code to reference.

At this downloading site, there are two options, 32-bit and 64-bit and it refers to the operating system you have. If you’re wondering as I was, go to your computers control panel > system and security > system  to get this. (Yes, I named my computer Lemon.) It’s a huge zip, so downloading it might take a while.

Creating an Android Project | Android Developers.

My buddy said “activity_main” is important like “index.html” is important. It’s the first thing the program does.

Advice: Press “run” on the file .java. In Eclipse, press Ctrl + Shift + O to import missing classes (Cmd + Shift + O on Mac). Do not be intimidated by View view and Intent intent. Someone in the “default” department thought it would be illuminating to keep the name of the item and the type of the item the same to illustrate the part of speech. (Capitalization makes a difference. Classes are always capitalized.) Always remember “startActivity(intent);” I learned that the slow way.

I’m excited and nervous about this endeavor. I like how I am slowly getting this and there are a few correlating terms between Java and HTML5. I would recommend this to designers after and only after learning HTML and being fairly comfortable with. Java throws around “id” and “class” in similar but different and confusing ways. And don’t get me started on “static.” (For a sample, here‘s a thing I had to look up.)

Building a Simple User Interface | Android Developers. Eclipse is like the Dreamweaver for Android Apps.

http://developer.android.com/training/basics/firstapp/starting-activity.html#StartActivity Today I made my first app. It was like using a cookbook where I just added strings together into a main activitiy and then sprinkled some intent and hit the start_activity and my method is completed! I am excited to learn more tomorrow.

Unrelated but useful Link:

Keep Your Computer From Destroying Your Eyesight | Gadget Lab | Wired.com.