Google App Inventor: Introduction and Setup

 

It seems that more and more people are gaining access to the Google AppInventor tool, so I figured I’d do a series on the AppInventor starting with an introduction, setup, and also get rid of some misconceptions about the program…

I. What is Google AppInventor (and what isn’t it)?

Basically it is a web-based tool that you can use to create apps using a visual editor and simplified “blocks” of code to create a basic app. At the moment, this program is in it’s beta testing and you must request access to it and wait for Google to accept you. It is a great tool for learning how programming for Android works, it’s a quick way to make simple apps for yourself and friends, or even make a quick app to then use as a prototype for a more complex version.

What is it not? Well, it is not a way to make an app that you can then put into the Market and become independently wealthy. There seems to be a misconception that you can use this to create an app and submit it to the Market (and this also seems to have cause an uproar from people as to how horrible it is to give your average joe a way to make apps that they can submit, thus flooding the Market with homemade, low-quality apps). Simply put, any app you make in the App Inventor, can NOT be submitted to the Market. When you try, you get an error message.

Google employees have commented on this saying basically that at the moment they do not want to allow apps from AppInventor into the market and that it is more of a learning tool than a shortcut for making quality apps. They also say that they are still trying to investigate a way to incorporate these apps into the Market in some way in the future.

II. How Can I Get AppInventor?

Simply go to https://services.google.com/fb/forms/appinventorinterest/ and fill out the form. Google will send you an email to the email you provide (must be a GMail email account) when you are granted access to the program.

III. How Do I Setup the AppInventor?

1. Once, you receive your email from Google saying that you now have access to the AppInventor, simply click on the “Getting Started” link in the email to be brought to the AppInventor site.

2. Once on that page, click on the Setup link and follow the instructions to download Java 6 (if you don’t already have it) and the AppInventor Extras Software and install it to your computer.

3. On your phone, go to Settings > Applications > Development and make sure USB Debugging and Stay awake are checked on.

4. Plug in your phone to the computer.

5. Now, click on My Projects at the top right of the page to be brought to the actual AppInventor.

6. Click on Open the Blocks Editor button at the top right and it will download the java file. Once done, open it.

7. Once the Blocks Editor is open, click on the button Connect to Phone and wait for it to find and connect to your phone. Once it is done, you will see a white screen on your phone.

IV. All Setup, Now What?

Well, we are putting together a series of tutorials (including video walk-throughs for the tutorials Google has up on the site) that will hopefully help you get familiar with App Inventor and programming for Android as a whole.

All of our Tutorials will be listed here in the future (feel free to bookmark that page as new tutorials will appear there automatically).