Asynchronous Android Programming - Second Edition

About This BookConstruct scalable and performant applications to take advantage of multi-thread asynchronous techniquesExplore the high-level Android asynchronous constructs available on the Android SDKChoose the most appropriate asynchronous technique to implement your next outstanding featureWho This Book Is For This book is for Android developers who want to learn how to build multithreaded and reliable Android applications using high-level and advanced asynchronous techniques and concepts. What You Will LearnGet familiar with the Android process model and low-level concurrent and multithread constructs available on the Android SDKUse AsyncTask to load data in the background, delivering progress results in the meantimeEnhance UI performance and responsiveness by sending work to a service running in the backgroundDefer, schedule, and batch work on the Android system without compromising the battery life and user experienceUse the JNI interface to execute concurrent work on native layerPull and push data from your network servers using the Google GCM platformCreate and compose tasks with RxJava to execute complex asynchronous work in a predictable wayGet accustomed to the use of the Android Loader construct to deliver up-to-date resultsIn Detail Asynchronous programming has acquired immense importance in Android programming, especially when we want to make use of the number of independent processing units (cores) available on the most recent Android devices. To start with, we will discuss the details of the Android process model and the Java low-level concurrent framework, delivered by the Android SDK. Next, we will discuss the creation of IntentServices, bound services, and external services, which can run in the background even when the user is not interacting with them. In a more advanced phase, you will create background tasks that are able.

To execute CPU-intensive tasks in native code-making use of the Android NDK. You will be then guided through the process of interacting with remote services asynchronously using the HTTP protocol or Google GCM Platform. Finally, we will introduce RxJava, a popular asynchronous Java framework used to compose work in a concise and reactive way.

Debugging AlarmManager alarms.

Cover; Copyright; Credits; About the Author; About the Reviewer; www.PacktPub.com; Table of Contents; Preface; Chapter 1: Asynchronous Programming in Android; Android software stack; Dalvik runtime; ART runtime; Memory sharing and Zygote; Android process model; Process ranks; Process sandboxing; Android thread model; The main thread; The Application Not Responding (ANR) dialog; Maintaining responsiveness; Concurrency in Android; Correctness issues in concurrent programs; Liveness issues in concurrent programs; Thread coordination; Concurrent package constructs; Executor framework.

Android primary building blocksActivity concurrent issues; Manipulating the user interface; Service concurrent issues; Started services issues; Bound services issues; Service in a separate process; Broadcast receiver concurrent issues; Android concurrency constructs; Summary; Chapter 2: Performing Work with Looper, Handler, and HandlerThread; Understanding Looper; Understanding Handler; Sending work to a Looper; Scheduling work with post; Using Handler to defer work; Leaking implicit references; Leaking explicit references; Updating the UI with Handler; Canceling a pending Runnable.

Scheduling work wit…