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Guide · Open source

How to use android_guides: read, search and contribute

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

android_guides is a free, open-source collection of written guides for building Android apps, published on the project's wiki and maintained by CodePath and volunteer contributors. This page explains what it covers, how to find the guide you need, and how to help keep it current. After reading, you will know which topics are available and how to use the guides for learning or for looking up a specific technique.

CodePath Android Cliffnotescodepath/android_guides · ★ 28.3k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Open the guides. Go to the getting-started page on the project wiki, linked from the README, or visit guides.codepath.com.
  2. 2Pick a topic. Choose a guide such as ActionBar, fragments, testing or flexible user interfaces that matches your question.
  3. 3Read the guide. Work through the written steps and tips, and compare them with your own project.
  4. 4Check whether it is current. Look for the Needs Attention mark, which indicates a guide the maintainers want updated.
  5. 5Ask or report. Post questions in the linked Google Groups forum, or search repository issues before reporting a gap.
  6. 6Contribute back. Read the Contributing Guidelines and update, complete or create a guide.

What does android_guides cover?

The guides are topic-based. The README names several examples: using the ActionBar, the details of fragments, testing options, and building flexible user interfaces for multiple devices. The project's goal is to be a central, crowdsourced resource for complete and up-to-date Android content and tutorials.

The README says the authors write about the things they use every day while developing apps, rather than theory from a textbook.

  • Defining the ActionBar
  • Creating and Using Fragments
  • Android Testing Options
  • Flexible User Interfaces

How do you open the guides?

The guides are read online. The README links to the wiki's getting-started page as the entry point. The project homepage is guides.codepath.com. No install is listed and no install commands are given in the source.

To start, open the wiki getting-started link from the README, then pick the topic that matches your question.

  • Open the getting-started page on the project wiki.
  • Browse by topic, for example fragments or testing.
  • Use the Needs Attention mark to spot guides the maintainers flag as needing work.

How do you get help and report problems?

For questions about the guides, the README points to a Google Groups forum created for them. To report outdated content or a missing topic, check the repository's issues page before opening a new one. The README links to a master missing-topics list.

If you like the project, the README also invites you to follow CodePath on Twitter.

  • Ask questions in the Google Groups forum linked in the README.
  • Search the repository issues before adding a new one.
  • Check the missing-topics issue for guides still to be written.

How can you contribute to the guides?

The README lists three easy ways to help: update outdated guides, fill out stub guides, and create new topic guides. Read the contribution guidelines first, as the README asks.

Contributing does not require a special setup described in the source. The contribution guidelines on the wiki are the place to start.

  • Update Guides: review existing content, add tips, or update images.
  • Fill Out Guides: complete pages that are stubs.
  • Create New Guides: write guides from the missing-topics list.
  • Read the Contributing Guidelines on the wiki before you start.

Is android_guides a course or a library?

It is neither. The README describes topic-based guides, not a structured curriculum with exercises, and the project is documentation only, not a code library or framework you install.

The README also mentions CodePath's local meetups, workshops and a free 8-week Android bootcamp for experienced engineers, which are separate from the guides themselves.

What people use it for

  • A beginner learning how fragments fit into an Android screen.
  • An intermediate developer looking up how to add an ActionBar.
  • A developer checking whether an older technique is still recommended.
  • A developer reviewing testing options before starting a project.
  • A volunteer updating an outdated guide or filling in a stub.

Frequently asked questions

Is android_guides free?

Yes. The project is open source under the MIT licence, and the guides are free to read online. The source does not list any paid tier.

Do I need to install anything to use android_guides?

No. The source lists the install method as read-online, with no prerequisites and no install commands. You use it in a web browser.

Is android_guides a course with exercises?

No. The README describes topic-based guides rather than a curriculum, so it does not include structured exercises.

How is android_guides different from the official Android developer documentation?

The README says the guides focus on practical things the authors use day to day, and they are community-maintained. The official Android Developers documentation is listed as a comparable project in the source, so compare both for the topic you need.

Are the guides up to date?

The README states the goal is to stay current, and it asks contributors to update outdated content. Check the Needs Attention mark on guides and verify against current platform documentation before relying on a technique.

How do I contribute to android_guides?

Read the contribution guidelines on the wiki, then update outdated guides, fill out stubs, or create new guides from the missing-topics list. Search the repository issues first.

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Our verdict

Use android_guides if you want free, topic-based written guides for Android, whether you are a beginner reading step by step or an intermediate developer looking up fragments or testing. Pick something else if you want a structured course with exercises, a library to install, or guidance for non-Android platforms.

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