There could be various accounts. However, it is essential to understand the framework applied to the target device. It is evident that programmers who comprehend well the working principles of OS as MS Window or Linux or web programmers with a deep understanding of the operating principles of web browsers get great respect as high rank developers.

In this sense, it would be necessary to gain the knowledge of operating principles of the framework to advance to the high-rank developers. Similarly, it also applies for the Android developers. However, you would find it difficult to get sufficient resources of operating rules employed by the Android framework from the Internet or bookstores. Google does not yet provide comprehensive explanations, excepting some of the materials issued at the yearly Google I/O, an event of developers.

At present, the only way to grasp the operating principles of the Android framework is to closely examine the actual source codes of the Android. Accordingly, we are determined to analyze the source codes of the Android since there was not enough data to research this project. We had difficulty, not knowing where to start amongst a considerable amount of source codes.
We have had the fortune to get a direction from the presentation titled, 'Anatomy & Physiology of an Android' at a session of the Google I/O in 2008. (http://sites.google.com/site/io/anatomy--physiology-of-an-android) We have come to grasp a better picture of their analysis of the Android framework from the presentation which detailed information including the initialization process of the Android framework. (http://sites.google.com/site/io/anatomy--physiology-of-an-android)

As we started writing this book, the analytical focus was on the 1.5 version of the Android. Shortly after, the 2.2 version of the Android (code name, Froyo) was launched as the writing was being finalized. The book, of course, is written based on the 2.2 version of the Android. In addition, the fact of how late the version itself is should not be a concern since there has not been many changes in the source codes of the Android. Even if the newest 3. 0 version of the Android (code name, Gingerbread) is expected to launch in the second half of the year 2010, what this book delivers would still be much effective and practical.

Lastly, the book is a good guide to understand the operating principles of the inside of the framework rather than a full insight into the overwhelming amount of details associated with the Android framework. Equipped with the content of this book, the readers would achieve what they initially planned once they get started on analyzing the source codes of the Android required in an actual job setting.

The first reference for analysis of the Android Framework in Korea

This book is a breakthrough for developers with a great curiosity of the framework of the Android. It is comparatively easy to find resources regarding application development using SDK. Nonetheless, it is hard to find a good reference dealing with the architect and the operating principles of the Android framework. Even its service developer, Google, has not yet opened the concrete reference which gives rich information of the framework of the Android.

The book "Inside Android" mainly covers the initialization process of the framework through the booting procedure of the Android and operating principles of major components. The authors have analyzed and organized the main source codes of the Android Framework In addition, they have elaborated on the fundamentals needed to understand activities of the framework and service framework underlying the actual Android platform.
This book is the result of a journal timely recorded by some of the pioneers who are eager to deepen their understanding of the Android framework. They were willing to explore the Android framework that has not been much revealed. They took the trouble to learn the source codes by open lectures hall, looking at projectors in a dark room. The authors would like to share the exhilarating moment of joy felt upon discovering their findings regarding source codes that Google has concealed from the public.

It is possible to develop Android applications without a genuine understanding of the framework. However, it would be much confident in designing the optimized software for the Android framework, if developers knew the architect of the framework and its employed operating rules. Accordingly, they would end up being very competitive developers under any circumstance.
Further, each hardware vendor strives to be distinguished among competitors with the customized products for the Android framework since the Android is an open source platform. Thus, it is imperative that each handset manufacture precisely examine the Android framework in depth in an attempt to establish an outstanding solution based on the Android framework which differentiates it from other vendors.

『Inside Android 』addresses the framework of the Android in depth through examining the source codes of the Android system. It is strongly recommended for those developers hoping to have insights into the Android and for those hoping to create an optimized solution specifically for the Android.

Contents

• "An outline of the Android framework by looking into the booting process"
• "Fundamentals for developing programs suitable to the features of each mobile handset and for Android porting"
• "The basics of the analysis of the Android framework ?JNI (Java Native Interface) and Binder"
• "Analysis of the core components of Android as Zygote, service manager and service server"
• "Understanding the service framework of Android and its structure"
• "Analysis of the actual Android service by exemplifying camera service and activity manager service...etc"

Virtue of this book

• This is about the Android platform which has gained great attention these days.
  
• It's already been validated as one of the bestselling IT publications in Korea.
  
• Up to date, it has not been published under the same category in Japan, China or the United States.
  

About the authors

Edward T. Kim
He was Software Engineer at LG Electronics, where he was a member of the team that built Android devices which are LU-2300 and SU-950. Edward received the BS and MS degrees in software engineering from the Pusan National University, Korea, in 2007 and 2009, respectively.
He is currently working toward the PhD degree in Object Oriented System lab. at the same university. His research interests include Android, object oriented systems, compatibility testing, relational database.