When developing Android apps, software architecture should be followed to ensure that the apps function properly and smoothly. The elements of such a process build on one another so it’s important to have an understanding of how each works as well as choosing the best tools. One of the biggest corporations in the world, Google, has created a basic architecture to help developers go about making incredible apps.

The main basic characteristics of a good software architecture include:

  • Flexibility
  • Maintainability
  • Simplicity

Flexibility

The tech industry as a whole is always evolving just as the elements of apps change. An app’s architecture should be able to handle additional data and features while still functioning. As more features and data are added, file sizes become bigger. The app becomes heavy and can slow down. This is why flexibility is so important.

Maintainability

An app’s maintainability is attributed to influences from the world (i.e. communities of developers, libraries, bugs and glitches, etc). All apps should, to some degree, be able to function without much of those influences. Maintainability helps an app run as independently as possible without sacrificing quality.

Simplicity

It’s more difficult to work with apps that are complex in nature. Simplifying the process at any turn will make developing and using an app easier. More data can equal slower performance or poor user experiences, which in turn could have been avoided by utilizing tools to combat those issues.

Tools to Use for Excellent App Development

As a part of Google’s recommended architecture, several different tools and software are praised for their effectiveness, among other things. There are also certain elements Google thinks apps should have. Some of these are:

  • Model-View-Controller (MVC)
  • Model-View-Presenter (MVP)
  • Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM)
  • Model-View-Intent (MVI)

Those tools are considered significant in one way or another. They have benefits to an app and are used in a unique way because they each handle data differently.

The Official Architecture Recommended by Google

Out of the tools previously mentioned, Google suggests basing an architecture around the Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) structure. Keeping that in mind, here is the official architecture recommended by Google:

  • Jetpack

Created by Google, Jetpack is specifically used for Android app development. It utilizes libraries to help developers decrease the need for writing the code for tools they want to use.

  • UI Layer

The UI layer here consists of several tools as a part of this successful architecture. There is a ViewModel (1st cache layer), LiveData, Repository (2nd cache layer), and a database, network, and network-bound resource.

Benefits of Google’s Recommended Architecture

By using this software architecture, developers can create apps that are flexible with adding and changing data, keep up with software updates, are compatible on various devices or through different platforms, and run smoothly.

One thing Google doesn’t mention in its architecture is a dependency injection, which can be extremely useful. Jetpack does contain a tool called Dagger, but it can be complicated to get the hang of. If a developer decides to use dependency injection, there are a few options to choose from:

  • Koin
  • Kodein
  • Toothpick

Of course, the developer should ultimately use his or her knowledge to figure out what is or is not needed. Even a recommendation by Google shouldn’t solely determine what tools and software are used for a project.