Week 3: Hello Purr App Reflection

For mobile app design class this week, we designed our first, very simple app for the Android platform. Using the lesson in the App Inventor: Create Your Own Android Apps textbook and the appinventor website, we developed a very simple app using an interactive design tool. It reminded me somewhat of learning HTML — starting small at the very basic levels — and also a WYSIWYG editor, using buttons to add components of the app. As long as I was following the instructions, I found the process to be very simple. The appinventor interface was made up of buttons and palettes, similar to other design desktop applications. I’m sure this process will get complicated quickly, but I was happy with my results so far. Plus, when I would test the app, it drove my cats nuts. They don’t like to hear other cats meow!