The Android Opportunity
Android dominates global smartphone market share, running on devices from budget phones to flagship Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices. With over 3 billion active devices, Android offers unparalleled reach for mobile applications.
Native Android development uses Kotlin (Google official preferred language) or Java, with modern UI built using Jetpack Compose or the traditional View system. This approach provides maximum performance and complete platform API access.
Cross-platform development using React Native or Flutter allows Android development alongside iOS from shared code. For many applications, this provides excellent Android quality with significantly reduced development effort.
Fastshot generates React Native code that compiles to native Android applications. The result is indistinguishable from native apps to users and distributable through the Google Play Store.
Android Development Approaches
| Aspect | Native Kotlin | React Native | Flutter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Kotlin/Java | JavaScript/TypeScript | Dart |
| IDE | Android Studio | VS Code, others | VS Code, Android Studio |
| Android API access | Complete | Most via modules | Most via plugins |
| UI framework | Jetpack Compose/Views | Native components | Custom rendering |
| iOS version | Separate project | Same codebase | Same codebase |
| Hot reload | Limited | Full support | Full support |
Publishing to Google Play Store
Create Developer Account
Register for a Google Play Developer account ($25 one-time fee). This provides access to the Google Play Console for app management and distribution.
Prepare Your App Listing
Create your app in Play Console. Write descriptions, choose categories, upload screenshots and feature graphics. Prepare privacy policy if your app collects data.
Configure App Signing
Set up app signing with Google Play App Signing (recommended) or manage your own keys. This secures your app updates and protects against tampering.
Build Release APK/AAB
Generate a signed Android App Bundle (AAB, preferred) or APK for release. With Fastshot, cloud builds handle this automatically.
Submit for Review
Upload your build to Play Console and submit for review. Google reviews for policy compliance, typically completing within hours to a few days.
Monitor and Update
After launch, monitor crash reports, user reviews, and performance metrics in Play Console. Plan regular updates to address feedback and add features.
Android Development Considerations
Device Fragmentation
Android runs on thousands of device models with varying screen sizes, hardware capabilities, and OS versions. Test on multiple devices or use Firebase Test Lab.
Material Design
Google Material Design guidelines define Android visual language. Following Material Design ensures your app feels native and familiar to Android users.
OS Version Support
Decide which Android versions to support. Targeting Android 7+ covers approximately 95% of active devices. Older versions limit available APIs.
Background Processing
Android restricts background execution to preserve battery. Use WorkManager for deferred tasks and understand Doze mode implications.
Android Development FAQ
About the Author
Elvira Dzhuraeva is an expert in AI mobile app development and React Native. A former Senior Product Manager at Google specializing in AI/ML and Generative AI, she is the Founder of Fastshot (YC-backed) and a founding contributor to Kubeflow.