UKC

I would like to write a simple Android app and am not sure where to start, so I thought I would ask UKC for pointers.

I want the app to retrieve a single data value from a website, say the temperature in Arbroath or the oil price, and show this data around the app icon (so you don't have to open it).

I am computer literate, lots of languages under my belt. As yet no Java, which is one of the reasons for doing this.

I have other questions, but my ignorance is so great, I don't really know what they are.

Where should I look first for the "how to"?

lsn

ps, I cannot access my UKC linked email, so don't pm me as I will not get it.

In reply to lowersharpnose:

Best starting point is probably here.
http://developer.android.com/training/index.html

Either go for eclipse with the android plugins or the new(ish) android studio which will allow you to build and test locally on the pc.
Sounds like your specific idea will need a widget.

In reply to dissonance:

Thanks. It does look like I need a widget not an app.

In reply to lowersharpnose:

I've been tinkering with MIT's appInventor for the last week, and though it seems fairly useless for the ideas i had it may work just fine for you.

It's free, browser based, can be used straight away, and has a real time emulator to check what you do (which didn't work for me...) No coding needed, but an understanding of logic functions is definitely helpful.