What is Android?

Android is an open source Software stack for mobile devices built upon the linux OS. It was developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance. It is the world's first mobile OS which exposes the framework level APIs in Java. All the applications are developed in Java for Android. Since, Java is an object oriented and simple to learn programming language, Google hopes more people will be interested to jump into the Android development bandwagon.

Below is the architecture of Android*.


All the boxes marked in blue are built in Java. The other down layers are in the native C/C++. The ones marked in red are part of the linux kernel. There is a JNI layer between the libraries and Java components to enable application development in Java. In Android there is no privileged APIs which only some companies can use. All APIs are open for all developers. This truly brings out the power of Android to the open.

Let us answer more basic questions on Android in future posts...

Welcome to Android :-)

* - Picture courtesy Google.