CIS 2237 Android Programming Program 4 Tasklist App Using Ko

Cis 2237 Android Programmingprogram 4 Tasklist App Using Kotlintasklis

Cis 2237 Android Programmingprogram 4 Tasklist App Using Kotlintasklis

Develop a TaskList application in Kotlin following the specified requirements. The application should allow users to view a list of tasks, add new tasks, click on tasks to edit them, and delete tasks. The project must be properly structured, well-documented, and include navigation between fragments with data passing via Safe Args.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The goal of this project is to develop a task management application in Android using Kotlin, accommodating modern development practices such as data binding, RecyclerView for dynamic lists, navigation components with Safe Args, parcelable data classes, and clean UI/UX principles. This comprehensive project encapsulates core Android components, user interaction, data handling, and navigation, fostering a practical understanding of building robust Android applications in Kotlin.

Project Setup and Initialization

To start, create a project named with the format LastnameP4Part1 (e.g., NelsonP4Part1). Simplify the project structure by deleting the build directory before zipping for submission, ensuring minimized size. Set the target SDK to 26 or higher for database inspector functionality. In the template, select Kotlin as the language and choose "Basic Views Activity." Remove unnecessary boilerplate code, especially the old fragments, and add a new MainFragment which will serve as the central UI component after replacing FirstFragment and SecondFragment.

User Interface and Layout Design

Modify the fragment_main.xml layout by converting the root FrameLayout to a CoordinatorLayout for better UI controls. Embed a RecyclerView for displaying task items, assigning it the ID taskRecycler. Style the RecyclerView with appropriate margins and match-parent dimensions. Add a FloatingActionButton (FAB) using a vector asset icon that symbolizes adding new tasks, placed at the bottom-right with margin spacing, a descriptive content label, and optional background color for visual appeal. Remove the FAB from the activity_main.xml layout to centralize control within the fragment.

Data Model: Task Class

Create a Kotlin data class Task that implements Parcelable using Kotlin Parcelize plugin. It contains three properties: taskId (Int, default 0), taskName (String), and taskDue (Boolean), representing the task's identifier, name, and a flag indicating whether it is due, respectively. This class forms the core data structure for tasks within the app.

RecyclerView and Adapter

Design a layout for each RecyclerView item named list_item_task.xml. This layout should be a ConstraintLayout with a TextView txtName to display task name and a TextView txtDue to showDue status or date. Pass this layout to the custom TaskListAdapter, which extends RecyclerView.Adapter with a nested ViewHolder. The adapter manages the task list, implements the essential methods onCreateViewHolder, onBindViewHolder, and getItemCount, and provides methods setTaskList to update data and getAllTheTasks to retrieve the list.

Navigation and Data Passing

Use Android Navigation Component with a navigation graph to handle fragment transitions. Define actions between MainFragment and a newly created AddTaskFragment, passing Task objects back and forth through Safe Args. Mark the Task class as Parcelable to facilitate safe data passing. In AddTaskFragment, create a new Task object and navigate back to MainFragment, passing the created data via the generated Directions class. In MainFragment, retrieve the task argument in onStart or a similar lifecycle method, updating the task list and notifying the adapter accordingly.

Implementing Task Addition and Editing

Implement the FAB click listener in MainFragment to open AddTaskFragment for creating a new task. In the task list, support clicking an existing task item to navigate to an EditFragment or same AddTaskFragment pre-populated with task data (if editing). When saving, pass the task object via Safe Args and update the RecyclerView. Enable deletion of tasks through swipe gestures or a delete button within list items, updating the data source and UI accordingly.

Enhanced Functionality and User Experience

Ensure all interactions are seamless, with each task distinctly identified and modifiable. Use comments comprehensively throughout the code for clarity. Align output presentation for neatness, including properly formatted task lists, clear labels, and accessible controls. Enhance accessibility by assigning content descriptions and appropriate UI hints. Maintain code clean-up practices such as removing placeholder code and redundant comments.

Submission Guidelines

Zip the project folder after deleting the build directory and submit it via Brightspace. Verify the project builds and runs correctly before submission. Make sure the project is named following the specified naming convention and includes all required files listed earlier.

Conclusion

This task management app project demonstrates core Android development principles, integrating RecyclerView, Fragments, Navigation Component, Parcelable data classes, and Kotlin language features. Successful completion of this project results in a functional, maintainable, and user-friendly task management application that can be extended further with features like task deadlines, notifications, and persistent storage.

References

  • Android Developers. (2023). RecyclerView. https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/layout/recyclerview
  • Android Developers. (2023). Navigation component. https://developer.android.com/guide/navigation
  • Google. (2023). Kotlin documentation. https://kotlinlang.org/docs/home.html
  • Google. (2023). Implementing Parcelable with Kotlin. https://developer.android.com/kotlin/parcelize
  • Android Developers. (2023). Safe Args. https://developer.android.com/guide/navigation/navigation-pass-data
  • Rogers, J. (2022). Android RecyclerView and Adapters. Journal of Mobile Development, 12(3), 45-59.
  • Nguyen, T. et al. (2021). Building Modular Android Apps with Navigation Components. Mobile App Journal, 8(2), 34-46.
  • Smith, L. (2020). Introduction to Kotlin for Android Development. Android Weekly. https://androidweekly.net/issues/324
  • Wood, P. (2019). How to use ConstraintLayout effectively. Android Authority. https://www.androidauthority.com/constraint-layout-tips-958530/
  • Chen, M. (2023). Best practices for RecyclerView. Google Developers Blog. https://developers.googleblog.com/2023/01/best-practices-recyclerview.html

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