Android development is an exciting journey, but it’s easy to make mistakes—especially when you’re just starting out or working on a large project. Some mistakes can slow down development, lead to poor app performance, or even make your app crash. To help you build better apps, here’s a list of common mistakes Android developers should avoid.
Not Following Android Design Guidelines
Many developers ignore Android’s Material Design principles and end up with apps that look inconsistent or confusing. Following design guidelines helps ensure your app feels familiar and user-friendly. Stick to the standard UI/UX rules to improve your app’s appearance and usability.
Blocking the Main Thread
The main thread (also called the UI thread) should never be used for long operations like network calls or database queries. Doing so can freeze the app and lead to an “Application Not Responding” (ANR) error. Always use background threads, AsyncTask, or Coroutines for such tasks.
Hardcoding Values
Hardcoding strings, dimensions, or colors directly in the layout files or Java/Kotlin code can make your app difficult to maintain and localize. Instead, use resource files (strings.xml, colors.xml, dimens.xml) so changes are easy and your app is more flexible.
Ignoring Different Screen Sizes
Android runs on a wide range of devices with different screen sizes and resolutions. Failing to design responsive layouts can result in a broken UI. Use ConstraintLayout, dp/sp units, and preview your layouts on different screen sizes in Android Studio.
Not Handling Runtime Permissions Properly
Starting from Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), users must grant permissions at runtime. If you forget to request or check permissions properly, your app might crash. Always handle permissions using Android’s permission APIs and show users why the permission is needed.
Neglecting Memory Management
Improper memory management can lead to memory leaks and poor app performance. Avoid keeping references to Context or Activity in static variables. Use tools like LeakCanary to identify and fix memory leaks during development.
Skipping Unit and UI Testing
Testing is often overlooked, especially when developers are in a rush. Skipping unit tests and UI tests can result in more bugs reaching users. Even writing a few basic tests can help catch problems early and save time later.
Not Using ViewModel and LiveData
Relying only on Activities and Fragments to handle business logic and data can make your app harder to maintain. Instead, follow the MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel) architecture using ViewModel and LiveData to separate concerns and improve code organization.
Overusing Fragments
Fragments are useful, but they can add complexity if overused. Avoid nesting too many fragments or misusing fragment transactions. Keep your navigation and UI flow simple and clean.
Ignoring User Feedback and Analytics
Once your app is live, user feedback and crash reports are gold. Ignoring this data can result in a poor user experience. Use tools like Firebase Crashlytics, Google Analytics, and listen to user reviews to improve your app.
Final Thoughts
Every developer makes mistakes, but learning from them is what leads to growth. By avoiding these common pitfalls, you’ll create more reliable, user-friendly, and maintainable Android apps. Keep learning, testing, and improving—your users will thank you for it!