[Q] Make an android launcher?

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ConzSouL

New member
Aug 21, 2011
3
0
im wanting to make my own launcher for android, such as an homescreen replacement. Ive never developed for android but im hopeing to start here. As im sick of the plain boring homescreen for android, i wanted to make my own styled launcher which I may even allow a free download if its worth it.

Thanks guys!
 

jambamkin

Senior Member
Jun 22, 2010
435
67
Edinburgh
The developer of launcher pro (fede) is the only person I've heard of to attempt to write a launcher from scratch and he's been working on his over 6 months now (with no release)

I'm no expert but if you want to code start with a simpler project. If you want to customise your launcher then learn to theme. Choose adw or lpp; or miui seems to have a simple theme structure if you are lucky enough to have a supported phone.

No trying to be discouraging, go ahead and prove me wrong :)

Sent from my DHD
 
Last edited:

windwarrior

Senior Member
Jan 21, 2011
177
18
Isla de Margarita
i want to make my own launcher too...

but so far haven't found any kind of guide of the process... i know that a launcher is just another app, but how do you tell android to count that app as a launcher?

if someone could point me in the right direction, i would really apreciate it :D
 

sociallymellow

Senior Member
Dec 10, 2011
63
31
Valparaiso
mellowdev.net
How to make a launcher.

Hey, first post here, but to get started make sure you have the correct development environment. I recommend Eclipse because it is multi-platform. To actually make the launcher I would recommend to download the android sample launcher on developers.android.com

If you would like more help please contact me directly.
 
Last edited:

stoff_1980

Senior Member
Oct 20, 2011
90
26
i want to make my own launcher too...

but so far haven't found any kind of guide of the process... i know that a launcher is just another app, but how do you tell android to count that app as a launcher?

if someone could point me in the right direction, i would really apreciate it :D

you need to add a few lines to the manifest:
Code:
<activity
 android:label="@string/app_name"
 android:name=".ClassNameOfYourLauncher">
    <intent-filter >
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
    </intent-filter>
    <intent-filter >
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    </intent-filter>
</activity>

Also you should, if you haven't already, check out what google say about it here.
 
Last edited:
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russian392

Senior Member
Apr 30, 2012
989
192
Simpsonville, SC
ok

so if you want to know how to make a launcher, you cant just find a tutorial, because most people make it from scratch.

yes, the launcher is just another app, with a transparent background (that way you can see the wallpaper), and it reacts to the home button.

but how does it work, well, if you are smart, you are using eclipse, right. well now, get hold of a launchers .apk, such as using android assistant to back up go launcher ex as an apk and then transfering it to your pc, and then importing it to eclipse. that way you can look at the code and attempt to use bits of the code for what you need, but as far as graphics are conserned, you would need to use photoshop and set the workspace to "your screen hight x width", and then working from their.
 
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windwarrior

Senior Member
Jan 21, 2011
177
18
Isla de Margarita
thanks

What I wanted is to make an app that would act as a launcher but won't necessarily give access to the app list or something else. I have the app already, I just need to make android use it as a launcher.

About opening another launcher and extract its code, well, that's a way, but I think there should be a guide explaining where is difference in the code between a regular app and a launcher app

Sent from my LG-P500 using xda app-developers app
 

russian392

Senior Member
Apr 30, 2012
989
192
Simpsonville, SC
weel you don't look at the differences, you look at the similarities of several launcher, what do they have in common, tgey obviously use a similar code for the home button action. I my self am doing this for a highschool project.

Sent from my LG-P500 using xda app-developers app
 

russian392

Senior Member
Apr 30, 2012
989
192
Simpsonville, SC
you need to add a few lines to the manifest:
Code:
<activity
 android:label="@string/app_name"
 android:name=".ClassNameOfYourLauncher">
    <intent-filter >
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
    </intent-filter>
    <intent-filter >
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    </intent-filter>
</activity>

Also you should, if you haven't already, check out what google say about it here.

Um. is that the code that makes android OS recognize the app as a launcher
 
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DRNv0

New member
Sep 6, 2012
4
1
Meycauayan
Thanks

you need to add a few lines to the manifest:
Code:
<activity
 android:label="@string/app_name"
 android:name=".ClassNameOfYourLauncher">
    <intent-filter >
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
    </intent-filter>
    <intent-filter >
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    </intent-filter>
</activity>

Also you should, if you haven't already, check out what google say about it here

I really wanted to make my own launcher too (I'm a newbie btw and still can't hit the thanks button). Thanks to your post, I was able to get my hand on Google's sample home launcher.:good::good::good:
 
Last edited:
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russian392

Senior Member
Apr 30, 2012
989
192
Simpsonville, SC
OK, I for a fragment layout and trying to add an appdrawer to one of them and make the other one. Customizable. Thank god their is eclipse. My PC is acting weird, so I'm working on getting Ubuntu.

Visual description:
Windows phone style left/right swiping screens, vertical scrolling on each pane. Widgets and other stuff is on left pane and vertical 4 column app drawer is in the right pane.

Sent from my LG-P506 using xda premium
 

OpenMinded

Senior Member
Oct 26, 2006
892
69
OK, I for a fragment layout and trying to add an appdrawer to one of them and make the other one. Customizable. Thank god their is eclipse. My PC is acting weird, so I'm working on getting Ubuntu.

Visual description:
Windows phone style left/right swiping screens, vertical scrolling on each pane. Widgets and other stuff is on left pane and vertical 4 column app drawer is in the right pane.

Sent from my LG-P506 using xda premium

Using Ubuntu -> +1. I use it also, 13.04 beta is awesome.
I use Eclipse Juno.
Friend Google has an example :
http://developer.android.com/tools/samples/index.html
Check in your Android sdk dir under the Home folder.

Also, you can check the supplied launcher code:
https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Launcher2

good luck!
 

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  • 1
    i want to make my own launcher too...

    but so far haven't found any kind of guide of the process... i know that a launcher is just another app, but how do you tell android to count that app as a launcher?

    if someone could point me in the right direction, i would really apreciate it :D

    you need to add a few lines to the manifest:
    Code:
    <activity
     android:label="@string/app_name"
     android:name=".ClassNameOfYourLauncher">
        <intent-filter >
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
        <intent-filter >
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>

    Also you should, if you haven't already, check out what google say about it here.
    1
    ok

    so if you want to know how to make a launcher, you cant just find a tutorial, because most people make it from scratch.

    yes, the launcher is just another app, with a transparent background (that way you can see the wallpaper), and it reacts to the home button.

    but how does it work, well, if you are smart, you are using eclipse, right. well now, get hold of a launchers .apk, such as using android assistant to back up go launcher ex as an apk and then transfering it to your pc, and then importing it to eclipse. that way you can look at the code and attempt to use bits of the code for what you need, but as far as graphics are conserned, you would need to use photoshop and set the workspace to "your screen hight x width", and then working from their.
    1
    you need to add a few lines to the manifest:
    Code:
    <activity
     android:label="@string/app_name"
     android:name=".ClassNameOfYourLauncher">
        <intent-filter >
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
        <intent-filter >
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>

    Also you should, if you haven't already, check out what google say about it here.

    Um. is that the code that makes android OS recognize the app as a launcher
    1
    Thanks

    you need to add a few lines to the manifest:
    Code:
    <activity
     android:label="@string/app_name"
     android:name=".ClassNameOfYourLauncher">
        <intent-filter >
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
        <intent-filter >
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>

    Also you should, if you haven't already, check out what google say about it here

    I really wanted to make my own launcher too (I'm a newbie btw and still can't hit the thanks button). Thanks to your post, I was able to get my hand on Google's sample home launcher.:good::good::good: