How to make a launcher

Question

I have been developing for quite some time, and now I'm trying to create an application that will replace the original home (for example, HTC).

I need to open the application when the user presses the home button on his phone.

So basically it's a replacement for the house.

Does anyone know how to do this?

Answer 1

Just create a regular application, and then add a couple of lines to the application manifest file.

First you need to add the following attribute to your activity:

android:launchMode="singleTask" 

Then add two categories to the intent filter:

  <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" /> <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" /> 

The result might look something like this:

  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" package="com.dummy.app" android:versionCode="1" android:versionName="1.0" > <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="11" android:targetSdkVersion="19" /> <application android:allowBackup="true" android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher" android:label="@string/app_name" android:theme="@style/AppTheme" > <activity android:name="com.dummy.app.MainActivity" android:launchMode="singleTask" android:label="@string/app_name" > <intent-filter> <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" /> <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" /> <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" /> <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" /> </intent-filter> </activity> </application> </manifest> 

It's simple!

Answer 2

You can check the source code of Launcher and Launcher2 , which is used in Android.

Answer 3

These are examples provided by the Android team, if you have already downloaded the samples, you can import the sample to replace the original screen by following these steps.

File> New> Other> Android> Android Sample Project> Android xx> Home> Done

But if you do not have uploaded samples, download them using the steps below.

Windows> Android SDK Manager> selects the "Sample for SDK" for the SDK you need> Install the package> Accept the license> Install

Answer 4

I found this quite useful. He described every step every step. You may want to follow this http://taywils.me/2011/07/05/buildanapplicationlauncherwithandroid/

Answer 5

Here's the source code for Launcher3 (AOSP launcher) used by KitKat (and probably candy):

https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Launcher3/+/master

If you see a new launcher from AOSP, just replace 3 with a URL with a newer version.