Android Digest September 2017

In our September Android digest we highlight useful libraries for working with maps, eliminating boilerplate code, parsing JSON data into Java objects, and building flexible layouts for various screens.

MapMe

MapMe is an Android library for working with Maps. MapMe brings the adapter pattern to Maps, simplifying the management of markers and annotations.

This library supports both Google Maps and Mapbox.

When to use:

When you have to dynamically show a lot of markers.

LiteUtilities

This is a library written in Kotlin that helps to eliminate boilerplate code. Currently, LiteUtilities offers:

RecyclerUtils — Eliminates the need to make an adapter every time; set up the recycler adapter in as few as four lines.

ScrollUtils — Easily hide/show FloationActionButton on scroll when using RecyclerView or NestedScrollView.

ToastUtils — Create toasts in just a few clicks.

SPUtils — Simple DSL for shared preferences.

ValidatorUtils — Fast and simple text validation.

LogUtils — Simple and easy Android logging.

When to use:

When you need to develop any app.

Moshi

Moshi is a modern JSON library for Android and Java that parses JSON objects into Java objects. Moshi uses the same streaming and binding mechanisms as Gson. If you’re a Gson user, you’ll find Moshi works similarly. And if you try Moshi and don’t love it, you can effortlessly migrate to Gson.

When to use:

Whenever you need to parse JSON data.

FlexboxLayout

FlexboxLayout is a library project that brings capabilities similar to CSS Flexible Box Layout Module to Android. This is a very useful library specifically for Android because of how fragmented the platform is.

When to use:

When you need to build flexible layouts for various screens.

This post was initially published at Yalantis website.