What version of Android should I develop for?

Question

How should I make the choice ? What are the parameters I should take into account ?

Solution 1

First of all you should take into account relative number of devices running a given version of the Android platform

Solution 2

Have a look at Android versions market share. I would develop for 1.6+. If you will realize in the middle of development that you want some API feature from newer version, you will have 3 choices:

1. Don't use that feature
2. Detect Android version from the app and then decide what to do
3. Change required Android version in your manifest file and project settings

Solution 3

The Oldest version that supports all the functionality your application requires.

For example: Your app needs multitouch? Target version 2.1

My application doesn't need any functionality introduced in newer versions, so I target 1.5

Solution 4

If possible, you should support the oldest Android version still in widespread use. That would be 1.5. If you need features from later versions, you might consider requiring newer versions, but if you can do your work on the oldest version still available, you should to increase the number of people who are able to use your app.

Solution 5

Personally, I develop everything for 2.1. There are only a handful of devices that still run <2.0 and most of those people have already put custom roms on them already. I know it kind of screws people with older phones, but I don't like the idea of crippling my app just to make it backwards compatible.

Also I feel like developing for >2.0 encourages people to upgrade their phones =P

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