MIT App Inventor Explorer

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What is App Inventor and what can you do with it?


Description of the App Inventor service

MIT App Inventor is a system that allows you to develop Android apps very easily by just using your web browser. If you have an Android powered device you can have your apps running on it in no time. If you don't have a device you can also use the emulator provided with the software.

For more information on how the system works please have a look at the description page.

To see what the app inventor can do, and how easy it is to work with it, have a look at this video:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/8ADwPLSFeY8

For an introduction on how easy it is to work with App Inventor have a look at the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/nC_x9iOby0g

In the next task we will go through how to set up your computer to get started with the system, but first, to finish this task please leave a comment about your impressions of the App Inventor and what you are going to use it for.

Task Discussion


  • ireneantper said:

    I can't wait to use this. I hope it gives me an idea of the difficulty and possibilities of programming for android devices.

    on May 6, 2013, 3:49 p.m.

  • kycaver said:

    Very interesting. It reminds me of the Scratch environment.

    on April 24, 2013, 9:24 p.m.

  • @ffarry1 said:

    Looks great!

    on March 27, 2013, 2:20 p.m.

  • Daniel Mascarenhas said:

    Very interesting!

    on March 5, 2013, 8:07 p.m.

  • Jose A. said:

    Seems interesting.

    on Feb. 28, 2013, 11:40 a.m.

  • SkilledTree said:

    Looks promising! :D

    on Feb. 1, 2013, 9:52 p.m.

  • kingman said:

    It's a easy to use tools for the beginner of Android development.

    on Jan. 31, 2013, 7:07 a.m.

  • Leonie McGlashan said:

    Not quite sure exactly how my disparate ideas will coalesce, but interested in trying. Definitely nothing to do with cats!

    on Jan. 23, 2013, 5:12 a.m.

  • Ms. B. said:

    Going to work with a group of girls to build an app.  We've had trouble in the past getting the emulator to work.  I'm really hopeful this course gets us through it!

    on Dec. 31, 2012, 2:02 p.m.

  • hastonian said:

    I am very excited.  At the end, I'll let you all know what an old programmer thinks ...

    on Dec. 30, 2012, 10:01 p.m.

  • louisd said:

    Just starting the App Inventor Challange. I think I am starting to get the relationship between the block editor and the online window.

    on Dec. 29, 2012, 1:17 p.m.

  • Tialis said:

    Cool! I have some minor experience with android and this tool can probably create the 90% of apps I have been thinking...

    By the way, dead link: http://teach.appinventor.mit.edu/what-is-app-inventor

    on Dec. 12, 2012, 6:01 a.m.

    Shay P said:

    Tialis, Can you tell me where you found this link? I can't find it where it is on the site. Shay On Wed, Dec 12, 2012 at 6:01 AM, tialis <
    on Dec. 12, 2012, 9:43 p.m. in reply to Tialis

    Tialis said:

    Oh sorry, "For more information on how the system works please have a look at the description page."

    on Dec. 13, 2012, 5:37 a.m. in reply to Shay P

    Jos said:

    Tialis, thanks for reporting the link! :)

    Shay, it was in this very page; fixed now.

    on Dec. 13, 2012, 5:49 a.m. in reply to Tialis

    Tialis said:

    Thank you all for keeping this cool course and app!

    on Dec. 13, 2012, 6:13 a.m. in reply to Jos

  • Jacqualyn Blizzard said:

    Looks very user-friendly. I'll be using this in an engineering class I'm teaching. My girls will design apps for the Technovation Challenge that solve a local (Denver) problem!

    on Nov. 30, 2012, 3:14 p.m.

  • Marcelo Higonet said:

    Great, looks easier than Eclipse. I´ll do math applications for optometrists.

    on Nov. 26, 2012, 1:40 p.m.

  • jsfllc said:

    Wow! This looks great. I've got some great ideas for some apps.

    on Nov. 20, 2012, 7:57 p.m.

  • Olga said:

    Looks really nice and easy! Will use it for crafty apps... not sure yet! 

    on Nov. 20, 2012, 10:56 a.m.

  • mediaui said:

    Developing easy-to-follow... Thanks

    on Oct. 22, 2012, 3:03 p.m.

  • Anonops said:

    This is a very interesting class. I think it is suitable even for beginners.

    on Oct. 7, 2012, 3:35 p.m.

  • thadeusw said:

    great aplication!!!!

    im gonna take this to develop an app usefull for mi Fire Dept. (Im Fireman in Venezuela)

    on Oct. 5, 2012, 4:54 p.m.

  • johnRedden said:

    Looks easy... I want to use this system for two things:

    1. Make a sound board application.
    2. Teach my 10 year old son pre-programming skills.
    on Sept. 26, 2012, 1:12 p.m.