A few years ago Google launched a project called App Inventor that makes it possible for anyone to build simple Android apps without learning how to write in programming language. But while the project proved popular with educators it didn’t really catch on with the public and Google announced last summer that it was pulling the plug.
Then MIT stepped in and announced that it would take over the project and keep it alive as an open source project.
Now the folks at the MIT Center for Mobile Learning have released an open beta preview of the resurrected App Inventor.
The group is hoping to see App Inventor used in classroom settings, but it’s open for anyone to try.
While App Inventor makes it possible to create Android software using a drag-and-drop user interface, you do still need to think a bit like a programmer in order to use the available tools to make a useful app.
The MIT beta version of App Inventor is also still a little rough around the edges. Among other things, it’s currently unable to open some larger projects that were created using the discontinued Google version of the tool.
There’s an online course that teaches newbies how to use App Inventor, and I was wondering if anyone reading this has checked it out at all?
Here’s the site: http://androidapptraining.com
I’m stoked about learning this software, so your input is greatly appreciated.