“Build a UI layout by writing type-safe Scala code and wire your logic into the layout.”
Scaloid is an open-source library that enables Scala developers to create Android apps without having to migrate to Java. Scaloid takes full advantage of many of Scala’s features, such as the efficient way of creating Domain Specific Languages (DSLs), implicit conversions, pattern matching, and type safety. Scaloid proposes a novel method of developing Android apps, which is worth a second look. In this lead article of a two-part series on Scaloid, I explain some of its most interesting features.
Simplifying Android Code with Scala Features
Scaloid focuses on simplifying and reducing the required Android code as much as possible while taking advantage of type safety. You can make incremental use of many Scaloid features in your Android projects because you can mix Scala and Scaloid with Java and the Android API.
Think of Scaloid as a library that provides shortcuts to tasks that usually require a large amount of code. Scaloid replaces the XML layout description required by the Android SDK as well as the Java code that specifies the logic with a single piece of Scaloid code that uses a Scala DSL. In this way, you can build a UI layout by writing type-safe Scala code and wire your logic into the layout. However, you will use Scaloid to access widgets defined in XML layouts, so you can continue working with XML layouts if you don’t want to make a big paradigm shift in your Android development process.
