Recommended Minimum Android App SDK

Question

I am making an android app, and am wondering what the industry\'s thoughts are on supporting older android versions like GingerBread and FroYo. Should a developer like me take t

Answer 1

I'm a developer myself. I would look into this from multiple point of view and I would use several factors to begin a project with a particular sdk as minimum.

Beside the chart, that Google is kind enough to publish, which is really helpful and informative and i believe it represents devices around the world.

These are the factors I would take under consideration:

1. What's my app all about? What kind of people and what kind of age range would attract. Young people tend to keep their gadgets up-to-date.

2. In which country I'm going to release my app? Not all countries have the same mainstream when it comes to technology.

3. Does the minimum sdk affects the time or the resources that are going to be used in the app? If having a high sdk as minimum is inversely proportional with the time and the struggle my developers would face in order to make everything compatible, then I would choose a higher sdk, even if I have to exclude a small proportion of users. Let's face it, this is 2016. Technology is running faster than light. Releasing early really matters. In the other hand, if it really doesn't affect that much, then just choose a version that covers most devices.

4. Security matters as well. Everyday new issues are being patched. Newer version is more secure.

5. If the idea is powerful, than I would choose as higher as I could. People will follow. Is the truth.

6. Many functionalities are being deprecated. And usually in older versions. Upgrading from those can be hell.

Can't think of anything else. But if you want my opinion, I would choose API 19 as minimum.

Cheers.