Most Android tutorials stop at "it runs on the emulator." But getting an app from a blank project to a listing that real people can install from Google Play involves a second half that's rarely discussed in one place: release builds, signing keys, app bundles, store listings, policy forms, and a mandatory testing period for new developer accounts.

Android development has also changed a lot in the last few years. Jetpack Compose is now the default UI toolkit, XML layouts are legacy, Kotlin is the only language the official templates use, and Google Play has tightened its requirements for new developers.

Older guides that start with findViewById or end with uploading an APK no longer match how things work.

This handbook walks through the whole path.…