What build target and min SDK version should you choose?

Question

Hey, I'm building just a basic app with text, urls, pictures, and some buttons. When you create a new project what build version do you usually choose? The highest, 2.2? And also what min SDK version do you choose? Also 2.2? or the lowest one possible?

I'm a little confused by what would be best for all customers

-Thanks!

Answer 1

You should choose what you want to support.

If you want the latest API features, choose 2.2 (or soon 2.3). But if you want to include all possible phones, you need to go as low as 1.5 for the min target. The catch is that if they are using a 1.5 device you have avoid making API calls that only exist in a later version of Android.

Answer 2

It just depends on what you want to do. If you want to support multiple Android versions then do what Falmarri said. Select the lowest API version you want to support for minSDK and choose the API version you are targeting for the buildTarget.

However you have to keep in mind that you might have to handle certain stuff in a different way for different API versions which might require if-else blocks checking for the API version. It is nothing hard to do nor something magic just keep it in mind and check the reference page on the classes and methods you use.