Android app development with Kotlin: beginner’s guide to publishing

A step-by-step beginner guide from setting up Android Studio to releasing an app on Google Play.

This walkthrough helps beginners create and publish an Android app with Kotlin.

Setup

1. Install Android Studio.
2. Create a new project with a basic activity.
3. Run on an emulator or device to confirm the environment.

Build a simple app

• Design screens with Compose or XML.
• Add navigation, forms, and simple state handling.
• Call an API and display results in a list.

Testing

• Unit tests for business logic.
• Instrumentation/UI tests for flows.
• Enable CI to catch regressions.

Prepare for release

• Set app name, icon, and package ID.
• Configure signing keys.
• Optimize size with shrinker/minify.
• Add privacy policy and required declarations.

Publish to Google Play

1. Create a developer account and fill in store listing.
2. Upload an App Bundle (AAB).
3. Complete content rating and target audience.
4. Submit for review and roll out.

With Kotlin and modern tooling, even first-time developers can launch on Google Play smoothly.