How to make a launcher

Question

I have been developing for quite a time and I am now trying to make an app that will replace the original home (e.g. HTC sense).

I need the app to open when the the user hits the home button on their phone.

So basically it is a home replacement.

Does any one know how to go about this?

Answer 1

Just develop a normal app and then add a couple of lines to the app's manifest file.

First you need to add the following attribute to your activity:

            android:launchMode="singleTask"

Then add two categories to the intent filter :

            <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />

The result could look something like this:

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
    <manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
        package="com.dummy.app"
        android:versionCode="1"
        android:versionName="1.0" >

        <uses-sdk
            android:minSdkVersion="11"
            android:targetSdkVersion="19" />

        <application
            android:allowBackup="true"
            android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
            android:label="@string/app_name"
            android:theme="@style/AppTheme" >
            <activity
                android:name="com.dummy.app.MainActivity"
                android:launchMode="singleTask"
                android:label="@string/app_name" >
                <intent-filter>
                    <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                    <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
                    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
                    <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
                </intent-filter>
            </activity>
        </application>

    </manifest>

It's that simple!