How to Make a Mobile App in Python? Full Guide Using Python Libraries

As smartphones continue to dominate our daily lives, the demand for mobile applications is skyrocketing.

Python, known for its simplicity and versatility, has stepped up to the plate as a fantastic option for crafting mobile apps.

In this article, we'll take a closer look at why Python has become such a good choice for mobile app development.

We'll also dive into some important things to keep in mind as you embark on your app-building journey, explore the wealth of frameworks and libraries available to Python developers, and guide you through the process of creating a simple yet effective mobile app using Python and the Kivy framework.

So, let's get ready to unlock the power of Python for mobile app development.

Python is increasingly becoming a go-to choice for mobile app development, thanks to its integration with powerful GUI frameworks like Kivy and BeeWare.

While Python alone may not be optimized for mobile device app development, these frameworks step in to seamlessly translate interpreter-based code into native code suitable for mobile platforms.

This combination offers developers a significant technical advantage, particularly in cross-platform development.

Traditionally, developing mobile apps for both iOS and Android meant navigating the complexities of using different programming languages and tools for each platform.

This approach required building separate codebases from scratch, essentially doubling the workload and introducing the challenge of ensuring consistency across versions.

However, modern Python frameworks like Kivy and BeeWare revolutionize this process by serving as a bridge, enabling developers to write their app once in Python and effortlessly adapt it for various platforms.

This not only streamlines the development process but also centralizes the codebase, simplifying maintenance and ensuring consistent functionality across different devices and operating systems.

Ultimately, Python's compatibility with these frameworks offers a practical solution for efficient and effective mobile app development.

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User experience: Focus on creating an intuitive and engaging interface for seamless interaction.

Performance optimization: Optimize code and minimize resource usage to ensure smooth app performance.

Security: Implement robust security measures to protect user data and prevent unauthorized access.

Compatibility: Test the app across different devices and platforms to ensure compatibility and consistency.

For mobile app development with Python, you've got some handy frameworks and libraries to choose from.

Kivy stands out as a versatile option, offering a wide range of features for building cross-platform apps with interactive interfaces.

Then there's Beeware, which provides a suite of tools to develop native apps for iOS and Android using Python.

PyQT and PySide are also worth mentioning, offering robust solutions for creating mobile applications with Python.

Each of these frameworks and libraries comes with its own set of strengths and capabilities, catering to different preferences and project requirements.

Whether you're looking for cross-platform compatibility, native app development, or specific features, there's likely a Python framework or library that fits the bill for your mobile app development needs.

In this article, we'll be focusing on exploring the Kivy framework for mobile app development with Python.

Kivy is a popular choice known for its ease of use and flexibility in creating cross-platform applications.

We'll delve into its features and guide you through a step-by-step example of building a simple mobile application using Kivy.

However, it's essential to note that there are other frameworks and libraries available for Python mobile app development, such as Beeware, PyQT, and PySide.

While we won't cover them in detail here, you can explore these options further online to find the best fit for your project requirements.

To install Kivy, you can use pip, Python's package manager. Open your command line interface (CLI) and run the following command

1pip install kivy

This command will download and install the latest version of Kivy and its dependencies. Once the installation is complete, you'll be ready to start using Kivy for mobile app development with Python.

Importing necessary modules from Kivy framework for building the GUI application.

1import kivy
2from kivy.app import App
3from kivy.uix.floatlayout import FloatLayout
4from kivy.uix.gridlayout import GridLayout
5from kivy.uix.button import Button
6from kivy.graphics import Color, Rectangle
7from kivy.uix.boxlayout import BoxLayout
8from kivy.uix.widget import Widget

Defining a class named MainScreen that inherits from FloatLayout. This class represents the main screen of the application.

1class MainScreen(FloatLayout):
2    def __init__(self, **kwargs):
3        super(MainScreen, self).__init__(**kwargs)

Creating BoxLayout and GridLayout instances. BoxLayout is set to stack widgets vertically, while GridLayout is set with 3 columns, spacing of 5 pixels between widgets, and a fixed size of 300x300 pixels.

1				box_layout = BoxLayout(orientation='vertical')
2        grid_layout = GridLayout(cols=3, spacing=5, size_hint=(None, None), size=(300, 300))
3        grid_layout.bind(minimum_size=grid_layout.setter('size'))

Iterating through a list of color hex codes and creating buttons with those colors as background colors. Each button is given a fixed size of 100x100 pixels and bound to the change_background method when pressed. These buttons are added to the grid layout.

1        colors = ['#FF0000', '#00FF00', '#0000FF',
2                  '#FFFF00', '#FF00FF', '#00FFFF',
3                  '#FFA500', '#800080', '#008080']
4
5        for color in colors:
6            button = Button(background_color=color, size_hint=(None, None), size=(100, 100))
7            button.bind(on_press=self.change_background)
8            grid_layout.add_widget(button)

Adding spacer widgets (empty Widget instances) above and below the grid layout to center it vertically within the main screen. Then, adding the box layout containing the grid layout to the main screen.

1        box_layout.add_widget(Widget())  # Spacer
2        box_layout.add_widget(grid_layout)
3        box_layout.add_widget(Widget())  # Spacer
4
5        self.add_widget(box_layout)

This method is called when any button is pressed. It clears the canvas before drawing and draws a rectangle with the color of the pressed button as its background color, effectively changing the background color of the main screen.

1    def change_background(self, instance):
2        self.canvas.before.clear()
3        with self.canvas.before:
4            Color(*instance.background_color)
5            Rectangle(pos=self.pos, size=self.size)

Defining the MyApp class that inherits from App, and the build method that returns an instance of the MainScreen class. Finally, running the application by creating an instance of the MyApp class and calling its run() method.

1class MyApp(App):
2    def build(self):
3        return MainScreen()
4        
5if __name__ == '__main__':
6    MyApp().run()

Now let's run this file. I have save the file name as "main.py". Run the following command in the terminal at the same path where file is saved.

1python3 main.py

Here is the output

Install Buildozer

This tool helps package your Python app for Android.

1pip install buildozer

Initialize Buildozer

Create a new folder and navigate to it in your computer's terminal or command prompt. Run the below command in this folder. This will create a file called "buildozer.spec", which you'll use to configure your build settings.

1buildozer init

Edit the Buildozer Spec File

Open the buildozer.spec file in a text editor and make some changes at the top

• Change the title to the name of your app.
• Set the package name and package domain.

These are unique identifiers for your app.

Install Dependencies

Make sure you have all the necessary dependencies installed for Buildozer. These are additional tools and libraries that Buildozer needs to work properly.

Prepare Your Python App

Copy your Python app code into the folder where you initialized Buildozer. Rename the main Python file of your app to main.py. This step is important for Buildozer to recognize your app.

Build Your App

Run the below command in the terminal. This command tells Buildozer to start building your app for Android. The build process will take some time, maybe 15 to 20 minutes or longer depending on your computer's speed. Buildozer will automatically download any necessary tools from the Android SDK during this process.

1buildozer -v android debug

Wait for the Build to Finish

While Buildozer is building your app, you can take a break and do something else. Once the build is complete, you'll find a file with a name like your-app-name-0.1-debug.apk in the bin folder of your project.

That's it! You've now packaged your Python app for Android, and you can share the generated APK file with others to install and run on their Android devices.

Install Required Tools

First, you need to install some tools on your Mac. Use Homebrew to install these tools by running the following commands in your terminal

1$ brew install autoconf automake libtool pkg-config
2$ brew link libtool
3$ sudo easy_install pip
4$ sudo pip install Cython==0.29.10

These tools help with compiling and building your app for iOS.

Clone Kivy iOS Repository

Next, you need to download the Kivy iOS repository from GitHub. Navigate to a suitable directory in your terminal and run

1$ git clone git://github.com/kivy/kivy-ios
2$ cd kivy-ios

This downloads the necessary files for building iOS apps with Kivy

Build Your App

Now, you need to use a script called 'toolchain.py' to compile your app for iOS. Run the following command in the terminal

1$ ./toolchain.py build python3 kivy

This command compiles your Python code and Kivy framework for iOS.

Handle Errors (if any)

If you encounter any errors during the build process, you might need to troubleshoot them. Common issues include missing dependencies or SSL errors. Follow any provided instructions to resolve these issues.

Create Xcode Project

Once the build is successful, you can create an Xcode project for your app. Run the following command in the terminal, replacing <title> with your app's title and <app_directory> with the directory where you want the Xcode project to be created

1$ ./toolchain.py create <title> <app_directory>

This command generates an Xcode project with your app's files.

Open Xcode and Work on Your App

Now, open the generated Xcode project in Xcode. You can further develop and customize your app using Xcode's interface and tools.

Submit to App Store (Optional)

If you want to distribute your app through the App Store, you'll need to create a developer account with Apple and pay their yearly fee. You can then submit your app for review and approval.

That's it! These steps help you package your Python app for iOS and prepare it for distribution on Apple devices.

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Python offers a compelling option for mobile app development, thanks to its simplicity, extensive libraries, and cross-platform compatibility. By leveraging frameworks like Kivy, developers can create powerful and engaging mobile applications with ease. With the right approach and tools, the possibilities for Python-based mobile app development are endless.

Python documentation

Kivy documentation

BeeWare documentation