Android App Integration with Google Drive: Examples Needed

Other Questions Google drive
1

Hey everyone,

I’m working on an Android app and want to add Google Drive support. I’ve used Dropbox before, and their SDK was super easy to work with. But now I’m stuck with Google Drive.

I’ve been searching for Android-specific examples, but all I can find are web app samples. It’s pretty frustrating!

Has anyone here successfully integrated Google Drive into their Android app? If so, could you share some code snippets or point me in the right direction? I’d really appreciate any help or advice.

Here’s a basic structure I’m thinking of using:

public class GoogleDriveManager {
    private DriveService driveService;

    public void connectToDrive() {
        // Code to connect to Google Drive
    }

    public void uploadFile(String filePath) {
        // Code to upload a file
    }

    public void downloadFile(String fileId) {
        // Code to download a file
    }
}

Is this on the right track? What else should I consider? Thanks in advance for any help!

2

I’ve implemented Google Drive in a few Android projects, and it can indeed be tricky. Your structure is a good starting point, but you’ll need to expand it. Consider adding methods for file listing and searching, as these are common operations. Also, implement proper error handling and retry mechanisms, as network operations can fail.

For authentication, use the Google Sign-In API. It simplifies the OAuth 2.0 flow. As for the actual Drive operations, the Drive API v3 is what you want. It’s more efficient than the older versions.

One tip: use the DriveContents class for file content operations. It provides input and output streams that make working with file data much easier. And don’t forget to close these streams properly to avoid memory leaks.

Lastly, consider implementing a caching mechanism for frequently accessed files to improve performance and reduce API calls.

3

yo, i’ve been there! google drive can be a pain. ur structure looks decent, but don’t forget to handle auth. check out the google drive REST API for android. it’s got some good examples. also, consider using AsyncTask for uploads/downloads to avoid blocking the UI thread. good luck!

4

I’ve actually integrated Google Drive into an Android app recently, and I can share some insights. Your basic structure is a good start, but you’ll want to expand on it. One thing that really helped me was using the Google Drive Android API, which simplifies a lot of the process.

For authentication, I found using GoogleSignInClient to be pretty straightforward. It handles the OAuth 2.0 flow nicely. As for file operations, the DriveResourceClient class is your friend. It provides methods for creating, opening, and updating files.

One thing I learned the hard way: always check for resolution before performing Drive operations. Sometimes you need to prompt the user for additional permissions. Also, consider implementing a progress listener for file transfers - users appreciate knowing what’s happening.

Lastly, don’t forget about offline access. It’s a bit more work, but it greatly improves user experience. The Drive API supports this with the setQueryParameters method.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you need any more specific advice.