Bluetooth Low Energy on Android: Top Tips for the Tricky Bits

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) powers the Internet of Things (IoT): smart watches, smart bulbs, and smart cars all use it for short-range communication. Now that 90% of Android consumer devices and 100% of Android Things devices run software that supports BLE, there’s never been a better time for Android developers to jump into the rapidly-growing IoT ecosystem and start building their own companion apps or custom smart devices. 

Unfortunately, Android’s Bluetooth stack has a well-deserved reputation for being difficult to work with. The documentation is patchy, the API abstractions are leaky, and the stack itself is unreliable. Stuart has worked through all these challenges while building a pro audio app at the start of 2017, and now is sharing his story to save you time. 

The beginning of this talk will cover BLE basics. The remainder will showcase code samples and strategies for tackling the quirks of the Android Bluetooth stack. No prior experience with BLE is required to enjoy this talk. You’ll leave excited to tinker with BLE on Android and equipped with a roadmap and toolkit to help you navigate the nasty parts. 

About Stuart Kent

Stuart is software developer with 3.5 years' mobile experience. He currently work at Detroit Labs creating native Android and iOS apps for national and international brands in the utilities, QSR, automotive, and pro audio industries. Before becoming a developer, he taught college and earned a Ph.D. in Applied Math. Likes: Enums. Dislikes: dogmatism.