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vi...@google.com
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Description
To the Google Android Team,
As a senior computer engineer, I am writing to advocate for significant improvements in the Android TV development experience, particularly for the Google TV 4K Chromecast. My focus is on the critical need for expanded documentation specifically on GitHub and the establishment of open repositories, also on GitHub, to empower third-party developers and foster a thriving ecosystem.
The current state of documentation and API availability for Android TV, especially for devices like the Google TV 4K Chromecast, presents a substantial obstacle for developers. The lack of comprehensive, easily accessible resources, particularly centralized and discoverable documentation, makes navigating the complexities of the platform unnecessarily challenging. This deficiency not only frustrates developers but also severely limits the potential for innovation and the creation of diverse, high-quality applications.
A key area for improvement lies in the creation of significantly more detailed and comprehensive documentation directly on GitHub. This documentation should cover all aspects of Android TV development, with specific attention to functionalities relevant to the Google TV 4K Chromecast. Clear explanations, practical tutorials, and extensive code samples within the GitHub repositories themselves are essential for enabling developers to quickly understand and effectively utilize the platform's capabilities. Hosting documentation directly on GitHub alongside the code offers several key advantages:
* Version Control: Documentation can be versioned alongside the code, ensuring consistency and making it easy to track changes.
* Community Contributions: Hosting on GitHub allows the community to contribute to the documentation, improving its accuracy and completeness.
* Discoverability: Having documentation and code in the same repository makes it easier for developers to find the information they need.
Furthermore, I strongly recommend establishing open repositories, exclusively on GitHub, to house sample code, libraries, and other developer resources. Open repositories on GitHub offer numerous benefits:
* Community Collaboration: They foster collaboration among developers, allowing them to share knowledge, contribute to projects (including documentation), and collectively improve the platform.
* Transparency and Accessibility: Open repositories make resources readily accessible to everyone, promoting transparency and lowering the barrier to entry for new developers.
* Version Control and Issue Tracking: GitHub provides robust version control and issue tracking tools, facilitating efficient development and maintenance of resources and documentation.
* Discoverability: Hosting resources on a popular platform like GitHub increases their discoverability, ensuring that developers can easily find the information they need.
By prioritizing the creation of comprehensive documentation directly on GitHub and establishing open repositories exclusively on GitHub, Google can dramatically improve the Android TV development experience. This will incentivize more developers to build for the platform, leading to a richer and more diverse app ecosystem. A thriving app ecosystem is paramount to the success of Google TV devices like the 4K Chromecast, driving user engagement, increasing sales, and strengthening Google's position in the competitive smart TV market.
Specifically, I urge the Google Android team to:
* Invest in Comprehensive Documentation on GitHub: Create detailed documentation covering all facets of Android TV development, including specific functionalities for the Google TV 4K Chromecast, with clear explanations, tutorials, and extensive code samples, all hosted within GitHub repositories.
* Establish Open Repositories exclusively on GitHub: Create and maintain open repositories on GitHub to house sample code, libraries, SDKs, and other developer resources, including documentation, fostering community collaboration and ensuring accessibility.
* Actively Engage with the Developer Community on GitHub: Engage with developers through forums, online communities, and directly within the GitHub repositories through issues and discussions, to gather feedback, address issues, and provide support.
Investing in these areas, with a strong focus on GitHub, will not only improve the quality and quantity of available applications but also demonstrate a commitment to supporting third-party developers, which is crucial for the long-term success of the Android TV platform.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Pooya Mohammadhossein (Ryan)
Senior Computer Engineer (Zero)