Android Question Minimum and Target SDK Clarifications

[JNG]

Please clarify I may not understanding it properly.
I gone through the API and min SDK version and Target SDK version on google. But some what confused what I understand as;

1. The minimum SDK version is on what lowest android version I want my app should be compatible with.
2. The Target SDK version is the highest android version which app supports.

a have little confusion as per google the target sdk is backward compatible. I am facing problem e.g.
I am using informix Checklist class v 2.22 which says that minimum sdk is 8

I am using in my app min sdk 8 and target sdk is 21 but its Filter feature is not running ( when I set Target SDK ) why I am not understanding.

Regards

 

[Erel]

1. Correct.
2. Not correct. targetSdkVersion is a hint to the OS. Based on this value the OS can decide which backwards compatibility features should be enabled.

For example if targetSdkVersion is set to 8 (Android 2.2) then the Android 2.x theme will be used when you run the app on Android 4. Starting from the next version of B4A the default targetSdkVersion will be 20.

 

[JNG]

Thanks for Clarification Pl. throw some light on Compile SDK & Max SDK version also.

 

[Erel]

- The SDK version used during compilation (android.jar from Tools - Configure Paths) doesn't affect the compiled APK. You can use any recent version.

- maxSdkVersion should never be used unless your app is based on a feature that is no more supported on newer versions of Android (SMS writing for example).