Android.app Fragments vs. android.support.v4.app using ViewPager?
android, android-fragments, android-support-library, android-viewpager
Solution
You can use `ViewPager` with native fragments from the `android.app` package with the adapters from the android.support.v13.app package. You have to use the v13 support jar for that.
There are two versions of the adapters that work with `ViewPager`, the ones in the `v4` package are meant to be used with support fragments, the ones in `v13` with native fragments.
The reason why there are now two fragment implementations is historical: Fragments in the `android.app` package were introduced with Android 3 for tablets only and the support library was created to bring fragments to phones running older versions. On Android 4 you have both.
From my own experience I would recommend using support fragments, even when developing for Android 4. Here are some reasons: Fragment or Support Fragment?
Problem
I have a question regarding the Android Support Libraries, Fragments, and as a specific example, the `ViewPager` class. My intention is to create an app with similar functionality to the sample provided on the Android Developer website (http://developer.android.com/training/animation/screen-slide.html or http://developer.android.com/training/implementing-navigation/lateral.html). Looking into their code, I've noticed they utilize the `android.support.v4.app` library, which from my research is the only way to access the `ViewPager` class. In my situation, I have no interest in backward compatibility. The minimum API level is 14 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and the build target is 4.2 Jelly Bean. In it's simplest form, my app performs exactly as does the second demo I linked on the Android dev website - just swiping between three tabs with content in each. All of the articles/posts/answers I've read seem to heavily favor the v4 support library. Now for my, albeit long-winded, question(s): What's the best way to structure my application - using `android.support.v4.app`, and thereby using SupportFragments, or to use the Fragments provided in `android.app` - and why? If Fragments from `android.app` are the way to go, what is the optimal way to approach `ViewPagers`? If SupportFragments are best-suited to the task, I would estimate that they possess the same functionality as the other - so what's the purpose of having them at all inside `android.app`? Hopefully someone with a clearer understanding can give me a bit of clarification because I'm boggled...