---
title: "Introduction"
url: https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/tutorials/zcdrive/introduction/
description: "Build an Android file storage app using Android Studio and the Catalyst Android SDK to store files securely in your Catalyst project's Stratus bucket."
last_updated: 2026-11-04T10:10:44Z
service: All Services
type: tutorial
related_links:
  - name: "Android SDK"
    url: /en/sdk/android/v2/overview/
  - name: "Android Kotlin"
    url: https://kotlinlang.org/
---

# Android File Storage App

### Introduction

This tutorial will help you build an Android file storage application called **ZCDrive**, which stores files securely. You
will be able to upload files in the app, and view, delete, or download them from the app's interface.

The Android app will be associated with a Catalyst project that will enable you to use of our secure cloud storage component, [Catalyst CloudScale Stratus](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/stratus/introduction/) and a few other components. When you upload or delete a file from the app, the actions will be synchronized in the [Stratus bucket](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/stratus/buckets/name-bucket/) in your Catalyst project. This association will be handled by [Catalyst's Android SDK](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/sdk/android/v2/overview/). We will register the Android package with the Catalyst project and include the SDK in the app's source code.

The ZCDrive app will be built on the [Kotlin development platform](https://kotlinlang.org/).
Kotlin is a cross-platform, lightweight, concise programming language that is fully interoperable with Java in Android
application building. Catalyst Android SDK offers support for both Java and Kotlin, and enables you to build robust apps
on either platform.

We will work with Android Studio to build the app, and perform a manual test on it using an emulated device in the IDE.
The final application will look like this:

![working-app](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/zcdrive/working-app.webp)

You can access a working application's final source code from [**this GitHub repository**](https://github.com/catalystbyzoho/tutorial-zcdrive-android).

> **Note:** You can learn about the fundamentals of Android application building and developing Android apps with Kotlin from the [official Android documentation](https://developer.android.com/docs) and [Android's Kotlin documentation](https://developer.android.com/kotlin).

The ZCDrive app uses the following Catalyst components and the features they provide:

1. [**Catalyst CloudScale**](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/getting-started/introduction/):
    - [Data Store](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/data-store/introduction): We will create a table to store the metadata of the files that are stored in the app, such as the file name, uploaded time, file type, etc.
    - [Stratus](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/stratus/introduction/): We will create a folder in Stratus to store the files uploaded through the mobile app.
    - [Authentication](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/authentication/introduction/): The app enables you to sign up for an account and log in to it to store your files securely.

ZCDrive will not include any Catalyst fundamental components such as the [Catalyst Serverless Functions](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/serverless/help/functions/introduction/) or the [Catalyst CloudScale Web Client Hosting](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cloud-scale/help/web-client-hosting/introduction/). 

You will be given the files to be included in your app's source, with their code configured. You will just have to replace the given files with the existing files present in your app's directory, as directed.