Develop native android appsAnd port to other platforms

Robin Puthli, 24 October 2013

Droidcon UK

1donderdag 24 oktober 13

• Mobile developer 2001 - present

• Run a 11 strong development shop

• Netherlands based

Me

2donderdag 24 oktober 13

Native iOS

Native Android Mobile webapps

Mobile websites

Itude Mobile develops client facing apps for companies

3donderdag 24 oktober 13

Agenda

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Agenda

• Why is it difficult to port native apps?

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Agenda

• Why is it difficult to port native apps?

• How to cope

4donderdag 24 oktober 13

Agenda

• Why is it difficult to port native apps?

• How to cope

• We are making our tools open source

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The problem

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The problem

Tools

ProgrammingLanguage Java / C++ NDK Objc, C++, C C#

App LifecycleApp Structure

UI, UXWidgets

Search boxBackground

PassbookBack button Tiles

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The problem

Tools

ProgrammingLanguage Java / C++ NDK Objc, C++, C C#

App LifecycleApp Structure

UI, UXWidgets

Search boxBackground

PassbookBack button Tiles

Is called device fragmentation

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Android

www.opensignals.com

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Fragmentation is here to stay

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Fragmentation is here to stay

• 2009 - 2011 : convergence

• Manufacturers are differentiating

• Phones, phablets, tablets, watches, glasses

• Learn how to cope!

• In all stages of the process

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Old problem!

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Old problem!

• Windows / Mac / Unix

• Desktop browsers

• JavaME

• Mobile web

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9 strategies

Damith C. Rajapakse, Singapore school of computing (2006)

Cost

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Examples

Damith C. Rajapakse, Singapore school of computing (2006)

PhoneGap

Action bar sherlock

Native Android and iOS

Qt, Unity

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If you’ve got a hammer

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If you’ve got a hammer

Everything looks like a nail

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What is your use case?

• Game maker

• Single platform specialist

• Multiplatform developer

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Our strategy:mobbl.org

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Our strategy:mobbl.org

• Software Engineering Methodology

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Our strategy:mobbl.org

• Software Engineering Methodology

• Native libraries for Android, JSF and iOS

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Our strategy:mobbl.org

• Software Engineering Methodology

• Native libraries for Android, JSF and iOS

• Open source Q4 2013

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Use case

• Data centric apps

• Lot of emphasis on look and feel

• Security, performance

• Often asked to develop on one platform first, then another platform.

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Data lifecycle

1. JSON or XML from a companies webservice

2. Parse and validate

3. Cache

4. Present on some screens

5. Change

6. Post back to the webservice

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We tried

• HTML5 in webviews

• Javascript based tools

• Tools with a proprietary language

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We tried

• HTML5 in webviews

• Javascript based tools

• Tools with a proprietary language

• Buggy - write once, debug everywhere

• Memory leaks

• Mediocre UI

• No developers

• No cost advantage over native

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Goals

• Native languages

• Predictable, efficient porting effort

• Modular code for easy maintenance

• Re-use for regular tasks: caching, REST, sessions etc

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Concepts

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Model

Document • Parsers and serialization

• Webservices

• Persistence, Caching

• Manipulation, deep copy etc.

• Passthrough between screens

Element

Attribute

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Controller

Screen A

Button

Screen B

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Controller

Screen A

Button

Screen B

Logic

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Controller

Screen A

Button

Screen B

Logic

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Controller

Screen A

Button

Screen B

Logic

Activity

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Controller

Screen A

Button

Controller Screen B

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Controller

Screen A

Button

Controller Screen B

Logic

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MOBBL

ModelController

View

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Re-use

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MOBBL.ORG

28donderdag 24 oktober 13

Questions?✓Code Android apps in java

✓No API restrictions

✓Port to other platforms

✓open source q4 2013

✓Sign up now to hear more

r.puthli@itude.comwww.itude.com

MOBBL.ORG

29donderdag 24 oktober 13