Android development workshop
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This document discusses cross-development for mobile platforms using PhoneGap. PhoneGap allows developers to write apps using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, then cross-compile them to run as native apps on iOS, Android, BlackBerry and other platforms. It reviews best practices for mobile design, and demonstrates how to install PhoneGap, compile an app, and deploy it to an Android device or emulator. Common PhoneGap APIs allow access to device capabilities like the accelerometer, camera, contacts and more from a cross-platform codebase.
Android development workshop
- 1. Cross-Development for Android & Other Mobile Platforms Prof. Jeff Sonstein Dept. of Information Sciences & Technologies Rochester Institute of Technology jxsast@rit.edu
- 2. Why This Talk • Coding is easy, design is hard • Maintaining multiple development teams & codebases is costly & error-prone • Users appreciate a reasonably consistent experience across platforms
- 3. Designing for Mobile 1. design for One Web 2. rely on standards 3. avoid known hazards 4. be cautious of device limitations 5. optimize navigation 6. check graphics and colors 7. keep it small 8. use network sparingly 9. help & guide user input 10. think of users on-the-go http://www.w3.org/2007/02/mwbp_flip_cards.html
- 4. WebApps, Native Apps, & Cross-Compilation • WebApps: browser context, served over Web, written in HTML/CSS/JavaScript • Native Apps: written in higher-level language specific to that platform • Cross-compilers: advantages of WebApps but install as native apps
- 5. Phonegap & Mobile Devices • PhoneGap is a tool which allows you to compose once (using HTML/CSS/JavaScript) then cross- compile and deploy to many different target platforms: • iOs • Android • Blackberry • webOS • Windows Mobile • Symbian
- 6. Installing Phonegap • see http://www.ist.rit.edu/~jxs/classes/2010_Winter/MobileFoundations/01_week/ phonegapStart.html for more details • download and install Android SDKs • download PhoneGap • unarchive it into an arbitrary directory • make sure Android tools directory is in your $PATH (on my system: /Users/ jeffs/development/android/tools)
- 7. Compiling & Deploying Phonegap Apps • open a terminal window and navigate to appropriate PhoneGap directory (on my system: /Users/jeffs/development/phonegap/phonegap-android/) • compile with droidgap tool (see details page on previous slide) • open second terminal window and start Android emulator or plug in Android device • change directory to wherever you told droidgap to put the generated code • issue command ant debug install
- 8. Demo • exit to live demo
- 9. Phonegap Docs & Materials Online • common functionality: http://docs.phonegap.com/ • tutorials: http://wiki.phonegap.com/w/page/ 16494772/FrontPage • google group: http://groups.google.com/group/ phonegap • source repository: https://github.com/phonegap • development tools: http://www.phonegap.com/tools/
- 10. Phonegap API Capabilities • High-level common mobile functionality API • Support for HTML5 & CSS3
- 11. Common Functionality: Accelerometer • Captures device motion in X/Y/Z directions • Methods: • getCurrentAcceleration • watchAcceleration • clearWatch
- 12. Common Functionality: Camera • Provides access to default camera • Method: • getPicture
- 13. Common Functionality: Compass • Obtains direction device is pointing • Methods: • getCurrentHeading • watchHeading • clearWatch
- 14. Common Functionality: Contacts • Provides access to device contacts database • Methods: • create • find
- 15. Common Functionality: Device • Gather device hardware/software info • Properties: • name • phonegap (gets version) • platform • uuid • version
- 16. Common Functionality: Events • Fires when Phonegap has loaded • Event: • deviceready
- 17. Common Functionality: File System • Provides access to the device file system • Objects: • FileReader • FileWriter • FileError
- 18. Common Functionality: Geolocation • Provides access to the GPS sensor • Methods: • getCurrentPosition • watchPosition • clearWatch
- 19. Common Functionality: Media • Provides ability to record and play back audio • Methods: • getCurrentPosition • getDuration • play/pause • release • start/stop record • stop
- 20. Common Functionality: Network • Access both cellular & wifi connection info • Method: • isReachable
- 21. Common Functionality: Notifications • Visual, audible, & tactile device notifications • Methods: • alert • confirm • beep • vibrate
- 22. Common Functionality: Storage • Access device database implementation • Method: • openDatabase • Database object manipulation sub- methods
- 23. HTML5 localStorage • name/value pairs (think associative array) • persists between sessions • example: • http://www.ist.rit.edu/~jxs/classes/2010_Winter/ MobileFoundations/05_week/storage.html
- 24. CSS3 & Webkit • Support table: • http://westciv.com/wiki/ Experimental_CSS_compatibility_table • Tutorial: • http://www.cardeo.ca/css3-handbook/
- 25. Major CSS
- 26. Summary • Design design design, then code once • Maintaining a single design team and one codebase and having a unified UX across platforms is generally more efficient • Leveraging your Web developer’s skills is generally A Good Idea
- 27. Exercise • Download and install Android development tools • Download and install PhoneGap • Compile & test/deploy example app from PhoneGap directory • Write, compile, & test/deploy your own HelloWorld app
- 28. Cross-Development for Android & Other Mobile Platforms Prof. Jeff Sonstein Dept. of Information Sciences & Technologies Rochester Institute of Technology jxsast@rit.edu