Create a Windows 8 App in minutes
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This document introduces a screen scraper utility kit that allows users to create Windows 8 apps by scraping content from existing websites. The screen scraper parses unstructured website data into structured view models that can power apps on devices. Definition files make the scraping resilient to source page changes by providing instructions on how to parse the data. The screen scraper bridges the gap between an ideal web-rich architecture and real-world scenarios where most local governments only have basic websites. Future integration with Azure is planned to move the structured data to a cloud service. The document encourages readers to try out the AppCannon demo at a provided URL.
Create a Windows 8 App in minutes
- 1. Create a Windows 8 App in Just Minutes Frank La Vigne FrankLa@Microsoft.com Public Sector Developer Evangelist http://www.FranksWorld.com
- 3. Frank’s World TV www.youtube.com/FranksWorldTV • Published Weekly (more or less) • Focuses on developers and public sector developers • Fun
- 6. How It Should Be Data Sources Server Service Devices Content Provider Content Consumer
- 7. How It Should Be • Clear separation of concerns • Data • Service • Consumption Device • Device Agnostic • Requires well thought out architecture and API • Non-trivial effort
- 10. Common SLG Scenario Data Sources Server Devices Content Provider Content Consumer Web Site • This scenario is not limited to SLG, smaller organizations do not have budget to build out a more web-aware SOA system.
- 11. Many SLG Public Sector Scenarios • Virtually every locality has a web site • Few have a fully built out web-rich SOA architecture • Access to content is via browser • Non-native experience • Website may not be optimized for mobile • Less than perfect experience • There “no app for that” • No app means they are not on our platform • Missed opportunities • For Citizens • For Governments
- 13. Screen Scraper Utility Kit Takes unstructured data and gives it structure Designed was targeting Web based scenarios Virtually every agency/town/locality/etc has a web site HTML by nature has some structure The SSUK leverages that Flexible approach to screen scraping Can be made change resilient Already available Over 1100 downloads for WinRT version / Over 1700 for WP7 / .NET version
- 14. Case Study: Vietnam Wall WP7 App • Data source: http://virtualwall.org/valor.htm • WP7 App: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/0b758fa2-6414-4381-923e-557172cb3edc?wa=wsignin1.0
- 15. Basic Screen Scraping Source Page App on Device App Pulls in Data from Source Page and Parses it into View Model.
- 16. One Change to Source Page Can Break the App
- 17. Definitions-Based Screen Scraping Source Page App on Device App Pulls in Data from Source Page. Parses it into View Model based on instructions in a Definition file. Definition File Cloud
- 18. Definitions Change the Game Definition files make a screen scraping solution: • Resilient to change • Changing definition file hosted in the cloud would not require changes to the app • Viable • Increased resilience and flexibility • Use developer friendly formats: • XML (WinRT, WP7, & .NET) • JSON (WinRT)
- 20. What the Scraper Makes Data Sources Server Scraper Devices Content Provider Content Consumer Web Site The Screen Scraper Utility Kit takes un-structured data and converts it into a structured data source locally on the device.
- 21. Bridging the Gap Between Ideal Architecture & What’s Actually Out in the Field
- 22. What Azure Integration Will Look Like Data Sources Server Scraper Devices Content Provider Content Consumer Web Site The Screen Scraper Utility Kit takes un-structured data and converts it into a structured data source locally on the device. Service Azure Data Adapter
- 23. Warning