Integrate Android Apps and Web Apps

Integrating
Android Apps
and Web Apps
Copyright © 2013 CommonsWare, LLC

Objective: Add Value
● App complements site, does not replace it
– Different roles, different scenarios
● Support multiple screens
– Browser on desktop interacting with app on
device
● Single source
– App and site leverage same Web service back
end

Launching App from Web
● Objective
– User clicks on link in Web site from mobile
browser
– App pops up in response to that click
● Examples
– Wikipedia
– Barcode scanning


● Strategy #1: Regular URL
– Site has link to:
http://www.yourdomain.com/something
– What App Has
● Activity to be displayed when that link is clicked
● <intent-filter> advertising supporting VIEW action,
BROWSABLE category, and that URL


– What User Sees
● If app not installed: whatever is at that URL
● If app is installed: chooser to use browser or app to
process the request (unless default already chosen)
– Passing Data
● Additional path segments (with pathPrefix)
● Query parameters


– Limitation: Chooser appears
● User can make your app be the default for this
particular request, but still sees chooser the first time
● No way to avoid allowing a Web browser to handle
an HTTP link


● Strategy #2: Custom Scheme
– Site has link to: yourscheme://something
– What App Has
● Activity to be displayed when that link is clicked
● <intent-filter> advertising supporting VIEW action,
BROWSABLE category, and that URL complete with
custom scheme


● Strategy #2: Custom Scheme
– Pros
● No chooser!
● Alignment with other operating systems
– Cons
● Link is useless without app
● Possible scheme collision


● Strategy #3: Custom MIME Type
– Site serves up content under distinct vendor
MIME type, that your app handles
– Cons
● Effects not immediate: download first, tap on
notification, then get into your app
● Possible MIME type collisions
● Overall Con: Assumes Browsing from the
Device

Launching App from Desktop Web
● Strategy #1: QR Codes
– App displays QR code, user scans
– Requires QR code-scanning app
● Barcode Scanner
● Google Goggles
● Etc.


● Strategy #2: Push with GCM
– Google Cloud Messaging
– Push messages from your server to the device
● In response to actions within your Web app
● In response to other conditions (e.g., reminders)
– Free!
– Requires Android 2.2+, routing data through
Google servers

– Client Side Steps
● Get an API key
● Add GCM JAR to your libs/ directory
● Add permissions
● Register a GCM-supplied BroadcastReceiver
● Implement an IntentService that handles events
● Register the app when run
● Send registration ID to your server

– Server Side Steps
● Find GCM server library
● Create JSON of payload and other options
● Send notification with payload and registration IDs


Getting to Web from App
● Option #1: ACTION_VIEW
– Create an ACTION_VIEW Intent, with the URL
you wish to visit
– Pass that to startActivity()
– Result: default/chosen browser launched


Getting to Web from App
● Option #2: WebView
– Embed WebView widget in layout, used by
activity or fragment
● WebViewFragment available for API Level 11
fragments
– Configure WebView
● e.g., JavaScript disabled by default
– Call loadUrl() with your URL
– Result: your Web site in your app

Fancier Stuff
● Common Web Service
– App plus “single page application” or equivalent
– Works best with REST-style APIs (vs. SOAP, XML-
RPC, etc.)
● OAuth
– Common authentication infrastructure for app,
Web site
– App side tends to be a bit clunky

Fancier Stuff
● Common Implementation
– Use same Web technologies on device as on
desktop
– HTML5 app, PhoneGap, etc.
● “Throwing” Between Screens
– Capture current session state, package up in way
that other environment can continue


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Integrate Android Apps and Web Apps

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