Updated: NW.js - Desktop Apps with Javascript
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The document discusses creating a commercial product using nw.js (previously node-webkit) and JavaScript, highlighting the challenges and processes of planning, coding, and distribution. It emphasizes the importance of administrative tasks for software releases, the difficulties of asynchronous JavaScript, and the alternative paths to commercial success such as redistributing through partners. The final source is available on GitHub and offers insights into the complexities of targeting both desktop and smartphone platforms from a single code base.
![First steps: asynchronous is hard
Asynchronous may result in bad looking code – aka
“Pyramid of Doom”… (promises may help) or you can:
…
fileTimestamp: function( strFilename, arrParams, successFunction ) {
try {
var n = Bz.fileTimestampSync( strFilename );
if ( successFunction ) {
if ( arrParams ) arrParams['return'] = n;
(successFunction)( arrParams );
}
} catch ( e ) { Bz.alert( e ); }
},
…
4/21/2015 7](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/jsmeetupb20150420-v4-150421064826-conversion-gate02/85/Updated-NW-js-Desktop-Apps-with-Javascript-7-320.jpg)
Updated: NW.js - Desktop Apps with Javascript
- 1. Desktop App with NWJS.io Creating a commercial product with Javascript (and Node-Webkit) by Ralf Schwoebel rs@orga.zone April, 20th 2015 - Berlin
- 2. Hi, this is Ralf... 1995: 1st German shopping mall on the web (Perl) 1997: VShop (C++), distributed by SuSE 2001: SEO for affili.net merchants (Perl) 2005: Tradebit.com – download marketplace (PHP+JS) 2015: crypted.company – Open Source encryption (JS) & orga.zone AG, business app hosting (PHP+JS) 4/21/2015 2
- 3. Creating a commercial JS product One source to rule them all? • Planning and coding • Release • Distribution (aka: how can we sell it?) 4/21/2015 3
- 4. Choosing the frameworks After 2 years “fiddeling“ in that market: There is no simple single source approach to deliver more complicated apps (file management, data manipulation) out of 1 code base! if($code == “javascript“) { $desktop = ; $phablet = ; } 4/21/2015 4
- 5. Going NW.js NW.js (http://nwjs.io/ - previously know as Node-Webkit) from a business point of view: • gives you the power of NodeJS (full system control) • lets you create a .pgk, .dmg, .exe, .rpm to distribute • is stable enough for professional use • comes basically with a Chrome browser (think “customer reach”) 4/21/2015 5
- 6. NW.js 4/21/2015 6 Live Demo, if network is available We tried to put all none-CommonJS methods in extra classes!
- 7. First steps: asynchronous is hard Asynchronous may result in bad looking code – aka “Pyramid of Doom”… (promises may help) or you can: … fileTimestamp: function( strFilename, arrParams, successFunction ) { try { var n = Bz.fileTimestampSync( strFilename ); if ( successFunction ) { if ( arrParams ) arrParams['return'] = n; (successFunction)( arrParams ); } } catch ( e ) { Bz.alert( e ); } }, … 4/21/2015 7
- 8. From 0 to Version 1.0 Our product creation process took 5 months without the initial learning curve 4/21/2015 8 Learning Asynchronous JS Learning Node-Webkit & nodeJS Planning the product Coding & Designing the product Learning about App Stores & pitfalls Release Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 2014 C&D letter October
- 9. The result - Today The source is on GitHub - https://crypted.company/ 4/21/2015 9
- 10. But now the commercial part? Submission of NW.js packages (.pkg) to the OS X App Store: Windows: no problem! 4/21/2015 10
- 11. But now the commercial part? Direct sales via redistribution partners: works much better! 4/21/2015 11
- 12. Commercial Release - Basics The extras around a professional software release costs you days to weeks to make right: 4/21/2015 12 • Signed packages for install (certificates, etc.): OS X, Windows: only with valid certs • Without extra efforts: your source code is always available in the package • OS X App store can be a real revenue stream (we have managed to put a “light” version there) • PAD is your friend: 25,000 downloads in 3 months
- 13. Commercial Software: PAD http://pad.asp-software.org/ 4/21/2015 13 • XML format to describe your software packages • Directory submission
- 14. Summary 4/21/2015 14 • Node-Webkit is good for production, commercial releases • Do not underestimate the administrative workload around publication • Targetting Desktop & Smartphones out of one code base: almost as much work as coding it twice. • For complex tasks (file operations): Javascript can be slow! • Don‘t forget to register your work: https://apps.orga.zone/
- 15. Thanks a bunch 4/21/2015 15 Thanks & make it so Ralf Schwoebel rs@orga.zone twitter: @orgaralf