Hybrid Mobile App Development with PhoneGap

Presentation for Charlotte's Tech Talent South chapter going over some basic information about hybrid apps and the types of mobile apps. This is just an introduction before we start building an example weather app using PhoneGap and Forecast.io.

Transcript

1. Hybrid Mobile App Development with PhoneGap http://bit.ly/tts-charlotte-december-phonegap/
2. Eric Allen
3. Types of Mobile Apps
4. Native
5. • Generally have the best performance • Can utilize all device functionality • Can be distributed via app stores • Are written in a language that compiles natively for that operating system, like Swift or Objective-C for iOS and Java for Android
6. HTML5
7. • Written in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript • Saved to phone by user from website • Cannot be distributed via iTunes App Store or Google Play • Generally the easiest to make • Limited device functionality (gestures, orientation change, camera, geolocation, etc.)
8. Hybrid
9. • Written in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript • Can be distributed via iTunes App Store and Google Play • Slightly better access to device functionality than HTML5 Apps (this varies by framework) • Generally slower than native apps
10. Hybrid Approach Drawbacks
11. • Performance • Lack of Native UI Elements • Lack of Native Gestures • Complications with version changes
12. Considering Those Drawbacks
13. • WebPerf techniques can help improve app performance • UI can simulate activity to make the app appear more responsive • JavaScript optimization can improve performance Performance
14. • UI systems that mimic native look and feel • UI systems that have consistent look and feel without tying themselves to a native environment • Avoiding native mimicry can help avoid the “uncanny valley” effect • Lack of native controls can be jarring for some users Lack of Native UI Elements
15. • JavaScript libraries can mimic native gestures • JavaScript libraries can create new gestures that aren’t available natively • Some gestures won’t be as smooth as their native counterparts, this can be device dependent • Some gestures require complicated logic Lack of Native Gestures
16. • This one can be unavoidable at times • The transition between major OS versions can take time to trickle down to the hybrid development tools • The look and feel of an operating system can change completely • Some 3rd party integrations and plugins may never update to support the new version Complications with Version Changes
17. Hybrid Approach Benefits
18. • Faster development timeline • Multiple operating systems can use the same codebase • Web interface logic can be identical to app interface logic • Low barrier to entry • Faster prototyping
19. Let’s Build Something
20. We'll be using the device's geolocation API and the forecast.io API to get the current weather conditions and a 7-day forecast for the user's current location.
21. This portion of the presentation is being live- coded with the attendees. Sorry.
22. Questions?