Unraveling the secrets for developing great Android extensions for Genexus 15

The Android ecosystem provides an immense and ever-growing number of possibilities for incorporating new APIs or eye-catching design patterns into your app.

In this session you will learn how to develop Android extensions for Genexus 15 ™. Furthermore, you will get a brief overview of the current state of Android extension development for Genexus and a sneak peek of what's coming.

Transcript

1. Unraveling the secrets for developing great Android extensions for Juan Andrés Diana R&D - Genexus @juandiana7
2. Thus, we need to go beyond the basics… Good UX is mandatory nowadays for mobile
3. marketplace.genexus.com
4. marketplace.genexus.com
5. marketplace.genexus.com
6. marketplace.genexus.com
7. How to extend the Android generator?
8. What’s next? Development Packaging Future Environment
9. github.com/genexuslabs/AndroidExtensionsSample
10. github.com/genexuslabs/AndroidExtensionsSample
11. What’s next? Development Packaging Future Environment
12. User Controls
13. User Control Types Bound to an attribute or variable - Item (e.g. SD Wheel) - List (e.g. SD Horizontal Grid) Not bound to an attribute or variable (e.g. Ads Control)
14. Files • BasicUserControl.control • BasicUserControlProperties.xml Defining a User Control Syntax • User Control Definition - Genexus Wiki • User Control Properties - Genexus Wiki
15. <!-- Basic information -->
 <Id>44bda26b-9309-45fd-8972-0b35b080aff9</Id>
 <ObjClass>BASICUSERCONTROL</ObjClass>
 <Name>BasicUserControl</Name> <Description>Basic User Control</Description>
 <Version>0.1.0</Version> <IncludeInControlInfo>true</IncludeInControlInfo> <ControlType>Item</ControlType>
 <ToolboxIcon>basic_user_control.ico</ToolboxIcon>
 <DesignRender>basic_user_control.png</DesignRender>
 Defining a User Control
16. <!-- Basic information -->
 <Id>44bda26b-9309-45fd-8972-0b35b080aff9</Id>
 <ObjClass>BASICUSERCONTROL</ObjClass>
 <Name>BasicUserControl</Name> <Description>Basic User Control</Description>
 <Version>0.1.0</Version> <ToolboxIcon>basic_user_control.ico</ToolboxIcon>
 <DesignRender>basic_user_control.png</DesignRender> <IncludeInControlInfo>true</IncludeInControlInfo> <ControlType>Item</ControlType> Defining a User Control
17. <!-- Basic information -->
 <Id>44bda26b-9309-45fd-8972-0b35b080aff9</Id>
 <ObjClass>BASICUSERCONTROL</ObjClass>
 <Name>BasicUserControl</Name> <Description>Basic User Control</Description>
 <Version>0.1.0</Version> <ToolboxIcon>basic_user_control.ico</ToolboxIcon>
 <DesignRender>basic_user_control.png</DesignRender> <IncludeInControlInfo>true</IncludeInControlInfo> <ControlType>Item</ControlType> Defining a User Control
18. <!-- Basic information -->
 <Id>44bda26b-9309-45fd-8972-0b35b080aff9</Id>
 <ObjClass>BASICUSERCONTROL</ObjClass>
 <Name>BasicUserControl</Name> <Description>Basic User Control</Description>
 <Version>0.1.0</Version> <ToolboxIcon>basic_user_control.ico</ToolboxIcon>
 <DesignRender>basic_user_control.png</DesignRender> <IncludeInControlInfo>true</IncludeInControlInfo> <ControlType>Item</ControlType> Defining a User Control
19. <!-- Basic information -->
 <Id>44bda26b-9309-45fd-8972-0b35b080aff9</Id>
 <ObjClass>BASICUSERCONTROL</ObjClass>
 <Name>BasicUserControl</Name> <Description>Basic User Control</Description>
 <Version>0.1.0</Version>
 <ToolboxIcon>basic_user_control.ico</ToolboxIcon>
 <DesignRender>basic_user_control.png</DesignRender> <IncludeInControlInfo>true</IncludeInControlInfo> <ControlType>Item</ControlType> Defining a User Control
20. Defining a User Control IncludeInControlInfo = true IncludeInControlInfo = false
21. <!-- Properties, methods & events -->
 <PropertiesDefinition>BasicUserControlProperties.xml</ PropertiesDefinition>
 <Methods>
 <Method>
 <Name>SetName</Name>
 <Signature>SetName(name: Character)</Signature>
 <Parameters>
 <Parameter>Character</Parameter>
 </Parameters>
 </Method>
 </Methods>
 <Events>
 <Event>EventOne</Event>
 </Events> Defining a User Control
22. <!-- Properties, methods & events -->
 <PropertiesDefinition>BasicUserControlProperties.xml</ PropertiesDefinition>
 <Methods>
 <Method>
 <Name>SetName</Name>
 <Signature>SetName(name: Character)</Signature>
 <Parameters>
 <Parameter>Character</Parameter>
 </Parameters>
 </Method>
 </Methods>
 <Events>
 <Event>EventOne</Event>
 </Events> Defining a User Control
23. <!-- Properties, methods & events -->
 <PropertiesDefinition>BasicUserControlProperties.xml</ PropertiesDefinition>
 <Methods>
 <Method>
 <Name>SetName</Name>
 <Signature>SetName(name: Character)</Signature>
 <Parameters>
 <Parameter>Character</Parameter>
 </Parameters>
 </Method>
 </Methods>
 <Events>
 <Event>EventOne</Event>
 </Events> Defining a User Control
24. <!-- Properties, methods & events -->
 <PropertiesDefinition>BasicUserControlProperties.xml</ PropertiesDefinition>
 <Methods>
 <Method>
 <Name>SetName</Name>
 <Signature>SetName(name: Character)</Signature>
 <Parameters>
 <Parameter>Character</Parameter>
 </Parameters>
 </Method>
 </Methods>
 <Events>
 <Event>EventOne</Event>
 </Events> Defining a User Control
25. <!-- Platforms supported -->
 <Platforms>
 <Platform>SmartDevices</Platform>
 </Platforms>
 
 <!-- Android Specific -->
 <Android_ClassName>com.example.BasicUserControl</ Android_ClassName> Defining a User Control
26. <!-- Platforms supported -->
 <Platforms>
 <Platform>SmartDevices</Platform>
 </Platforms>
 
 <!-- Android Specific -->
 <Android_ClassName>com.example.BasicUserControl</ Android_ClassName> Defining a User Control
27. <!-- Platforms supported -->
 <Platforms>
 <Platform>SmartDevices</Platform>
 </Platforms>
 
 <!-- Android Specific -->
 <Android_ClassName>com.example.BasicUserControl</ Android_ClassName> Defining a User Control
28. Installing a User Control > genexus.exe /install
29. public class Control { // ... } Implementing a User Control Mandatory for all User Controls Java class
30. public class Control extends View { // ... } Implementing a User Control Mandatory for all User Controls Java class that: • Extends android.view.View
31. public class Control extends TextView { // ... } Implementing a User Control Mandatory for all User Controls Java class that: • Extends android.view.View
32. public class Control extends TextView implements IGxUserControl { // ... } Implementing a User Control Mandatory for all User Controls Java class that: • Extends android.view.View • Implements com.artech.controls.IGxUserControl
33. public class Control extends TextView implements IGxUserControl, IGxControlRuntime { // ... } Implementing a User Control Interfaces required if the User Control supports • Properties, events and methods.
34. public class Control extends TextView implements IGxUserControl, IGxControlRuntime, IGxThemeable { // ... } Implementing a User Control Interfaces required if the User Control supports • Properties, events and methods. • Applying theme styles.
35. public class Control extends TextView implements IGxUserControl, IGxControlRuntime, IGxThemeable, IGxLocalizable { // ... } Implementing a User Control Interfaces required if the User Control supports • Properties, events and methods. • Applying theme styles. • Language translations.
36. public class Control extends TextView implements IGxUserControl { // ... } Implementing a User Control Implement IGxUserControl when no values are represented. E.g. Ads Control
37. public class Control extends TextView implements IGxEdit { public Control(Context context, Coordinator coordinator, LayoutItemDefinition def) {
 } } Implementing a User Control Implement IGxEdit when one value is represented. E.g. SD Wheel
38. public class Control extends TextView implements IGridView { public Control(Context context, Coordinator coordinator, GridDefinition def) {
 } } Implementing a User Control Implement IGridView when a collection of values are represented. E.g. SD Horizontal Grid
39. More Information Genexus User Controls Genexus Wiki - Creating User Controls for Android Android Knowledge Android Developers - Android Custom Components Android Developers - Android Custom Views
40. External Objects
41. Defining an External Object
42. Defining an External Object
43. public class BasicExternalObject extends ExternalApi { // ... } Implementing an External Object
44. public class BasicExternalObject extends ExternalApi {
 private static final String METHOD_HELLO = "Hello";
 
 public BasicExternalObject() {
 addMethodHandler(METHOD_HELLO, 0, ...);
 }
 } Implementing an External Object
45. public class BasicExternalObject extends ExternalApi {
 private static final String METHOD_HELLO = "Hello";
 
 public BasicExternalObject() {
 addMethodHandler(METHOD_HELLO, 0, mMethod);
 } private final IMethodInvoker mMethod = new IMethodInvoker() {
 @Override
 public ExternalApiResult invoke(List<Object> parameters) { // ...
 }
 }; } Implementing an External Object
46. public class BasicExternalObject extends ExternalApi {
 private static final String METHOD_HELLO = "Hello";
 
 public BasicExternalObject() {
 addMethodHandler(METHOD_HELLO, 0, mMethod);
 } private final IMethodInvoker mMethod = new IMethodInvoker() {
 @Override
 public ExternalApiResult invoke(List<Object> parameters) { String text = (String) parameters.get(0); // ... }
 }; } Implementing an External Object
47. public class BasicExternalObject extends ExternalApi {
 private static final String METHOD_HELLO = "Hello";
 
 public BasicExternalObject() {
 addMethodHandler(METHOD_HELLO, 0, mMethod);
 } private final IMethodInvoker mMethod = new IMethodInvoker() {
 @Override
 public ExternalApiResult invoke(List<Object> parameters) { String text = (String) parameters.get(0); return new ExternalApiResult( ActionResult.SUCCESS_CONTINUE, "Success!" ); }
 }; } Implementing an External Object
48. public class BasicExternalObject extends ExternalApi {
 private static final String METHOD_HELLO = "Hello";
 
 public BasicExternalObject() {
 addMethodHandler(METHOD_HELLO, 0, mMethod);
 } private final IMethodInvoker mMethod = new IMethodInvoker() {
 @Override
 public ExternalApiResult invoke(List<Object> parameters) { String text = (String) parameters.get(0); return new ExternalApiResult( ActionResult.FAILURE, "Failure!" ); }
 }; } Implementing an External Object
49. Properties Mapped to methods • Getter name: PropertyName • Setter name: “set” + PropertyName Implementing an External Object Events ExternalObjectEvent event = new ExternalObjectEvent(
 BasicExternalObject.class.getSimpleName(),
 "EventOne"
 );
 event.fire(args);
50. More Information Genexus External Objects Genexus Wiki - Defining an External Object Genexus Wiki - Implementing an External Object for Android
51. What’s next? Development Packaging Future Environment
52. What’s next? Development Packaging Future Environment
53. Genexus Android Modules BasicExternalObject.java …. …. …. BasicUserControl.java …. …. ….
54. Android Library (.AAR) Genexus Android Modules BasicExternalObject.java …. …. …. BasicUserControl.java …. …. ….
55. Android Library (.AAR) Genexus Android Modules User Controls …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. External Objects …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. ….
56. Android Library (.AAR) Genexus Android Modules …. …. …. SampleModule.java User Controls …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. External Objects …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. ….
57. public class SampleModule implements GenexusModule {
 
 @Override
 public void initialize(Context context) { // ...
 }
 } Genexus Android Modules
58. public class SampleModule implements GenexusModule {
 
 @Override
 public void initialize(Context context) { UserControlDefinition uc = new UserControlDefinition(
 "BasicUserControl",
 BasicUserControl.class
 );
 UcFactory.addControl(uc);
 }
 } Genexus Android Modules
59. public class SampleModule implements GenexusModule {
 
 @Override
 public void initialize(Context context) { UserControlDefinition uc = new UserControlDefinition(
 "BasicUserControl",
 BasicUserControl.class
 );
 UcFactory.addControl(uc); ExternalApiDefinition eo = new ExternalApiDefinition(
 "BasicExternalObject",
 BasicExternalObject.class
 );
 ExternalApiFactory.addApi(eo);
 }
 } Genexus Android Modules
60. Android Library (.AAR) Genexus Android Modules …. …. …. SampleModule.java User Controls …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. External Objects …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. ….
61. Android Library (.AAR) Genexus Android Modules …. …. …. SampleModule.java User Controls …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. External Objects …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. …. AndroidManifest.xml
62. What’s next? Development Packaging Future Environment
63. What’s next? Development Packaging Future Environment
64. In Genexus Ev3… IDE: Eclipse Building system: Ant Development Environment
65. Now in Genexus 15… IDE: Android Studio Building system: Gradle Development Environment
66. Requirements for Genexus 15 • Android Studio (includes Gradle) • JDK • Android SDK See Android Requirements - Genexus Wiki Development Environment
67. What’s next? Development Packaging Future Environment
68. What’s next? Development Packaging Future Environment
71. User Control Designer Tools for writing control definitions
72. User Control Generator (ALPHA) Tools for writing control definitions
73. What did we learn?
74. What did we learn? Development Packaging Future Environment
75. Android Extensions Sample github.com/genexuslabs/AndroidExtensionsSample Genexus extensions documentation wiki.genexus.com Genexus extensions forums genexus.com/developers/forums Genexus tag for StackOverflow stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/genexus So… How do I start?
76. Start developing now for twitter.com/juandiana7