Cross Platform Developmentthe Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

WIFI: BRGuest / Gu3st!

So You Need an App

Congratulations! You’ve decided you or your organization needs a mobile app.

Android and Windows and iPhone, Oh My!

Your Options

• Develop Two Applications Simultaneously• Pick a Platform—Then Follow Up with Another App• Go Cross Platform

Overview

• My Introduction• Just What is Cross Platform Development?• Cost• Speed• Simplicity• Platform Limitations• User Experience• Integration Challenges• Tools I Have Experience With• Objective C vs. Java• Corona Demonstration• Discussion• Thank You!

Introduction

Real quick I am team lead at Bottle Rocket Apps. I have independently published several video games for Android, iPhone, Kindle, and Nook. I write a weekly column for CBS Interactive on Smart Phone development. I have developed native apps and cross platform apps for some very large customers including Fox News and Chick-fil-A to name a couple.

What is Cross Platform Development?

• For a piece of software to be considered cross platform, it must be able to operate on more than one computer architecture or operating system.

Cost

Theoretically it is more cost effective to leverage one code base.

Speed

Potentially you can get your app to market faster using a shared code base vs. individual native implementations.

Simplicity

In the case of a cross platform app most updates occur in tandem across all platforms.

Platform Limitations

You will find yourself forced to support the lowest common denominator.

User Experience

The majority of successful consumer apps are built native to afford the platform’s unique user experience. Notable exceptions include most games and LinkedIn.

Integration Challenges

Getting access to settings, locale, and notifications can be tricky in a cross platform environment.

Tools I have Experience With

• Unity• Corona SDK• Cordova / Phone Gap• Monkey• HTML 5 / JS / Sencha Touch• The Native Android SDK

Objective C vs. Java

Corona Demonstration

http://fuze.me/26678810 to watch live on your laptop

Discussion

Thank You!

• Get in touch with me: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/william-francis/7/a32/bb9

• Read my blog: http://www.techrepublic.com/search/?a=William%20J.%20Francis

• Get this presentation: http://www.thingerjiggy.com/downloads/xplatform_dev