Good platform for building mobile app?

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thorax

75 posts

Master Geek

#150120 11-Jul-2014 17:06

Hi there, I am looking at re-building an application for mobile.

I want to build it for multiple platforms (mainly iOS and Andriod, but also WP8 later on),
I have used phonegap in the past to develop the first version.

Is there a better technology to use for cross platform apps, or am I better to build it natively for each device?

Here is a link to the app that was built using phone gap, published in the apple store

I want to rebuild this app to be more responsive / mobile friendly.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading.

itxtme

2102 posts

Uber Geek

#1087384 11-Jul-2014 18:09

While phonegap may have been the platform to convert to an App it looks by the screenshot you used jquerymobile, is this correct?

If responsiveness is imperative then I suggest you native code as opposed to an HTML5 product. HTML5 is restricted by the ability of the device to render it, and that can be very hit and miss. With an apple device there is more control as you know what is the lowest spec device and can design accordingly, add in windows and Android and there is greater discrepancy from device to device. For example an app I am involved in testing currently is running jquerymobile like a pig on samsung tablets but runs beautifully on my nexus 5, go figure!

Obviously moving from HTML5 based app is a completely different programming language, so you will know if this will work

dotnetdev

36 posts

Geek

#1087555 11-Jul-2014 22:54

If you do find yourself going down the path of converting web code to mobile platform code, and you know .net, consider Xamarin, all platforms can share the same code.

However, I believe the trend is for simple-ish apps to do the opposite - moving from being platform specific to web and only using device as renderer.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1087570 11-Jul-2014 23:24

Does your app need to use any local device specific functionality?

thorax

75 posts

Master Geek

#1087680 12-Jul-2014 13:26

itxtme: it looks by the screenshot you used jquerymobile, is this correct?

Good spotting, yep thats jquerymobile.

nathan: Does your app need to use any local device specific functionality?

Not exactly, the biggest requirement was that it needs to be available offline.
But really I want to rebuild it from the ground up, to make better of touch/

Ive been looking at apps like https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.thewarehouse.wow https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/your-warehouse-your-way/id835418944

It seems the result Im after can be achieved using a hybrid app with apache serving up content. In my case I would store all content locally / or cache it to met the offline requirement.
If this is using webwiew / UIWebView, I am totes amaze-ball impressed because it seems to run super smooth, developers did a good job here.

Has anyone had any experience using the cloud as a app backend?

thorax

75 posts

Master Geek

#1087683 12-Jul-2014 13:38

dotnetdev: consider Xamarin, all platforms can share the same code.

cool Ill take a look at it. thanks.