DevExpress Newsletter 36: Message from the CTO

Unfortunately this far too often doesn't work, writing web apps, and you'll probably end up writing it over again.  Why?  Mobile devices do NOT have "always on" capability like we are used to with computers.  Air travel (airplane mode) and locations where there is no service (ehemm AT&T on major highways in VA!!).  If you're writing a data application then 9 times out of 10 you'll need a way to store data on the device.  Customer's are going to seek the vendor that uses local storage vs. web storage I'm afraid, in the land of mobile that is.  Use an offline mode?  Maybe. I created a mobile app and a web service middle tier for data synchronization with participating clients.  Think carefully before you go this route - my $.02.

I totally agree with Neal.

When I saw that title : "Writing apps for mobile devices", I immediately thought :

- Yeaaaaah, they will announce component for WP7 Silverlight !!!

Just to be disappointed.

What is that kind of response by Devex ? We don't do components for the platform you're developping on ? No problem, just create a web app.

Dear felllow Devexers, I'm pleased to announce that the long awaited Mac support has finally arrived. Oh, And for the same price, you've also got the Linux version. Just use XAF and create a web solution ....

I own an iPhone, and excuse me, but there is no way I start using an app that makes me do searches in a combo box on a web page ! I want the real stuff ! I want to scroll with my finger without waiting for the complete page to be rendered, I want that amazing date selector and not try to click on that drop down to access an unusable calendar on such a small screen. You get my point.

Julian, sorry to say that, but for the first time I find your newsletter (or any other intervention from you) a little bit disturbing.

Oh wait, are you just doing this to get all those rants (see Neal, I can also complain at times) and say in your next newsletter "Ok guys, that was a joke ... we have WP7 compos in the pipe, just wait a little !"

Just my 0.02 €.

I think the link to Appcelerator's Titanium was worth the read alone. It would be amazing if DevExpress could provide WP7 components though...

Just my R0.02

For an up and comming application I am developing I have just come to the same conclusion - whilst I understand peoples comments there are cases where a web app targeting mobile devices is wholly appropriate. Comming from a background of hand held device programming I see that mobile developers are being forced into the games console model of applications distribution where by the supplier puts obstacles in your way to distributing an application then charges you for the privilige of leaping over their obstacles. Web development gets around this.

You make it sound so easy to make web pages that look the same and work as intended as long as you have a web browser. Cause there is not a myriad of those around?

Of course, you're addressing smartphone development here, and I somewhat agree, Julian. I think it should be considered an optional software platform in all mobile projects. If it is doable as a web application, and compatibility between the OS'es is very important, money can be saved.

We do develop for mobile devices and most common "type" of the aplication is a supporting bar code scanners (in general serial COM port communication) and tabular evidence of ~20 000 items onstock / sold. If DevExp would simply issue a grid supporting .NET COMPACT FRAMEWORK, that would be a MESSAGE for me.

As long as Flash and Silverlight plugins dont run on mobile devices (at least on Android, iPhone and WP7), the usage of web-apps is just too limited.

Smartphones are just too small for any signficant interaction.  It's great for quick information but is very frustrating to do anything that takes more than few clicks.

It's also amazing how Javascript has come back to the center of web development.  Many attempted to banish it ten years ago calling it a hacker's language with no place in serious web development.

I'm a long term user of Devexpress going back many years, currently a DXExperience Universal subscriber.  I've been frustrated over the years by the lack of support for mobile development across the industry and so have had to embrace a range of suppliers.  Yes Julian it is possible to develop for Windows Mobile, Silverlight for Windows Mobile 7, iOS controls for iPhone / iPad and also Android (shortly) using a common designer in Visual Studio without resorting to using web applications but instead sexy controls and interfaces that sell the device.  Sadly this is available from one of my other component suppliers .. now if Devexpress were to provide the same along the lines of XAF for mobile development ..