Studies report there are more than 100 tools and frameworks for cross-platform mobile development. Most of them are JavaScript/HTML5 based, but are there actually any options for "plain old Java developers" that allow you to write mobile apps for multiple platforms in Java? After a brief overview of the general architectural patterns in cross platform mobile development, we will dig a little deeper and have a look at some Java-based frameworks that claim to make the "write once, run anywhere" promise a reality. In particular, I will demonstrate GWT mobile and Tabris (formerly known as RAP mobile). The session will consist of a few introductory slides outlining the architectural differences between the various options and a lot of live demos of the tools.

2. Cross-Platform Mobile Development

3. Peter Friese
@peterfriese
peter.friese@zuehlke.com
xing.to/peter
http://peterfriese.de
(c) 2012 Peter Friese, Zühlke Engineering (peter@peterfriese.de / @peterfriese)

4. Popular Architectural Patterns for Mobile
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5. Java == the most popular language for mobile?
ableView
th *)indexPath JS 1.2%
ndexPath.row];
er Java 17.2%
oc] init];
er.speaker =
iewController Objective-C 9.5%
C# 6.5%
Source: TIOBE Programming Community Index for October 2012

6. So
Why Don’t
? We Use Java
to build
Mobile
Apps?
http://petux7.deviantart.com/art/java-cup-208839517

7. mgwt

8. How does mgwt work?

9. Demo

10. mgwt Features
Runs on webkit
iOS, Android, BlackBerry
Native-looking UI
Theming for Android / iOS
Access to platform (gwt-phonegap)

11. How does Vaadin TouchKit work?

12. Demo

13. Vaadin TouchKit Features
Supports iOS, Android
Rich collection of UI components
iOS-Look’n’Feel
Configurable offline support
Access to platform via PhoneGap

15. PhoneGap Build - Wrap your App
Upload your HTML-based app
Build for
iOS
Android
Windows Phone
BlackBerry
Download binary via QR code
Publish to app store

16. PhoneGap Build - Wrap your App
http://build.phonegap.com

17. How does Tabris work?
Native App
http:// (JSON)
RAP Mobile
Engine RAP App
(Java)
iPhone Device
RAP Server
N )
SO
(J
://
tp
ht
Native App
Files
Images
Other Resources
Database
RAP Mobile
Engine
Android Device Backend

18. Demo

19. Tabris Features
Supports iOS, Android
Rich collection of UI components
(Mostly) native look’n’feel
No offline support - needs to be online
Access to platform via bridge or native

20. Want to know more about these patterns?
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Get in touch: peter.friese@zuehlke.com

21. Peter Friese
om
peter.friese@zuehlke.c
hlke Engineering Gm
bH Available for cons
Zü
Am Sandtorkai 66 ulting,
20457 Hamburg projects, discuss
ing
+49 151 108 604 72 all things mobile
- and frostynbteer
coffei aev d agenks
dri s! !