An App In Action

What we'll cover in this talk

• Cordova works with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS
• This talk: Mac Development Environment
• Command Line - mostly
• Building for iOS and Android...
• other device platforms exist!

So many apps!

So what?

HTML5 improvements

• Standards improved
• Faster
• More Responsive
• Use a JS Framework! Like Backbone.js, Knockout.js, Ember.js
• ... but not Angular
• ... because it sucks

Cordova - The details

• Make native apps using HTML, CSS, and Javascript
• Making the interface = building a webpage
• Native advantage - Access parts of the device that a webpage can't
• Make an app for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, Firefox OS, and more

What about Phonegap?

• Adobe's mobile development framework that is powered by Cordova

Cordova vs. Phonegap

• Phonegap makes cloud-based builds
• This guide uses command line Cordova
• Free, license isn't restrictive
• Build locally with no internet connection
• Compatible with more third-party plugins
• More setup than Phonegap

Tips

• Apache Cordova platform guides
• Installing package dependencies on Mac - use Homebrew

Prerequisites

• This guide assumes you're running a recent laptop with Mac OS 10.10 Yosemite
• Node.js
• Ruby. RVM is useful
• Cordova command line. Installation instructions

Install Java JDK

• Install Java JDK from Apple (link)
• ... ignore the Lion logo, it works fine

Install Android SDK

• Install the stand-alone Android SDK tools (link)
• Android 5.1.1 (API 22) platform SDK
• Android SDK Build-tools version 19.1.0 or higher
• Android Support Repository (Extras)

Update Android SDK path

• Update your path so the Android SDK tools can be accessed from the command line

Done setting up Android!

• Now for iOS...

Installing Xcode

• Search for Xcode on the App store

Installing Xcode

• You must be logged in with an Apple ID and agree to the terms

Billing Info

• if you don't have billing info for an Apple ID, you can select Payment - None just to download XCode

Install Xcode Command Line Tools

• Here's a good guide (link)
• you can install the command line tools with the command xcode-select --install

Accept Xcode iOS License Terms

• After installing, run a command. it will prompt you to agree to the Xcode iOS license terms

Install Xcode Components

• Open Xcode - it will prompt you to install additional components

Xcode is ready

• You can build iOS apps
• When you update something, make sure it still works

Tips

• Cordova Docs
• Detailed, helpful documentation

Create a Project

• cordova create hello com.example.hello HelloWorld
• Directory
• Identifier (and bundle ID)
• Application title
• This creates a hello directory with your project

Add Android Platform

• Let's add Android first
• go to the hello directory
• cordova platform add android
• This creates an android directory in /platforms

Add iOS Platform

• Let's add iOS
• cordova platform add ios
• This creates an ios directory in /platforms
• Remember the Application title? Same as folder name

Run on Device hardware (recommended)

• Android Emulator:
• it can be slow
• Test devices you don't have
• We'll use the Cordova command line

Run with Cordova Command Line - Prereqs

• prerequisites include the default Cordova Android SDK version (Android 4.4.2 (API 19))

Run with Cordova Command Line - Prereqs

• On Macs, ant is needed. I use Homebrew brew install ant

Device: Enable USB Debugging

• Enable in device Settings. Great guide

Run it and debug it

• cordova run android
• Android tools - monitor command. View all of your app's log output on your PC
• You must delete the app from the device if you run it again!
• Delete the app from the device from the PC command line with adb uninstall <bundle id>

Run on Device hardware (recommended)

• iOS Simulator allows fast builds
• No device initialization or keys needed to test
• ...but that setup must be done eventually
• We'll use Xcode

Initialize the Device

• Connect the device
• "trust this computer"
• Run it with "play" button
• Then a first time progress bar...

Xcode - Enable Developer mode

• Enable this so you don't need to re-enter an admin password every build
• The build continues and...

Failed to Code Sign

• (An example hiccup in the process)
• To run on your device, the app must be signed
• You must set up a developer profile in Xcode. Select Fix Issue

Add Developer Apple ID

• You are prompted to add an Apple ID that is enrolled in a Developer program
• Select "Add..."
• Enter your Apple Developer ID

Sidebar: Installing app on devices - Prereqs

• You must create an Apple ID
• You must purchase an iOS Developer Program Membership ($99)
• You must add your Device UDID to the Provisioning Profile
• You must create a development certificate

Sidebar: Installing app on devices - Prereqs (cont'd)

• You must install that development certificate

Select a Development Team

• In this specific case, a development team must be selected

Certificate valid, but not locally

• I had the certificate already installed on another Mac

Exporting the profile

• I had to export it on one Mac (and secure the exported profile with a password)

Import your exported developer profile

• I had to import it on the other Mac
• Weirdness like this happens. Accept it and move on
• finally, allow keychain access

Run it and debug it

• Run it with Xcode
• Check the Xcode log output for your log messages
• A Cordova plugin lets you do this
• Plugins? coming up

Now that Xcode build app to device works

• It never has to be fixed again!
• I lied
• if anything changes you may need to fix it again
• iOS version update, Xcode version update, Mac OS version update
• Changing anything on your PC

Adding Plugins Overview

• Plugins provide a JS interface for Native device APIs
• General Docs on Plugin APIs
• cordova plugin add <plugin identifier>
• If it's in the Plugin Registry, it can be added via ID
• Let's add some plugins ...

Add the device plugin

• A "Core" plugin
• Needed to access information about the device
• cordova plugin add org.apache.cordova.device
• (Device API docs)

Add the console plugin

• A "Core" plugin
• Outputs log information, useful for debugging
• cordova plugin add org.apache.cordova.console
• (Console API docs)

Add the camera plugin

• A "Core" plugin
• interacts with the device camera
• cordova plugin add org.apache.cordova.camera
• (Camera API docs)

Using plugins: Caveats

• Must be activated after 'deviceReady' event
• It's asynchronous!
• The Cordova docs on Events are very helpful (link)

Third-party plugins

Third-party plugins

• Ensure it's compatible
• Watch for plugin updates! Lock your code to one version if using automated builds
• Cordova updates break older plugins

iOS Considerations

• Installing and setting up XCode
• Developer Licensing, Provisioning Profiles, Certificates
• App Store Submission and Approval
• App Sandboxing and limited access to other features

Android Considerations

• Device Fragmentation
• Intents
• Hardware buttons Back, Home, Search, and Info

General Cross-Platform Considerations

• Different UI Behaviors and User Expectations
• Different implementations of software functionality. Local Notifications

Solutions to iOS, Android, and Cross-Platform issues

• Use what you know
• Got an iPhone? Make iPhone.
• Ignoring this rule? Bad

More Solutions to iOS, Android, and Cross-Platform issues

• Test
• Test
• Test on devices, test with users, test on more devices, test in browsers

Cordova Setup

• Install SDKs and environments
• Connect and Unlock Device for Development
• Create project
• add platforms
• add plugins
• READY!

Browser Testing

• Open /www folder in web browser
• Test and fix like a webpage
• Native functionality?
• Branch it out so non-native parts can still be tested in the browser

Device Build

• Build app with cordova build <platform>
• Run on device, using either cordova run or IDE
• Check debug logging on PC (if using console plugin)

Super-ugly sketch of Cordova build paths