Information about the features provided in CoronaUI - or lack thereof

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

First up can I say that Corona looks like an excellent platform for developing apps. But…

As others have commented, there appears to be a lack of information about using Corona for developing business apps (I realize the initial aim of this was for game development) - I am targeting the iPad at the moment. When I read a while back that there was to be a UI module I was looking forward to finding out what features would be available. After reading a number of posts on the forums it would appear that I am not alone in being a little frustrated at the lack of information about what CoronaUI includes.

If the features I require are available then I will be happy to pay the subscription. All I would like is list of features/controls that the CoronaUI makes available. I’m reluctant to pay the $199/$349 until I am sure that the controls I need are available.

I’ve watched the video’s on YouTube, which look very slick (great music!) but these only show what I’m hoping is a very small selection of features.

I have a project that I hope Corona will be ideal for but I just need the additional information to push me in that direction. I have to get moving on this project very soon so help with this would be much appreciated.

Can anyone at Ansca (or anyone out there that is already developing with it) provide such a list? Why does the API reference not include this information?

Thanks
Tiran [import]uid: 63537 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 311647[/import]

#2

I have found this lack of information perplexing too. And several forum posts have gone unanswered. Trying to penetrate the confusion of “CoronaUI” and “Corona UI” have been irksome, and nobody for some reason is willing to speak up. There is *something* about a release of a Corona user interface API that was mentioned in Feb, and later a post about it, but it did nothing to dispel the confusion.

I wish they would just point us, in this post, the official “Corona UI” documentation or examples, or having someone on staff just give us 3 bullet points about the status of it or lack thereof.

Well, I for one hope they read this post and make it clear exactly what the state of a UI API is, or isn’t. The roadmap that just came out the other day did nothing to help either. It said, I think, something about “UI improvements” but I was perplexed as to what UI they refer to and where I read about it.

Please, Ansca, read this and respond CLEARLY. Provide links. [import]uid: 22409 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 42340[/import]

#3

What you guys say make sense. But fyi, they do list them after you login as a subscriber. [import]uid: 11917 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 42341[/import]

#4

@Clement

My point exactly. That’s all very well but doesn’t help those of us who are trying to identify the usefulness of the product.
[import]uid: 63537 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 42345[/import]

#5

@Clement: Not sure what you are saying: that to find out what the product can do you have to buy it first? I keep thinking that this is the business model but my left brain keeps saying that *can’t* be right :slight_smile: [import]uid: 22409 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 42355[/import]

#6

Well what I’m saying is that once you are a subscriber, you get access to coronaUI. Included is also a pdf containing all the documentation for all the different functions. They have the documentation already. They should probably just extract the main ideas and post them publicly. [import]uid: 11917 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 42356[/import]

#7

But if I don’t know what the CoronaUI is (e.g., the full API, at least a list), why would I become a subscriber? I can read the Titanium API and know exactly what I’m getting. I still don’t get it. :frowning:

If you were already on board before it was released, you get it now, and that’s great. But for someone looking to develop list-based apps and harness standardized UI elements, I have no reason, this side of the fence, to even think Corona can do what I need. All I’ve seen is links to “me.com” and some other Google site clearly not part of Ansca. Or not so clear, because it’s confusing.

All it would take is an hour from someone at Ansca to whip up a feature list of *what is included* in the UI API. [import]uid: 22409 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 42358[/import]

#8

Not sure if this helps you…

What is visible in the official Corona UI sample code demo:

  • Scroll Lists
  • Categorised Scroll Lists
  • Date Picker Wheel
  • Time Picker Wheel
  • Custom Picker Wheel
  • Toggle Buttons
  • Slider Bars
  • Multiple Selection List
  • Single Selection List
  • Check Boxes
  • Radio Buttons
  • Buttons
  • Labels
  • Title Bar

There is also director class for transitions and a navbar slider too I believe. [import]uid: 11393 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 42371[/import]

#9

I don’t think director class is part of coronaUI. I’m pretty sure its open source and available in the community code. [import]uid: 11917 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 42396[/import]

#10

You’re right. I should have written screen management instead of director class. [import]uid: 11393 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 42398[/import]

#11

@Clement
Yes, I agree - publishing such a document would seem to me to be the very least Ansca should be doing to allow developers to make informed decisions. But as I said before, surely this should be part of the published API documentation on the website?

@behouin
Thanks for that start, I suspect this may not be the full list though?

@Ansca
Any comment from Ansca staff on this would be appreciated?

[import]uid: 63537 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 42438[/import]

#12

Well, I’m a little disappointed that no one from Ansca has commented on this topic.

I guess I’ll have to look at other alternatives as I can’t justify spending $199 without knowing what I am buying! [import]uid: 63537 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 43595[/import]

#13

The Director class is written by a very kind member on the forum and let us use it totally for free.

Sure, Corona SDK is lacking in the app development side but game dev is fantastic and I think it is more geared towards that. On the other hand, the official coronaUI is open source and you can just download it and tweak it to your needs. I agree it is missing many UI elements but I’m sure they are coming, personally I’m missing vertical scroll and tabBar but if I need that I can just pick some bits and pieces from the sample apps and I’m good to go.

For those of you who are using Corona Project Manager, I have the AutoComplete words for CoronaUI and some other various libraries on my GitHub Repo. It’s free to use and I intend to keep them updated to the latest releases.

Get it here!
[import]uid: 13560 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 43602[/import]

#14

Hey guys,

I don’t work with CoronaUI (yet, I plan to get into it soon) so I can’t give you a full run down.

I’ll try to have someone who DOES know all the ins and outs of CoronaUI post some answers for you.

Peach :slight_smile: [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 43621[/import]

#15

yes to the lack of some sort of CoronaUI document that describes what it is/what it has, etc…

we got dinged hard on that one and we, not anyone else, we, us, the ansca folks, the dweeb co-founders, the monkeys running the show, dropped the ball completely on that one.

as to why for subscribers? well. that may change but don’t hold me against it. am just the messenger monkey boy.

c.
[import]uid: 24 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 43636[/import]

#16

@Peach - thanks, I’d appreciate it.

@Carlos - thanks for the admission of guilt :wink:

But… it sounds like you still may not be releasing some documentation to those of us non-subscribers who are curious about the features? [import]uid: 63537 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 43692[/import]

#17

Hi Folks,

I am facing the same issue. I am a Flash pro and have worked on ActionScript for almost 10+ yrs. I have an idea which I can port using Flex/AIR but feel its much worthy to go to corona for rapid development.

However without knowing what is there in CoronaUI and how can I exploit it, i am bit reluctant buying it.
@Carlos - Sincere request if not any demo, please publish some screenshot or the component details somewhere to know what we can get.
I am sure it will add few more eagerly waiting developers under corona umbrella.

Cheers
Anand
[import]uid: 90303 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 59035[/import]

#18

huh?

http://developer.anscamobile.com/content/widget

docs say beta, but it is out of beta and all you need to do is

local widget = require "widget"

c.

[import]uid: 24 topic_id: 11647 reply_id: 59119[/import]