Making a business app?

Solar2D General Questions/Discussion
#1

I’m wanting to make an app for my business. it would be for is selling things that I make, currently I’m using facebook, and they just send me a message if they want to order. So I’m wanting to make an app that they would be able to see what were currently selling and make an order, there would be no need for a payment system, as I would need to drop these of until the business gets bigger. so here’s my questions.

  • How would I go about being able to update my stock without having to make the customers update the app. that’s the only way I would know how to update my stock. (rewriting the app then sending out an update with updated stock.)

  • For me to be able to update my stock without them updating the app would I need a server?

.- lastly Would an app like this be approved for android and possibly apple? (Depending on if I end up getting a mac.)

Thank you so much for any help you can give me!

#2

I’ve made apps like this using CoronaSDK. What I’ve done is have the app connect to a server and download the product info in JSON format.  Some other formats like XML would also work.

So, yes you need a server but this could just be a file stored on your website (assuming you have one).

Yes, you can get approved by apple, but you have to be careful. You should have some data built into the app, so that it works even if the user does’t have a network connection. I’ve heard of people getting their app rejected by apple if it only presents info and doesn’t do anything else (basically a website turned into an app). If you’re taking orders, but not payment, that might be OK. Apple’s rules are always changing and the app reviewers don’t always seem to apply them uniformly.

#3
  1. Thanks so much for your answer! I still have a few questions though, if I don’t yet have a website would I need to create one or what would be steps for creating a server? also I don’t know much about servers do they cost a lot per month? lastly is it possible to region lock apps in the android and apple store, like lets say I only allow it to be downloaded in the state I live in.
#4

Search this forum for Coronium . Easiest way to accomplish what you would like to do.

#5

In both the Android and Apple app stores, you can restrict which countries your app is released in.

You can not restrict the distribution to a state or some other part of a country.

#6

I’ve made apps like this using CoronaSDK. What I’ve done is have the app connect to a server and download the product info in JSON format.  Some other formats like XML would also work.

So, yes you need a server but this could just be a file stored on your website (assuming you have one).

Yes, you can get approved by apple, but you have to be careful. You should have some data built into the app, so that it works even if the user does’t have a network connection. I’ve heard of people getting their app rejected by apple if it only presents info and doesn’t do anything else (basically a website turned into an app). If you’re taking orders, but not payment, that might be OK. Apple’s rules are always changing and the app reviewers don’t always seem to apply them uniformly.

#7
  1. Thanks so much for your answer! I still have a few questions though, if I don’t yet have a website would I need to create one or what would be steps for creating a server? also I don’t know much about servers do they cost a lot per month? lastly is it possible to region lock apps in the android and apple store, like lets say I only allow it to be downloaded in the state I live in.
#8

Search this forum for Coronium . Easiest way to accomplish what you would like to do.

#9

In both the Android and Apple app stores, you can restrict which countries your app is released in.

You can not restrict the distribution to a state or some other part of a country.