Suitability for non-game apps?

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

Hi, I’ve recently gotten myself an Android device and had some ideas about creating applications for it. I’m a total newbie when it comes to Lua, but the Corona SDK certainly caught my attention since it offers the ability to create Android apps without the use of Java.(Hate it with a passion!)

I understand that Corona was intended for more graphically-intensive applications like games, but wonder about the suitability of using it to create non-game apps, such as utility-type or simple business apps. I’m especially concerned with the availability of “standard” UI components that I will have access to, such as ListViews, DataGrids, etc; or in the absence of such readily made components, how easily would it be to create something similar via the SDK?

Would sticking to Corona be a viable choice? Or would I really need to make my peace with Java and go through the process with the Android SDK? While my idea for a first app is utility-based, I am certainly considering moving on to game projects in the near future. If Corona would support both types of apps easily, it would certainly be my choice.

I come from a PHP/.NET background, and have been doing web design and desktop development on a hobbyist basis for the last 14 years, but mobile development is a totally new thing for me. Would appreciate any advice that is offered. Thanks! [import]uid: 35877 topic_id: 6359 reply_id: 306359[/import]

#2

Well Ansca is literally about to release more standard UI components; refer to this teaser video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLSQoyvLtXg

With those additions I would definitely consider Corona a great tool for creating utility apps, and that’s on top of it already being the best tool for developing 2D games. That said however your options aren’t just Corona/Lua or Java. Have you looked at PhoneGap or Appcelerator? [import]uid: 12108 topic_id: 6359 reply_id: 21967[/import]

#3

Hi jhocking, I read about Ansca improving on their native UI controls, but the list currently still seems rather sparse. I wasn’t aware there were videos showcasing them though, they look good! =) Hopefully Ansca would continue to add additional controls as time passes.

I had briefly read up on PhoneGap and Appcelerator prior, but from what I gathered, their program output is basically just a webapp that just looks like a native app, but is to some extent able to access some native APIs. (at least for Appcelerator, not so sure about PhoneGap). For performance and other reasons I would prefer something that compiles to more native code if possible, hence my interest in Corona.

That said, do you have personal experience with these two tools that you can share? [import]uid: 35877 topic_id: 6359 reply_id: 21975[/import]

#4

I don’t have personal experience with either tool, and I didn’t know that about Titanium. yuck, so much for me having any interest in that tool. I’m pretty sure that PhoneGap outputs native apps, not just a web app that looks convincing. After all, if the output was a web app then Apple’s approval process wouldn’t matter to them, but I have seen them mentioned during the various approval controversies that come up from time to time. [import]uid: 12108 topic_id: 6359 reply_id: 22002[/import]

#5

For now, I agree that the UI is a bit sparse but I am personally confident that more will be available either from Ansca or what you’ll be able to find at the code exchange. The recent video that Carlos posted was very encouraging and I am looking forward to that release.

If for example you require access to the photogallery, at this time, the app basically screen captures the lo-res version. While it does access the native UI it completely misses the most important part of acquiring the hi-res pic (unless ofcourse I’ve complelety missed it in the API ie: media.show()). A ticket was opened and we are waiting for workaround or maybe a new way to access the camera. [import]uid: 8045 topic_id: 6359 reply_id: 22024[/import]

#6

@jhocking: I found a discussion thread from late last year which seemed to conclude that PhoneGap does indeed wrap your web tech code within webkit on iOS. Someone else later said that while this is still true for PhoneGap, Appcelerator has moved on into compiled javascript territory, embedding your code within actual objective-c code, gaining native API features as well as performance gains over PhoneGap. While that seemed encouraging at first, I later found another thread which contained many complaints from frustrated Appcelerator users, mainly to do with poor documentation, a lacklustre support team which is largely inactive on their forums, and mysterious bugs on the Android side of things that goes on unresolved even after being reported. Yikes. Not something I’d like to get into being new to the scene and all.

@luna: I understand that the focus on native UI was a more recent endeavor, and as such we can expect that new controls will take time to appear, and bugs to turn up as they do. Guess this is something for which we’d have to give Ansca the chance to prove itself; seems that they have done quite well so far. =)

[import]uid: 35877 topic_id: 6359 reply_id: 22101[/import]

#7

Here’s a discussion I just came across on StackOverflow that discusses what PhoneGap and Titanium are doing:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1482586/comparison-between-corona-phonegap-titanium [import]uid: 12108 topic_id: 6359 reply_id: 24451[/import]