Adam Blum: Rhodes — The Open Source Ruby Framework for Building Mobile Applications<\/p>\n
This was one of the most interesting talks for me.<\/p>\n
[Rhodes](http:\/\/www.github.com\/rhomobile) lets you build “native” applications for all mobile phones.<\/p>\n
The exciting new phones like iPhones don’t have a footprint in big
\norganizations. So what platform do you target for your mobile app? Rhodes.<\/p>\n
Build the app quickly in HTML and Ruby. It’s a mobile optimized ruby
\nimplementation. They port the ruby interpreter to Symbian, Blackberry, iPhone,
\nand Android, etc.<\/p>\n
[http:\/\/www.github.com\/rhomobile](http:\/\/www.github.com\/rhomobile)<\/p>\n
It’s a micro framework, and has RhoSync to sync the data with the remote
\nservice. Wikipedia is implementing their mobile version with Rhodes.<\/p>\n
Rhom is a tiny ORM. They have a mini web server that runs so that you can
\nwrite your UI in HTML + JavaScript. That way, they leverage the Web Browser
\nthat exists on each platform. You as a developer get to assume that your data
\nis local at all times. The framework handles synchronizing the data for you —
\nif you wish — you can do your own network programming if you want.<\/p>\n
Rhomobile provides sample apps:<\/p>\n
* SugarCRM
\n* Siebel Field Services<\/p>\n
Third-party Apps:<\/p>\n
* TrailGuide
\n* Wikipedia
\n* Mobile Lighthouse (bug tracker)<\/p>\n
How do you build your Rhodes App?<\/p>\n
* Create a sync source so you can get your data.
\n* Generate scaffolding for your app.
\n* Develop your app.
\n* Build, test, deploy<\/p>\n
Let’s do it:<\/p>\n
$ gem install rhogen Then you generate your app for iPhone, and\/or Symbian, etc.<\/p>\n They use stylesheets to make your app look “native” on the different Feb release:<\/p>\n * GPS Future 1.0 release planned for March 24th:<\/p>\n * Android Future things:<\/p>\n * Audio RhoHub is hosted app development environment. They prvoide user downloading They believe web programming is more productive than the traditional way of Q: Can you do your own custom styling?<\/p>\n A: Absolutely, per app. You can even contribute styling libraries back to them for everyone to use.<\/p>\n Q: How is the ruby runtime stripped down?<\/p>\n A: They’re developing a framework, and so that determines what they do and Q: What kind of performance? Do people feel like it’s slow?<\/p>\n A: Once it starts up, it’s very fast. Start up time is 5 seconds on iPhone. 7 Q: Any apps in the app store? Do you anticipate problems?<\/p>\n A: No, No. But wikipedia’s app is very close. Their name is riding on it, so It sounds like they’ve targeted iPhone primarily, and the other platforms are Adam Blum: Rhodes — The Open Source Ruby Framework for Building Mobile Applications This was one of the most interesting talks for me. [Rhodes](http:\/\/www.github.com\/rhomobile) lets you build “native” applications for all mobile phones. The exciting new phones like iPhones don’t have a footprint in big organizations. So what platform do you target for your mobile … <\/p>\n
\n $ rhogen # displays options
\n $ rhogen app
\n $ rhogen model Contact “” 1 name,phone<\/p>\n
\nplatforms. It’s in great shape for iPhone, Blackberry. The UI doesn’t look as
\ngood on Android. They need someone to do the stylesheet work.<\/p>\n
\n* PIM
\n* Symbian<\/p>\n
\n* Camera support, photo sync to backend
\n* SMS<\/p>\n
\n* Video
\n* Accelerometer
\n* Proximity detection (to enable voice when it gets close enough to the face)
\n— will happen faster if developers contribute the code<\/p>\n
\nfrom a URL, a sync server. First 100 registrants get a private beta:
\nhttp:\/\/rhohub.com — they’re looking for feedback from developers.<\/p>\n
\ndeveloping native mobile apps.<\/p>\n
\ndon’t include in the runtime. They will get around to publishing what the
\ninterpreter has, at some point. They took out ‘eval’, because the Apple App
\nStore doesn’t allow apps to have dynamic, downloadable code.<\/p>\n
\nsec startup on Windows Mobile and Symbian. They’re still aiming at getting it
\ndown to 5 seconds. Always less than 3 MB for each app. Google noticed that
\nthey’re using sqlite for a “property bag”, so they’re looking at switching to
\nsomething more lightweight. On iPhone, sqlite comes with the OS.<\/p>\n
\nthey want to test, test, test before they release.<\/p>\n
\nsecondary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"