Exadel Bloggers

Exadel’s David Schoenbach published a very interesting article on how APIs are exposing value and changing the nature of the Internet.

In 2012, the client-server par­a­digm, which has dom­i­nated ap­pli­ca­tion ar­chi­tec­ture — and the modern Web architecture which is its most modern in­car­na­tion — over the past twenty years, is giving ground to a more broadly dis­trib­uted client-cloud ap­proach. As this shift hap­pens, it promises to un­lock value in pre­vi­ously under-utilized en­ter­prise data and media con­tent. The cat­a­lyst for this change is to be found in the ex­plo­sion of ap­pli­ca­tion pro­gram­ming in­ter­faces, or APIs, which ex­pose re­sources within and be­yond the cor­po­rate fire­wall and re­de­fine the on­line economy.

Read the entire article

How APIs Are Exposing Value and Changing the Nature of the Internet In 2012, the client-server paradigm, which has dominated application architecture — and the modern Web architecture which is its most modern incarnation — over the past twenty years, is giving ground to a more broadly distributed client-cloud approach. As this shift happens, it [...]

You can now build jQuery Mobile apps in Tiggzi and export the app for Windows Phone (with PhoneGap).

VS Project is a Windows Phone PhoneGap project. We will be adding binary build as well. To get a binary, you have two options: 1) build it yourself; 2) take it to PhoneGap Build.

Wednesday and Thursday this week the Tiggzi team will be at AnDevCon conference in San Francisco. Stop by our stand and learn how to build Android apps, connected to any REST API using Tiggzi app builder. What’s really nice is that you can build an app in Tiggzi, export the Android binary, and instantly publish it to Google Play Store.

Yes, this is pretty cool:

Windows Phone export in Tiggzi will be available tomorrow.

Tiggzi at DC jQuery Meetup View more presentations from Max Katz

This past weekend Oleksandr (Sasha) Piskun, chief mobile architect behind Tiggzi and myself attended the AT&T Mobile Hackathon at the AT&T Foundry in Palo Alto. The hackathon was also sponsored by Facebook. A big thank you to Alex Donn, Ben Nelson and other AT&T team members for putting this awesome event together and including us in it.

If you are not familiar with a hackathon format, it goes like this. The event usually starts Friday evening with what’s called “developer dating” or simply networking. After about an hour, event sponsors and tool providers make a 5-10 minute presentation on their API’s and tools. After that the attendees get a few minutes to pitch their app ideas. Once all the presentations are done, it’s time to form teams and start building the apps. Team forming or app building goes until about midnight. The next day the event restarts at about 10am, accompanied by breakfast and the teams start building and hacking. This goes until about 7pm at which point all development stops and teams get about 3 minutes to present their apps. Once everyone presented, the judges get together and decide on the winners.

This was our fourth hackathon after attending hackathons in San Diego and Seattle (sponsored by AT&T) and one in San Francisco sponsored by Microsoft. The Palo Alto one was the biggest hackathon so far. This is probably because it was in the heart of Silicon Valley and sponsored by Facebook.

We arrived at AT&T Foundry around 6pm on Friday, and the place was already pretty busy. AT&T Foundry is a great place for a hackathon, large area, large tables. The entire place was divided into small sections (but still open) which are perfect for teams working together.

Alex Donn started the event around 7:30pm introducing himself, his team, AT&T and all the partners. He always shows this picture which shows all the various tools that attendees can use during the hackathon:

Picture from Seattle hackathon
Next James Pearce, Head of Mobile Developer Relations at Facebook presented:

James Pearce from Facebook

More companies presented after Facebook. There were presentations from Apigee UserGrid, AT&T mHealth, Mozilla and Viafo. We (Tiggzi) also got a chance to present. We got about 3-4 minutes to show how to build an app in Tiggzi. What’s really amazing is that I built a Twitter search app in under 2 minutes! Yes – that’s how long it takes to build a simple app in Tiggzi. The app is jQuery Mobile on the UI and connects to Twitter’s search REST API.

I did run into a small glitch during the demo. My WiFi connection went down. Yes, even thought the event was happening at AT&T, WiFi connection was rather flaky. Most likely due to number of different devices (laptops, tablets, phones) in the same room, all trying to use the same network. I haven’t had any demo issues for a very long time so I guess it was just time. So, the next one is now far away! For about 1 minute I didn’t have Internet connection and was about to give up but then I got reconnected and was able to finish the app.

Anyone who wanted to use Tiggzi to build their app could get 2 months Pro plan. In fact, any attendee could get the 2 months Pro plan. We also offered prizes to winning teams. 1st place best app built in Tiggzi gets 12 months Pro plan for the entire team. 2nd and 3rd places get 6 months Pro plan for the entire team.

Sasha and I stayed at the hackathon until around midnight talking with people and telling them more about Tiggzi. We got home around 1:30am.

Next morning we met around 9am and drove to Palo Alto getting there just after 10am. A good number of teams were already there and building their apps. We settled down in the main (first) room where people could easily find us.

Sasha explaining how to build apps with

We counted about 10 teams (out of 29) using Tiggzi to build their apps. The rest of the day was very busy for us. I don’t think we had more than 5 minutes of free time, both of us were helping different teams with Tiggzi questions as well as various API questions. It was busy but we had a lot of fun!

To win the best app prize and $20,000 the app had to use Facebook Graph API. We came prepared to the hackathon and created a step-by-step tutorial on how to build an app in Tiggzi that uses Facebook API. Note: turned out you can also use client-only authentication which is a little bit simpler than described in the tutorial.

Hacking

Everything was going well, and a number of teams started testing the app on the actual phones. Tiggzi comes with a really awesome test feature where at any moment you can launch the app in the browser for testing. To give a feeling of a real phone, the app opens inside a frame – where the actual frame looks like a generic smart phone:

When you open the same test URL on a mobile device, we detect the device and don’t render the frame. The transition between frame and the non-frame version is done with a basic redirect. The redirect unfortunately caused a problem when testing the app on the actual mobile device. Facebook would do a callback to a page in Tiggzi app with query parameters that need to be saved. A redirect would happen (when testing the app on a mobile device) but the query parameters would be lost. An obvious solution was to use mobile only pages (for callback and in Facebook app settings). We found another problem, now with jQuery Mobile. The callback URL from Facebook uses # (instead of ?) to separate the start of query parameters and this caused jQuery Mobile fail to load. At the end we did find a workaround, and users were able to test on the actual mobile device. We are working on long term solution as well. For example, we are making the phone frame to be optional.

At 7pm development stopped and all the teams lined up to present their apps. All the teams that used Tiggzi presented the app running in desktop browser, the phone frame is a nice feature and mimics a real device. At the end, the bug wasn’t such a big issue – after all the teams did build the apps.

Once all the presentations were done, we went to a separate room and picked the winners. We also picked best three apps built with Tiggzi. Best Tiggzi app 1st place (12 months Pro plan winners) was won by a team that didn’t have any HTML or jQuery Mobile experience.

The feedback was pretty much universal from all the teams, people are amazed how easy it is to build apps with Tiggzi. At the same time, we get a ton of feedback on improving Tiggzi builder. Here is what we are planning based on hackathon feedback:

1. Simplify project creation – just one project type (the app can be either mobile web or PhoneGap app)
2. Make the phone frame for testing optional. By default we will open the app link in full browser window. This might not look as “nice”, but technically it gives a better view of how the app looks and behaves.

Presentation time One of the winning apps built with Tiggzi Winners

We are looking forward to the next hackathon!

I want to thank Sasha for spending the weekend helping build apps instead of being in Yosemite. I also want to thank the entire Tiggzi team for amazing job done. They are many more awesome features they are planning to release.

I’ll be speaking at DC jQuery Users Group this Thursday, May 10. I’ll be showing Tiggzi – the cloud-based jQuery Mobile and PhoneGap app builder, and how fast and easy it is to build jQuery Mobile apps connected to any REST API.

This weekend (May 4-5) we are going to be at the ATT Mobile Hackathon in Palo Alto. Tiggzi Mobile App Builder is an excellent tool for hackathons as it allows to build HTML5 and PhoneGap apps very quickly (and you don’t have to be a super developer). Everyone who attends the hackathon and wants to try Tiggzi will get 2 months Pro plan free. Additional prices will be given to winning teams.

Just in time for the hackathon, we published a tutorial on how to connect to Facebook.

See you there.

WAC (the Wholesale Applications Community) offers a single cross-operator payment API across 9 operators today with plans to extend to all 58 member operators. Mobile carrier enabled in-app billing promises better conversion for app developers since there is no reason to enter usernames and passwords.

Do you want to see how to use in-app carrier billing in developing a mobile app? Come join us as Exadel and WAC, in conjunction with Deutsche Telekom’s Developer Garden, present a hands-on interactive webinar in which we will demonstrate how to build an app with Tiggzi Mobile App Builder and WAC’s in-app billing API. We’ll show everything from the WAC sign-up process to the creation and testing of a complete functioning app.

Webinar organizers:
Tiggzi/Exadel (Twitter, Facebook)
WAC (Twitter, Facebook)
Deutsche Telekom’s Developer Garden (Twitter, Facebook)

When: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM PDT
Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/971108977

Do you want to see how to use in-app carrier billing in developing a mobile app? On May 23, you’ll have the chance in a webinar organized by Exadel, WAC, and Deutsche Telecom’s Developer Garden. WAC (the Wholesale Applications Community) offers a  single cross-operator payment API across 9 operators today with plans to extend to all [...]

One of the really nice features we released in Tiggzi Mobile App Builder in April is the option to get iOS binary file for your app (similar to PhoneGap Build).

Now you can create your mobile app in Tiggzi and instantly build the iOS binary file (or Android).

As we use the standard iOS build process, you will still need to provide your Apple developer information (nothing we can do about that, more information here on how to get it). The information is then set in project profile:

Yesterday we attended mobile hackathon sponsored by Microsoft and PhoneGap. The goal was to build a PhoneGap app and install in on Windows Phone. We used Tiggzi App Builder, PhoneGap Build and very quickly installed an app on Windows Phone. Thanks to @jccim for inviting us and giving us a brand new Windows Phone for testing.

Step 1.

Build an HTML5/jQuery Mobile app in Tiggzi Mobile App Builder:

Step 2.

Export the app as HTML/JavaScript/CSS:

We will be adding Windows Phone support to Tiggzi in May (first source code export, followed by binary build).

Step 3.

Upload the app to PhoneGap Build, download the Windows Phone version:

You are done!

We just published a new hands-on tutorial on creating HTML5/jQuery Mobile app (can also be exported as PhoneGap app) using StackMob backend in Tiggzi app builder.

Sign up for Tiggzi Free plan today and build this mobile app.

The final app is shown below. On the first page we get a list messages we retrieved from StackMob back-end. You can also add a new message:

Click on a message takes you to second page where a message can be deleted:

This is how the first page looks in Tiggzi:

Yesterday, Max Katz presented Tiggzi Mobile App Builder at a Mobile Monday focusing on multi-platform build tools held at the Verizon San Francisco App Innovation Center. Also presenting were PhoneGap, Marmalade, and Trigger.io. The View from the Ninth Floor From @maxkatz Part of the Crowd From @maxkatz PhoneGap Presenting From @maxkatz Mobile Monday Silicon Valley [...]

Exadel is busy sharing our excitement about cloud computing and mobile development, mostly around Tiggzi Mobile App Builder, in a a variety of venues. Here’s a summary list of what we are doing today, what we’ve been up to recently, and what we’ll be doing in the next couple of months. Right Now Mobile Monday: Multi-platform [...]

ReadWriteWeb published SAP Plans to Dominate Enterprise Mobile Apps with HTML5 and New Partnerships article a few days ago. SAP acquired a mobile development firm Syclo and also announced important partnerships with Appcelertaor, Adobe (PhoneGap) and Sencha to become “…most powerful enterprise mobile developers in the world”.

Dan Rowinksi makes a number of very good points.

Enterprise mobile development is different from its consumer counterparts. The objectives of enterprise apps often have less to do with mobile device performance and more to do with functionality. Consumer app development often centers on games and location, testing how well an app can perform within the bounds of a mobile device’s hardware. While location is an increasingly important feature for many enterprises, communication, data management and collaboration are the real drivers in enterprise mobility.

Most enterprise or business apps are content or data-driven. More and more enterprise expose their data, content and resources via REST API services and these apps consume that data. This is the next evolution of client/server architecture or more precise, the new mobile-cloud shift. Basicially, you got a mobile app talking connected to cloud-based REST API resources. HTML5 or hybrid (PhoneGap) mobile apps are the perfect fit here.

In this type of environment, strict native applications are not always the most cost-efficient solution.

Natively supporting iOS, Android, and at least another platform Windows Phone or BlackBerry is simply a challenge and very expensive for most organizations. It’s not uncommon for a company first to release the iOS app, then after some time followed by Android, followed by mobile web and maybe Windows Phone and BlackBerry. Maintaining and updating these apps is a challenge and different versions usually have different features, with iOS version having the most features.

While it is nice to have a mobile development guru on staff that can create an app for iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone, those types of people are hard to find and may not be attracted to enterprise development work.

We (Exadel) have a large number of enterprise customers, and that’s exactly the problem they are facing today. Finding qualified mobile developers for different platforms is difficult.

Three companies, three strengths

SAP wants to be the mobile powerhouse by partnering with Sencha, PhoneGap (Adobe) and Appcelerator.

Sencha is the “…leading HTML5 development frameworks and can create hybrid apps for both iOS and Android. PhoneGap (Adobe) is hybrid mobile framework that makes it very easy to packaqe mobile apps as native (hybrid) apps and also gives you access to native device features. Appcelerator’s, Titanium SDK leverages JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS to create native apps with Web-based software. Note: I’m not aware of any Web-based development tools provided by Appcelerator.

Your own mobile powerhouse

But, you don’t have to be SAP to be a mobile powerhouse, there are cloud tools that make it very simple and easy to build HTML5 and hybrid (PhoneGap) apps connected to REST API services.

Cloud-based mobile app builder, with jQuery Mobile

Tiggzi is a cloud-based mobile app builder. Because it’s running in the cloud there is nothing to install or download (as opposed to Appcelerator tools which are more traditional tools and need to be installed and configured). It’s very easy to get started. It comes with a visual, drag-and-drop builder for building the UI, with jQuery Mobile and HTML5 components.

Because the builder is running the cloud, trying or testing the app is super easy. With a single click, you can open the app in browser (desktop) or on the actual device.

Hybrid apps with PhoneGap

Tiggzi also uses the simple and powerful PhoneGap framework to create hybrid apps. First, any HTML5 mobile app can be exported as PhoneGap app (iOS, Android). This this allow you to put the app into the app market. Second, in addition to just putting the app inside a native wrapper you can also invoke any of the PhoneGap’s native API. Lastly, Tiggzi comes with Android and iOS binary build (similar to PhoneGap Build). Can’t get any simpler. Build the app in Tiggzi, get iOS or Android app in seconds.

Service API’s

Enterprises have vast amount of resources exposed as REST API. Mobile apps created in Tiggzi can quickly and easily connect and consume any cloud-based REST API’s. Tiggzi comes with a powerful REST services editor where the service can be defined, tested (similar to apigee.com test console) and even its JSON response structure created automatically. Once the service is created, it is mapped to mobile UI using a visual mapper:

Mobile back-end services

If you need to create your own mobile back-end services, there are powerful and easy easy to use cloud-services such as StackMob and Parse. Anything you create in these services is instantly exposed as REST services which in turn can be consumed inside a mobile app (built in Tiggzi).

As you can see, you can easily have your own mobile powerhouse, in the cloud with Tiggzi app builder, HTML5, jQuery Mobile, PhoneGap, REST API’s and mobile back-end services.

We are going to be at two really awesome events. First is the AT&T Mobile Hackathon in Seattle April 13-14. Tiggzi app builder is really an amazing tool to use during hackathons simply because it allows to build HTML5 and PhoneGap mobile apps super fast, connected to any REST API. Anyone who attends the hackathon in Seattle and wants to use Tiggzi (or just wants to sign up) will get 4 months free Pro account (that’s $200 value).

The second is Mobile Monday: Multi-platform Build Tools event on Monday, April 16 at Verizon offices in San Francisco. There are going to be 4 great presentations:

1. PhoneGap (Adobe)
2. Tiggzi Mobile App Builder
3. Marmalade
4. Trigger.io

See you there!

At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Exadel an­nounced a part­ner­ship with Aepona, the market leader in Network-as-a-Service so­lu­tions, to make it easier for mo­bile de­vel­opers to take ad­van­tage of Aepona’s ser­vice APIs for its telecom part­ners by in­te­grating the APIs with Tiggzi Mobile App Builder. As a first step, Tiggzi now in­te­grates the Aepona billing and au­then­ti­ca­tion APIs for in­cor­po­rating in-app car­rier billing ca­pa­bil­i­ties that elim­i­nate the need for a credit card or PayPal account.
Come join us as Exadel and Aepona present a hands-on in­ter­ac­tive we­binar about this. See for your­self how to use the Aepona APIs as we build an app in minutes.
Using Aepona API Services in Mobile Apps with Tiggzi
April 12, Thursday
11am US Pacific Time
Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/947832601

Tiggzi is a cloud-based HTML5, jQuery Mobile and PhoneGap mobile app builder. It comes with a very powerful and easy to use visual, drag-and-drop builder for HTML5 and jQuery Mobile.

The mobile UI is built by simply dragging and dropping components from the palette on the left into the mobile device frame. Once a component is inserted into the mobile screen, its properties can be changed in the right panel (Properties). You can also set HTML events (click, value change, etc) in the right panel (Events).

Creating the app layout is incredibly simple. You don’t need to worry about pixels. There is a powerful Grid component which allows you to create very flexible layouts. You can easily rearrange the components and even nest grids.

In addition to jQuery Mobile, there are HTML5 components such as audio, and video. There is also Google Map component. In case you need more control and flexibility, there is a special Panel component which allows to insert any custom HTML code.

Another very powerful feature is testing. Because the app you are building is a HTML5, jQuery Mobile you can instantly test it in the browser (desktop) or the actual mobile device. I only covered the visual builder in this post, but you can also connect to REST API services, create data bindings and export the app as mobile web or PhoneGap app (Android, iOS). I’ll cover that in another post. For now, go to http://tiggzi.com and sign up for the Free plan.