Vervesys Blog, Software application development, Verve Blog

Smartphones and tablets are becoming integral part of every one’s life, this vast demand leads to many OEM and many platform available in market, this obviously means a wide spectrum of devices and many choices the user has and they are available in different range and one can select based on their need either on different platform or extending the open source one and customize it. But what does the proliferation of different devices mean for product companies? It means increased cost of development and maintenance of the solution. In order to cut these costs down to some extent there are few such solutions. Below are few cross platform kit that Verve has capability on:
1.    Rhomobile provides a complete set of products for managing an enterprise’s mobile apps and data. Rhomobile uses the power and productivity of web technology and the cloud to allow enterprises to more easily develop design and distribute the application.

Platforms: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile
License: Free

2.    Appcelerator is a free and open source application development platform. Appcelerator Titanium lets you create native mobile, tablet and desktop application experiences using existing web skills like Javascript, HTML, CSS, Python, Ruby, and PHP. It comes with an in built language-OS bridge and a runtime shell that compiles and packages your applications for cross platform distribution.

Platforms: iOS, Android based mobiles and tablets and windows/linux/mac desktop based apps
License: Free

3.    PhoneGap is a HTML5 app platform that allows you to author native applications with web technologies and get access to api’s and appstore. Allows to develop applications for iPhone, iTouch, iPAD, Android, Blackberry, Symbian and Palm becoming one of the few products that supports almost all major platforms. The company offers a cross-platform simulator (an Adobe AIR app), as well as online training sessions to help you access native APIs and build functioning mobile apps on the PhoneGap platform.

Platforms: iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Symbian and Palm
License: Free (Open Source)

Silverlight is a cross-browser, cross-platform technology for implementation on the .NET Framework, and is purportedly intended to deliver stunningly rich internet applications and visually stimulating media experiences. Operational virtually on all of the popular browsers, its plug-in is pretty light-weight and easily deployable. Essentially a combination of technologies on a single platter, it allows developers to pick and choose tools and languages for development. Interestingly, it complements and gels seamlessly with existing ASP.NET AJAX code as well as JavaScript to enhance the application’s inherent properties and functionalities. In many ways, it is a dazzling answer to Adobe Flash or even to that of Sun’s JavaFX. Versions 1.0 and 2.0 (earlier referred to as 1.1) are the two major releases till date. 

The first release consisted of the core presentation framework, responsible for generation of the rich user interfaces, interactivity, user inputs and basic user interface controls, graphics, animation and media playback, DRM support, with DOM API integration. It has inherent support for MP3/WMA audio as well as VC-1/WMV video formats and optionally supports built-in media streaming. It has the ability to download and play audio-visual media content from any web server, progressively. It not only provides for blending of vector graphics and HTML to create persuasive content experiences but also assists in throwing up gorgeous user interfaces, animation and rich interactive video player experiences. 

The version 2.0 takes the experience a few notches up. Much to delight of the Silverlight developers this version comes with the complete CLR (.NET Framework 3.0), with the facility to host multiple instances of the CLR in a single process, and has this uncanny ability, built-in, to execute any of the .NET languages including C# and VB.NET. With these benefits, the associated XAML files, containing the programming logic, could easily be augmented by code-behind code, written in a choice of .NET languages. The super-strong CLR engine drives high-performance execution on browsers. This version comes with a plethora of user interface controls including CheckBox, TextBox, ScrollViewer, Slider, DataGrid, ListBox, StackPanel, grid, etc. – not less than atleast thirty of various UI, data-binding support, layout management and data management skinnable, encapsulated, template-driven controls. The rich library of built-in classes associated with the framework, with its support for Windows Phone Foundation user interface programming model, makes it one of the most potent technologies for developing superior web browser-based and SmartPhone applications. The Deep Zoom feature on the latest version allows smooth zooming in-and-out of images using the user’s mouse wheel. The amazing scaling up-and-down range, from megapixels to a few gigapixels, is optimised and managed efficiently by the technology feature. The Version 2.0 allows limited ‘filesystem’ access, using the operating systems’ native file dialogue box. In fact it does not mandatorily require ASP.NET to be deployed and utlised on the web-server and can easily leverage Linux or even PHP, if Silverlight programmers intended or required it to. 

Microsoft Silverlight 2.0, in association with Visual Studio 8.0 empowers programmers to produce striking applications on any browser or operating system. Developers can finally focus on the back-end application core without bothering about the visuals those could simultaneously be taken care of by the graphic designers using the power of XAML. Licensing is pretty simple while developers can pull weight of the powerful CLR to use Ruby, Python or even EcmaScript, etc., leveraging the .NET Framework! Dramatic improvement in browsing and operational speed on AJAX-enabled websites makes Silverlight development such a craze amongst the global developer community. No wonder this emerging cross-platform / cross-browser technology promises to throw-up tons of promises and opportunities ensuring enriching client experiences.      

Organisations use Microsoft Office SharePoint Server to establish better control and security in document collaboration, for streamlining of business processes and access, dissipation and distribution of content and information across enterprise – within or without, for achieving the desired business goals and aspirations. One can rapidly generate SharePoint sites intended to publish and manage structured and specific content, collaborate on files and documents, manage records and information warehouses, conduct efficient searches, automate, integrate and participate in business processes, manage workflows and approval hierarchies, and collate and derive business intelligence out of data storages. The platform is capable of working with various programs, database/application/mail servers and technologies from the Microsoft stable.

Windows SharePoint Services or WSS, the free version, is bundled into Windows Server and enables individuals and teams to remain connected, agile and productive. MOSS relies on WSS, e.g. the 2007 version relies on WSS 3.0 technology for a seamless, consistent and accustomed framework of lists and libraries, for effective site generation, customisation and administration. However, the MS Office SharePoint Server offers far more evolved and enhanced feature-sets unavailable with the free WSS. For example it includes plenty of additional enterprise scenario site templates, associated with advanced content publishing needs. Even the search technology as well as utilities derived by integrating with enterprise resource management systems is far more enhanced.

 Microsoft Office SharePoint Server could be utilised to streamline a plethora of business processes and achieve a whole gamut of organisational requirements, like:

• The site templates could be utlised to set-up, manage, moderate meetings and collaborate on files and documents. Site templates in collaboration (e.g. document workspace) and meeting groups serve the purposes.

• One can easily synchronise the portal calendar with the one in MS Outlook. Entry, management, tracking, reporting and analysis of events, projects, tasks, activities and schedules are achieved easily.

• Blogging comes easy – creation of blogs, posting or subscribing for sharing of corporate data/thoughts/ideas is achieved at ease. So are brainstorming, creative collaboration and brainwave generation through wiki sites built on the portal framework. RSS feeds could be set up to keep groups and team members updated with news, web logs, developments or changes in schedule, etc.

• Establish effective project management – to set up, manage, monitor, review and modify project components, tasks, members, etc., with the help of statistical and graphical tools.

• To stay connected, informed and in control ‘on-the-move’ on mobile devices over enterprise information, projects, people and decision support systems, etc.

• To have mail connectivity – to be able to send and receive instruction, information and alerts to and from people, groups or even lists and libraries, to manage projects or scheduled tasks, etc.

• To manage work off-line – one can take tasks offline and work on files, as well as items like contacts, calendars, tasks, discussions, etc. and update them back online, at a later time.

• To have plenty of personalisations – one can present personal profile, keep contacts and lists and store content of interest in his very own My Site, available for every user. One can categorically manage ‘view and access’ of personal information by other users, with stringent privacy control mechanisms, or can even target specific users or groups with displays of library items, links and content, etc.

• To initiate effective searches – people, groups, files, documents, projects, resources, content, enterprise data, etc.

• Content collaboration – creation and authoring, storage, modification, conversion, version control, viewing, creating mark-ups, collaborating, auditing, incorporating workflows, publishing, records management, integration, policy implementation, mail management, etc.

• Web content management – enhanced design consistency for enterprise sites, intranet and internet portals. Standard templates ensure rapid generation, systematic publishing, editing and customisation of multiple sites, reducing costs, significantly. Comfortable site navigation with ease in building flavours and variations of design.

• Streamlined business processes, forms, workflows, distribution, collation, feedback, validation and approval systems 

The Microsoft .Net Framework is basically a seamlessly integrated environment that facilitates design, development and execution of application software on desktop clients, the internet (using WinForms, Web Server Controls, SharePoint, etc.) or even on mobile and wireless devices (using the Compact Framework, Silverlight, etc.). The framework has been broadly separated into two distinct functional parts – the CLR (Common Language Runtime) and the FCL (Framework Class Library or the Base Class Library). The framework has been designed to serve a few critical developer objectives, like: 

• Providing a stable and structured object oriented environment across applications, over devices and technology environments.

• Minimising version conflicts typical of COM development.

• Simplifying code management – distribution, deployment and execution.

• Ensuring environment portability and language interoperability.

• Housing a library that is usable virtually by all programming languages those are supported by the .Net facilities and for all applications created for the Windows platform.

• Providing a development environment where program verification and validation processes are easy and secure.

   

  

  
  

  The following aspects define and lend character to the .Net Framework Architecture:

  The Common Language Runtime (CLR) Engine, the principal design feature, is essentially a virtual machine component that drives and regulates all programs and houses many in-built functions those serve many purposes including interoperability (by allowing access of COM components in the system, etc.), stress-free memory management, exception handling, garbage disposal, security, etc. The CLR infrastructure is built on .Net assemblies those are in the PE format, which is common across the Windows platform for all .exe and .dll files. The CLR checks with the metadata (those consists of assembly details and also assists in reflective programming) to ensure that the right methods are called. Although language compilers generate the metadata, developers can use custom attributes to generate their own set of metadata. The CLR feature makes the framework platform agnostic and widely compatible, allowing third-party developers to program and collaborate seamlessly with the platform. 

  A set of standard and base class libraries, arranged in a hierarchy of namespace is what constitutes the Base Class Library which essentially is a library of functions, is a component of the Framework Class Library, and is meant to be utilised by all languages using the Framework. The BCL comes to use to serve a multitude of common functions including access, reading and writing of files, database interfacing and interaction, graphic rendering, XML document management, etc. 

  The Framework allows a common and extensive security model cutting across all applications. It effectively deals with many freaky development susceptibilities including the likes of malicious software those exploit buffer overflows. Features like Code Access Security (CAS) and Validation and Verification lends .Net its strong and secure orientation. To run through the ‘execution’ process in the framework – an appropriate compiler compiles the code written in any supported language into an Intermediate Language or Managed Code. This compiled set of managed code is then run through the CLR, wherein it is further compiled and transformed to Object or Native Code by the just-in-time (JIT) compiler. This native code is then passed onto the OS or any associated hardware for execution.

   Though popularly considered to be a web development tool, ASP.NET is actually a part of the core Microsoft .NET Framework. Plenty of HTML elements are encapsulated in the ASP.NET controls those run on the web server and relieve the developers from redundancy who do not need to program or develop HTML elements from scratch. The technology’s consistent object oriented programming model and features and facilities like session management significantly reduces development efforts for the web or otherwise. Hence, command over not only the languages compatible with the .NET Framework but also an overall understanding and knowledge of the nuances of the framework lend credence to developers’ efforts, and is a must for Microsoft .Net programming.