Android Question General question mobile apps en data on the server

[Bernaert Dominique]

Hello,

I have a subscription for B4A en B4I.
I also have a SQL Server running in the cloud that is accessed currently by a Delphi application using Data Abstract from RemObjects (Relativity Server).
Now I have to develop 2 mobile applications, one for Android and one for IOS and I will use B4A and B4I off course.

My question is what would be the best approach to create these mobile apps and have support for them for login and crud operations on the SQL Server database.
Any recommendations for the server side and the client side? Tools, protocol to use, ...

Thx for the information.

Bernaert Dominique

 

[BillMeyer]

What I would do if I was in your situation.

Firstly, If you have the server available to you, use jRDC2 on B4J to do the work of accessing your SQL data safely. The only caveat here is that you first need to see if there is a Java Driver for your version of SQL - after that the tutorial is straight forward and this solution is much safer for MITM attacks.

Make sure that all your SQL Queries are in place and functioning as you require them. Then list them all in the config file for jRDC2 (65% "guess" +/- of your work done by having a good set of queries - this includes the Login part of your app as you want to keep passwords etc away from the those blokes with the Black Hats on)

Secondly, (If you have an Android device) - Start by creating your app there WITHOUT thinking how you are going to do it in iOS. Do the one project first and complete it.
Look at @Erels examples HERE - they can and will help. Once your App works correctly then iOS comes.

Thirdly, Now go to iOS. I have my own theory here. I tried to transfer to B4i from B4a, using the various tools and stuff found here on the forum - but in the end - I think it is better just to start a brand new project and proceed from there, unless you want to spend time and really read into B4X cross platform libraries etc. The golden rule of thumb here (and again 2 ways of thinking) is that anything that has to do with the GUI or manipulates it is not transferable - the other other code is mostly copy and paste.

A few other tips.
Make sure you know how to use Anchors etc for screen Design and Layout - It just makes it much easier and you use less derivatives in your designer.
When you get to B4i (iOS) - Remember 2 things. The first is that Apple now require that your app is compatible with iPad - keep that in mind when designing your layouts and the second thing is, if you have an account under your own name or that of your own business and you are developing for another business and use their Name and Corporate Identity - Apple will reject and force you to open an account on their behalf or use theirs if they have one and for that you need a DUNS number.

I'm sure that there will be differences of opinion from my Esteemed Brothers - but then as I said - this is how I would do it. (In fact this is how I did it and my app serves 106 Pharmacies with out a problem so far)

Enjoy !!

REMEMBER - jRDC2 - NOT RDC