How to package your Genero application as a native application
for an Android or iOS device.
Before you begin, the application must run successfully in
the native browser of the device using GWC for HTML5.
The process for packaging your application in a native container
is the same for both Android and iOS. When you have completed the
procedure, you have an application that can be accessed by clicking
an icon on the mobile device. The icon (the app) accesses a single
Genero application. This topic covers the general process for creating
your hybrid application. The platform-specific details for each of
the steps listed below are covered in platform-specific topics.
- Install and configure the development tools specific for
your platform (iOS or Android).
- Create a copy of the directory holding the skeleton source
files. Any changes you need to make in the skeleton files,
you should make to the copy. By only changing the copy, you maintain
a complete set of unmodified files for any future development, and
you do not lose any of your work in the case of an upgrade into the
same installation directory.
- Open the application project. The application
project is a fully-functional minimal application. You simply need
to specify the application URL.
- Set the application URL. The GWC hybrid mode uses the application URL to launch the application through the Genero
Application Server. When you launch the application, the URL is sent to the Genero Application
Server, which then renders the application.
Note: You can only enter a single application's URL. As a
result, you cannot have a one-to-many relationship between your Genero Hybrid Application and your
Genero applications (as you can when you create a start menu within the Genero Desktop Client). Each
Genero Hybrid Application starts one - and only one - Genero application.
- Set the application splash screen and icon.
- Add customization (as needed). Within the native
container, the application is using GWC for HTML5. The application
is therefore restricted to tasks that can be done in a browser. If
you need to add functionality that cannot be done within a browser,
you extend the skeleton and add the front calls that allow your Genero
application to interact with the native container, and therefore with
the operating system of the device. At this point, you are interacting
with the native APIs of either Android or iOS; you will need some
expertise in programming for these platforms.
- Localize your application (as needed).
- Deploy your application. Your application
is ready to be distributed, either through an application store /
market or in-house.