This is the fourth post for cross-platform mobile development tool comparison. There are two more to come. For convenience of analysis, I've divided the tools into five categories (here is an overview).
The five categories are:
- Mobile Web (JavaScript-CSS library),
- Visual Tool (No access to Code),
- App Generator (Native application for multiple platforms)
- Hybrid App (Leverages embedded browser control)
- Game Builder.
The classification is somewhat arbitrary and for some tools it becomes little difficult to classify but here is my logic.
- Mobile Web = Can be used to create a mobile web site
- Visual Tool = The UI is created using a visual editor
- App Generator = Written in single language for all platform
- Hybrid App = Used browser control to implement the native application
- Game Builder = Primarily used for game development
Here are six tools – the ordering is alphabetic.
1. Adobe – Flex Builder
- Home page: Link
- Genesis: Extension of Flash Builder
- Language used:
- Version: 4.6
- Licensing: 60 day trial
- Download: Link
- Documentation: Link (more links available on the home page)
- Sample application: Getting Started
- Implementation:
- Wikipedia: Link
- Additional: Adobe Abandons Mobile Flash, Backs HTML5
- Article on how to use: Mihai Corlan, Zend
2. Appcelerator – Titanium
- Home page: Link
- Genesis: Founded in 2006 by Web development experts
- Language used: JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Python, Ruby, and PHP
- Version: 1.8.1
- Licensing: Free Community edition (APL V2)
- Download: Link
- Documentation: Documentation Center
- Sample application: Showcase
- Implementation: Marketplace
- Wikipedia: Link
- Additional:
- Article on how to use: Mobile Tuts+, Tutorialized and WPFunda
3. MoSync
- Home page: Link
- Genesis: MoSync is a Sweden based company which focuses on mobile applications and services and founded in late 2004
- Language used: JavaScript, HTML5 and C++
- Version: 2.7
- Licensing: Free Community (GPL) and Free Indie version (one developer per organization)
- Download: Link
- Documentation: Link
- Sample application: Link to list of applications
- Implementation: Case Study
- Wikipedia: Link
- Article on how to use: Video
4. Open Plug – Studio
- Home page: Link
- Genesis: Since December 15th 2011, OpenPlug Studio is no longer maintained.
5. Rho Mobile – Rhodes
- Home page: Link
- Genesis: Rhomobile has been acquired by Motorola Solutions
- Language used: HTML + Ruby
- Version: 3.0
- Licensing: MIT
- Download: Link
- Documentation: Index
- Sample application: Index
- Implementation: List
- Wikipedia: Link
- Additional: Wikimobindex
- Article on how to use: eBook – Rhomobile Beginner’s Guide
6. Xamarin – Mono
- Home page: Link
- Genesis: Offshoot of Mono project
- Language used: C#
- Version: Not clear
- Licensing: Free trial version in emulator only
- Download: Need to purchase
- Documentation: Index
- Sample application:
- Implementation: Links to Application
- Wikipedia: Link
- Additional: -
- Article on how to use: -
For the earlier posts, you have pointed out several omissions and wrong classifications and I have tried correcting them. I promise to do the same for all the six posts.
So, please do let me know if there are any errors and omissions in the details I have provided.
[Update: Here is one more from Codename One]
Next >> Hybrid Tools
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