Writing Mobile Code: Essential Software Engineering for Building Mobile Applications

Description:

Praise for Writing Mobile Code

"This book will be your new bible for the rapidly developing world of mobile computing. From design to performance, the information you need to be successful is here."

—Doug Ellis, Area Technical Manager, Cognos Corporation

"In the often resource-constrained world of mobile device development, solid software engineering practices are essential to success. Ivo's book, with its emphasis on code performance, is refreshing and timelymdand it delivers!"

—Bill Draper, Director of Software Development, MICROS Systems, Inc.

"To write mobile, you need to think mobile. This book is a big first step in getting your head into the right gear."

—Jon Skeet, Independent Software Engineer

"Writing Mobile Code is an indispensable resource for any programmer, whether or not you are writing mobile code. That's because Salmre not only teaches you how to program mobile devices, he also teaches you how to be a good programmer. Salmre's writing is easy to follow and has real-world application. He teaches the novice how to develop robust applications with the user in mind, and he reminds us veterans that keeping things simple is very important. I am recommending this book to my peers and anyone who needs to write a program."

—Michael Maitland, Sr. Systems Architect, Target Systems

"A great reference and learning tool that covers all the main issues for software engineering on mobile devices, this is an essential book for anyone who is developing software on mobile platforms. Designing software on a mobile device has a lot of unique challenges; this book walks the developer through all of them."

—Mark Gilbert, Software Designer, Microsoft Corporation

"In this book, Ivo Salmre leverages his experience as a designer of the .Net Compact Framework and teaches us how to develop effective mobile applications. It covers the entire process of designing and developing mobile applications with a focus on performance optimization. Although the examples in this book are given in C# and Visual Basic languages, it would prove useful to mobile developers of all platforms. I highly recommend it."

—Michael Yuan, PhD., Mobile Software Consultant

"Just when you thought you knew how to write mobile code, this book makes you reconsider the things you took for granted. Salmre provides a balanced mix of software recipes and forays into the philosophy of mobile development that will help any mobile developer to write better apps."

—Alex Feinman, Software Engineer, OpenNETCF.org

Mobile computing devices have evolved from fixed-purpose communications tools to compelling and extensible mass-market computing platforms. Now, they stand poised to offer truly ubiquitous and mobile computing—and to revolutionize the way people work, communicate, and interact with the world around them.

Writing Mobile Code is the first definitive guide to writing applications for the new generation of mobile devices. In this accessible, hands-on reference, readers will find the principles and methods of great mobile software design and real-world examples to support them. While the many examples use the .NET Compact Framework, C#, and Visual Basic .NET, the design and engineering concepts Salmre discusses apply to all mobile-computing technologies and platforms.

Highlights include

• Performance considerations, including memory management, multithreading, XML, and graphics

• Designing the right user interface

• Establishing appropriate data-access and communications models

• Strategies for packaging and deploying your mobile application

Whether you are new to designing mobile device software or a seasoned mobile-computing developer, this book will give you a deep understanding of what is unique and interesting about mobile development and how to build successful mobile applications.

In short, Writing Mobile Code is destined to be the seminal guide to this growing field for years to come.

 

 

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction.

2. Characteristics of Mobile Applications.

3. Design of the .NET Compact Framework.

4. How to Be Successful Developing Mobile Applications.

5. Our Friend, the State Machine.

6. Step 0: Before You Start, Decide on the Scope of Your Application.

7. Step 1: Start with Performance; Stay with Performance.

8. Performance and Memory Management.

9. Performance and Multithreading.

10. Performance and XML.

11. Graphics and User Interface Performance.

12. Performance Summary.

13. Step 2: Design the Right User Interface1.

14. Step3: Get Your Data Access Model Right.

15. Step4: Get Your Communications Model Right.

16. Step 5: Packaging and Deploying Your Mobile Application.

17. Afterword.

Appendix A: Additional Resources for the .NET Compact Framework.

Appendix B: Visual Basic .NET Samples.

Index.