tastejs/propertycross

Helping developers select a framework for cross-platform mobile development.

#Introduction

Developers are now finding themselves having to author applications for a diverse range of mobile platforms (iOS, Android, Windows Phone, …), each of which have their own ‘native’ development languages, tools and environment.

There is an ever growing list of cross-platform frameworks that allow you to minimise the cost and effort of developing mobile apps, but which to choose?

To help solve this problem PropertyCross presents a non-trivial application, for searching UK property listings, developed using a range of cross-platform technologies and frameworks. Our aim is to provide developers with a practical insight into the strengths and weaknesses of each framework.

For more information see the PropertyCross website.

#Further Reading

This section lists blog posts, articles and other related information:

• Introducing PropertyCross - a blog post which covers some of the reasons why this project was started.
• PropertyCross Android Implementation Shootout - a blog post by Larry Silverman, who used PropertyCross to help their company decide which framework they should use for mobile development.

#Licence MIT License

PropertyCross is brought to you by Colin Eberhardt, Chris Price and a whole host of contributors!

propertycross's Issues

Add a MoSync implementation

I think MoSync looks interesting, C++ with native UI - similar to Xamarin:

http://www.mosync.com/

I have emailed them to see if they want to contribute.

All platform references should be ios not iphone

This is not possible for titanium.

Give some credit to Nestoria

Support HTTP timeout

A number of version do not have a timeout for the HTTP communications. The original JavaScript version has a 5000ms timeout with an error reported to the user.

Favourites storage not working correctly

Favourites are only stored as long as Android keeps the PropertyCross process open. Investigate why and fix.

jQM Windows Phone - "add to favourites button" re-style

The add to favorites needs to be re-styled to make it more Windows Phone style!

Recent Searches isn't re-ordered

Steps to reproduce -
Search for "South Gosforth"
Search for "South Shields"
Search for "South Gosforth"

Observe that "South Gosforth" is still second in the list of recent searches, it should be first.

Add a Marmalade implementation

http://www.madewithmarmalade.com/

As suggested on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/CodeRanger/status/286932359918534656

Marmalade seems to be a pretty popular C++ based framework.

Back button currently broken!

Despite #23 - the back button is currently broken!

Title screen should have the title "Property( )Cross"

Favicon

The website would look baller with a favicon.

iOS - Improved icons for header bar

Needs better button icons for add / remove favourites

Make sure the following frameworks are name checked

http://www.infoq.com/research/cross-platform-mobile-tools?utm_source=infoqresearch&utm_campaign=rr-topicpages

Knockout View Models - Remove observables that support jQueryMobile

The Knockout view models have observables that were added to support the use of jQuery Mobile CSS for the iOS version, i.e. observables that indicate the topmost or bottom-most items in a list.

These are pretty ugly, so should not be in the 'core' view models! Perhaps add them as specialised view model where needed, or just find a better alternative.

PropertyCross-jquerymobile.xap - file not found

For some reason this file will not download!

Add a RhoMobile implementation

This is currently underway

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rhomobile/Gz5sk-xIyt8

Add framework examples contributor footer

I propose adding a second footer above the current one along the lines of “Framework examples contributed by” linking back to github profiles exactly the same as the current footer.

Social media buttons

Thumbnails are generated with current datetime metadata

So all of them change every time you run the script, fix!

Windows Phone navigation fails intermittently

The WP jQM version works fine for about ~5 page navigations, then stops working for some reason!

Build process for jQM projects needs documenting

I think we needs a simple README file in the jqm build folder that just describes what the build does, why it is needed and how to run it.

Manage common JavaScript View Model code

We need a way to share the common code between the various JavaScript implementations

Remove Newtonsoft files

Either replace with dll or at least remove tests etc..

Back button broken when PG version > 1.9.0

Needs investigation.

The issue with the back button in 2.0.0 was resolved in 2.1.0.

Windows Phone location enabled / disabled

For MS Marketplace certification it is mandatory that each app has its own location enabled / disabled setting together with a data usage policy statement.

The current jQM implementation has a locationEnabled observable that was previously bound to a checkbox on the about screen. However, there is currently no about screen.

Do we want to keep this feature?

Probably should - the certification requirements of each app store / marketplace are a real concern to cross platform developers.

Xamarin Android app missing a back button

Technically this will be a 'up' button in the action bar for the following views:

• Search results view
• Property details view
• Favourites view

Screenshots will have to be updated too.

Jumpy scrolling in Xamarin iOS app

Loading of thumbnail images in the search results page is running on the UI thread. Move to a bakcground thread:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5699257/how-to-solve-slow-scrolling-in-uitableview-using-the-youtube-api

Sencha Touch, location based searches do not appear in recent search list

If you click the 'my location' button, you are give a list of properties nearby. If you then navigate back to the 'home' screen, the location search does not appear in the recent search list. See the native iOS version for reference behaviour.

Favourite status is not honoured in search results

Steps to reproduce -
Search for "South Gosforth"
Navigate to a property and favourite it
Go back to the application home screen
Search for "South Gosforth"
Navigate to the same property

Observe that the favourite button indicates that it is not a favourite. However, clicking the button will remove it from the favourites list.

Move the Go button to the soft keyboard

The Go button should be removed and the default behaviour of the soft keyboard should be changed to trigger the search.

Native icons require a slight colour change

• See attached image.

Android native and Xamarin needs a bit of styling work

The Xamarin / native android version needs a bit of styling work, e.g.

• pages need titles
• search results page should include 'n of n matches' text
• search result list items, could do with a larger font for the price and better text alignment

In general, the Titanium version looks better. Perhaps copy the style used there?

Add a Qt implementation

http://www.qt-project.org/

Change results screen title to X of Y matches

ViewModel should concatenate n bed x, y bathroom string

Currently done in views

Add a KendoUI implementation

http://www.kendoui.com/

Another HTML5 framework, this one supports BlackBerry theme also.

Remove the iOS6 warnings

The codebase was originally created on iOS6. There are now a few redundant methods due to changes in view controller lifecycle / Apple recommendations. This results in a few warnings in the code.

Complete implementation of geolocation

Handle the instances where geolocation is unavailable or disabled. Also applies to Titanium, HTML5 needs checking.

Add percentage tooltips to pie segments

WP search paging not working

When paging the same properties are repeatedly added!

Introduce image caching

Introduce a memory cache so that when scrolling through a list view, images are not constantly re-downloaded as views are recycled.

Xamarin / Native Windows Phone - Do not continually watch location

Watching geolocation drains battery - the GeoCoordinateWatcher should only be started when a location is required

jQM Windows Phone - splashscreen not working

The jQM Windows Phone doe snot render the correct splashscreen - this might be an issue with the PhoneGap build settings.

CHANGE THE REPO NAME!

ViewModel is creating 3x spaces in property title

This is being ignored by the browser so isn't showing up there but is affecting the Titanium version. It should be fixed in both places.

WP7 (All versions) - display recent searches

The 'recent searches' section was initially added to the iOS version in order to add a bit more content to the front page. This should be added to the WP7 versions also.

Standardise package names

Something like propertycross.FRAMEWORK.PLATFORM?

Definitely need to drop all SL references.

jQM Windows Phone - app-bar ellipsis not working

When the ellipsis is clicked it should make the app-bar slide up to reveal the text - this is not working

Home screen strobes when navigating back to it

• Search at my location
• Click through to property
• Click back and notice smooth animation
• Click back and notice the screen strobes

Error when clicking Go

Steps to reproduce -
Load the application
Press Go without typing anything into the location box

Observe the error/hang