Secrets of the Wireless Elite: Mobile Applications Need Scripting Too!
By John Papageorge2005-04-13
What Every Wireless Developer Should Know
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Park says that developing smart client software helps avoid many potential headaches. As certification costs and delays increase, deploying a new build becomes very expensive, he says. "It's best to build smart, scriptable, data- and content-driven client software that can accommodate upgrades via your server," Park says. "Deliver the client with a complete cache of content so it can operate offline, but allow it to download updates as necessary when it is online."
Park contends that while wireless application development differs little from other application development, the market is changing quickly. "Get your product to market within a couple months, while continuing to use your best development processes. Speed to market is especially important right now because the market is still young. When the market is more mature, you can develop heavier products."
Park contends that the wireless space is already fragmented. "Don't try to do it all," he insists. "Concentrate on an area you know and do it extremely well. There has been a lot of sloppy wireless software out there, so we have to overcome the image of unpolished work. It's a common platitude, but aim to be the best in your category."
As for testing, he says it's worthwhile to build testing infrastructure, such as automated test harnesses, into applications targeted for widespread deployment. When you consider that failing a test certification can set back your time to market by two to three weeks or more, the opportunity cost of failure could be huge, he says. Park advises that you create a process that makes application testing easy.
Tutorial Pages:
» Mobile Apps Developer Tom Park Imparts His Wisdom
» The Mobile Gamer's Toolkit
» Park's Secret Weapon: Scripting
» What Every Wireless Developer Should Know
» What Every Wireless Developer Should Avoid
» The Challenges Every Wireless Developer Faces
» Time to Market Equals Success
» Brand Games Extended to Mobile Devices
» BREW vs. Java Technology
» Theory in Practice: Park's Example Code
» Mobile Gaming: the Future
» Resources
First published by IBM DeveloperWorks
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