Frameworks

A Framework is a collection of controls. These controls appear in the ToolBox, organized by Framework.

• Usually developed by a company or organization.

• Designed to have a similar look and feel.

• May be open source or commercial.

• Each has its own set of js and css files.

• AppStudio automatically builds the files into the app.

• Using more than one framework bloats apps

• Frameworks may interfere with each other.

Common Controls

• These are simple controls which can be used with any Framework.

• Provide basic functionality

• Include Grid, Image, Label, Line, Orientation, PictureBox and ProgressBar.

• Advanced ones include Date, DateTime, Month, Time, Audio, HTMLview, Image, Video, Adsense, Facebook, PayPal and Twitter.

Bootstrap

• One of the most popular

• Originally developed by Twitter

• Bootstrap 3 and Bootstrap 4 supported

• MIT licence (one of the best open source licenses)

• AppStudio includes 30 (or more!) Bootstrap controls.

• New controls being added.

• Actively being developed.

jQuery Mobile

• Developed by same group as the popular jQuery library.

• MIT licence (one of the best open source licenses)

• AppStudio includes 14 jQuery Mobile controls: Button, Checkbox, FlipToggle, Footerbar, HeaderBar, List, Popup, RadioButton, Select, Slider, TextArea, TextBox, ToolTip

• No longer being actively being developed by its originators. Do not use for new projects.

jqWidgets

• Contains some rich and powerful controls.

• Commercial, so it is not free for all apps.

• No charge for use in non-profit organizations.

• AppStudio includes 29 jqWidgets controls: jqxButton, Calendar, Chart, CheckBox, ColorPicker, DragDrop, Grid, Input, ListBox, Menu, PhotoGallery, RadialGauge, Rating, SwitchButton, Tabs and Tree.

• Actively being developed.

Other Frameworks

• Wikipedia lists more than 100!

• New frameworks are being announced regularly on the net

• To add them to AppStudio, ToolBox Files need to be created.

• Doing so requires skills not covered in this training.