Mobile Phone App Anyone?

[RKissane]

Ok Paul,

Not knowing anything about this so I have to ask. What are you using to develop the app? Do you make the screens up in Xara and then develop the code for the buttons or something else?

Ray

[pauland]

What are you using to develop the app?

I generally create iPhone and iPad apps and for that I use Apple's development environment XCode and use their development language Swift.

In the past I have created cross-platform Apps (for iPhone, iPad, Android phones, Android tablets) using Adobe Animate-CC (I used to specialise as a Flash Developer).

I have created one Web application using Tumult Hype, but also use that software for in-app animation sometimes.

Do you make the screens up in Xara and then develop the code for the buttons or something else?

Ray

I used Xara for many years for various applications and it was fine. These days I predominately use a Mac and I use a superb bit of software (Sketch) for creating new designs and also for preparing artwork for use in an application. If you compare Sketch to Xara you could say that generally Xara is far more capable, but Sketch beats it hands-down in developing UI designs and preparing artwork for use in Apps or websites. Sketch fits a niche very well. It can also create simple prototypes.

The behaviour of the app is coded in Xcode. Xcode brings together graphical assets and a coding environment. Generally apps are far more complex than websites.

I recently did a revamp of an app - Kay-say-n-match, which is designed to be used with an adult to prepare young children in taking an eye test. The graphics are not arbitrary but based on a proprietary eye test and the app compliments the work of opticians using that test.

The graphics were prepared in Sketch, character animation was either supplied in video format, or I animated the cartoon animation that is part of the UI itself using Tumult Hype. Xcode brings all those elements together. The UI is highly animated, with buttons positioned using code and the sizes and layout adapt to the display format.

This is a simple looking app but is very complex behind the scenes, animated in code and also using flip-book techniques as well as video. The app has been very challenging, mostly because of the need to interrupt graphic sequences mid-way and return to a consistent state afterwards.

Anyone can try the app to get a flavour of what I do. It's a free download on the Apple IOS Appstore (ignore the paid-for section). https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kay-sa...h/id1293751403



My App development is all over the place in terms of scope and you can see how different website design can be from app design when you look at kay-say-n match. Most people would imagine animation is confined to games, but that's far from the truth.

Paul

Apologies for the long post!

[RKissane]

Paul,

Excellent reply. Sounds like a lot of work and I can see that every project can open up a whole host of different objects to overcome.

Ray