Writing Mobile Code Essential Software Engineering for Building Mobile Applications [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Introduction

Mobile applications are different from their desktop counterparts, and it is worth spending some time and space exploring what makes them special. To be successful in mobile application development, it is important to have both a keen understanding of what mobile devices really are and how they differ from desktop and laptop computers that users also interact with.

This chapter is intended to set the context and get you "thinking mobility." Getting into the habit of thinking from a device perspective is important because it will have an enormous effect on how you go about designing your applications. To build great mobile applications, it is important to understand what key characteristics define great mobile applications. This chapter answers the questions "How does mobile application use differ from desktop use?" and "What are the most important characteristics of good mobile applications?"

Armed with this understanding, it will be possible for you to focus on the engineering challenges that matter most for mobile device software development.