EduGeek Android App

[ZeroHour]

Apps do provide a lot of possible benefits. Plans were actually afoot to try this out but they were not announced as of yet.

[LosOjos]

The Android SDK actually includes support for SQL, so if an account was set up with read only access to the SQL database these forums are based on, retrieving the necessary data ought to be quick and easy

[ZeroHour]

I have made a group for us to get started now and I can get a rough idea of people involved. This will be converted into a full forum area later.

EduGeek Mobile Dev Group - EduGeek.net

Join that group and post your languages here.

[ZeroHour]

The Android SDK actually includes support for SQL, so if an account was set up with read only access to the SQL database these forums are based on, retrieving the necessary data ought to be quick and easy

Unless its amazing at hows it does it I have to say there is practically no reason I would ever let an app directly interface to the database on a port. It would be faster for dev but damn it can open big cans of earth based snakes.
Not that I dont want to sound disheartening, I just know of far far far too many issues with this.

[localzuk]

Unless its amazing at hows it does it I have to say there is practically no reason I would ever let an app directly interface to the database on a port. It would be faster for dev but damn it can open big cans of earth based snakes.
Not that I dont want to sound disheartening, I just know of far far far too many issues with this.

A much better solution is to expose some form of API - be it an XML version of the site, a SOAP or REST web service or whatever. That way, it is easy to keep the database access under control (as the web service is the only thing accessing it), and keep the apps at arms length.

[ZeroHour]

A much better solution is to expose some form of API - be it an XML version of the site, a SOAP or REST web service or whatever. That way, it is easy to keep the database access under control (as the web service is the only thing accessing it), and keep the apps at arms length.

Basically, yes that was my thinking . I find very few reasons for direct db access and tons against.

[localzuk]

Basically, yes that was my thinking . I find very few reasons for direct db access and tons against.

Once you have an API created, you can also then have many different apps connecting to it - such as custom iGoogle widgets, or Windows 7 Gadgets etc... Without having to worry about a client messing things up.

[nephilim]

A windows widget would also be a good sideline project, such as a log in and then 'downloads' new posts that users have subscribed too, that could also work as a 'lite' version of the app

[nephilim]

What woud everyone like to see in an app like this? I ask as obviously it's the users of edugeek that want it, and a list of what's wanted would be handy!

[SYNACK]

Personally I would like to see the follwing features:

• Browse Forums list
• Browse forum posts
• Use iSpy
• Open New posts
• Send and recive PMs
• Post threads and reply to threads
• Notification tone on subscribed thread when left on iSpy (for threads you are following really closely)

I think that this would be a good featureset to start working on.

[nephilim]

oddly enough I said 4 of those in the development area! great minds think alike!