Re: Some thoughts on MobileOrg and its development ....

[David Masterson <dsmasterson@gmail.com>]

Alexis <flexibeast@gmail.com> writes:

> Hi all,
>
> In light of recent discussions about 'MobileOrg' - which seemingly
> actually constitutes two distinct projects for two different platforms -
> together with the apparent relative lack of activity of both projects,
> despite demand for them, i can't help but wonder if the 'MobileOrg'
> endeavour needs a reboot.
>
> More specifically, it seems to me that rebuilding MobileOrg as a single
> project on top of Apache Cordova:
>
> https://cordova.apache.org/
>
> might be a way forward, for several reasons:
>
> * It would help ensure that basically the same set of functionality is
>   available across platforms, modulo specific limitations/issues with
>   specific platforms. And when people add or modify core functionality,
>   that functionality would more easily become available to people across
>   platforms, rather than the functionality being initially implemented
>   on platform X, and people on platform Y having to wait for it to be
>   implemented in its entirety.
>
> * Overall, only one lot of end-user documentation would need to be
>   maintained.
>
> * It would enable MobileOrg to be made available for mobile platforms
>   other than Android and iOS, such as Windows Phone and Blackberry.
>
> * The number of people available to assist with development might well
>   be greater, due to the core development environment involving HTML,
>   CSS and JavaScript. Barriers to entry for both regular and occasional
>   committers would be much lower.
>
> i'm aware that Cordova has various limitations,
> including-but-not-limited-to the lack of native 'feel' of Cordova-based
> applications. However, i feel that the above advantages, combined with
> the my notion that Emacs users are probably less concerned with a
> perfectly slick UI than with having access to functionality they
> need/want, probably outweighs such limitations.
>
> Unfortunately, due to other existing commitments, i wouldn't be able to
> take point on such a reboot. But i'd definitely be willing and able to
> help out!  Particularly in the area of contact management and syncing,
> of course. :-)
>
> Thoughts/comments/criticisms?

Sounds interesting.  Unfortunately, I haven't done this type of
development in many years.  At this moment, I'm not even sure how to go
about setting up Cordova and its prerequisites.  Otherwise, I might be
interested in taking the lead on this.

Ultimately, someone will have to pull apart the current
immplementation(s) of MobileOrg in order to redevelop it in Cordova.
Anyone got a handle on that?

-- 
David Masterson
Programmer At Large