Flex Builder and Mobile Apps

Question

Hi,

Just wondering whether there are any plans for generating Mobile apps using the Builder for Flex Viewer. I have been told in Developer Summit that there was a limitation in the Flex API that didn't support this and that is why it is not implemented. Just wondering if that is still the case.

Additionally, if that is not planned is Esri considering building a separate builder for creating Mobile apps using the ArcGIS API for Flex and Flash Builder? I have seen many posts of Mansour Raad showing that the integration is well supported and quite honestly I would prefer using this approach than using the ArcGIS Runtime for Android or iOS.

If none of these approaches are on Esri roadmap for next years can you recommend me what is the best approach for building an android native app? Using the ArcGIS Runtime for Android or the ArcGIS API for Flex and Flash Builder? What is Esri preferred approach? Which is the one receiving more development effort? I didn't had a good experience with the runtime ...

Can Esri Inc. provide me some lights on this?

Kind regards,
Jose Sousa

dimesv · Answer

Hi Bjorn,

Apologies for the confusion. I remember now that you mentioned to me that it was because of the modules (your 2nd option) while the 1st one also seems obvious.

I can assume from your response that a common builder capable of generating desktop and mobile OOTB viewers is not going to be available. I have built mobile apps using the runtimes and the arcgis api for flex. However, and considering your response, I was wondering whether there are any plans for developing a new builder for creating mobile apps and whether next releases of the arcgis api for flex will continue to support mobile.

My experience in building mobile apps for android using the runtime has not been good and not because of Eclipse. So I would prefer using Flex at this moment for building GIS apps, unless I require access to all of the device capabilities, which is not the case at the moment.

Kind regards,
Jose

BjornSvensson · Answer

I have been told in Developer Summit that there was a limitation in the Flex API that didn't support this and that is why it is not implemented. Just wondering if that is still the case.

It's not a limitation with the Flex API, and never have been. Mobile applications created using the Flex API works fine on iOS and Android. 
http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/flex-api/samples/index.html#/Mobile_Samples_Overview/01nq0000006p000000/ - samples
http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/flex-api/concepts/index.html#/Mobile_applications_with_Flex/017p00000025000000/ - concepts

However, what you probably are referring to is that the Flex Viewer is not a "mobile" project (in Flash Builder terminology) and thus does not run on iOS/Android. There is an FAQ on that - "Is it possible to run the ArcGIS Viewer for Flex application on my iPhone or iPad?" - http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/flex-viewer/concepts/index.html#/FAQs/01m300000004000000/No. There are two specific issues related to this.* The ArcGIS Viewer for Flex is a standard Flex project, it would need to be re-written as a Flex Mobile Project.
* The ArcGIS Viewer for Flex uses Flex modules. These are not supported in Flex mobile projects. (1)

(1) Flex modules are useful because each module ("widget" in Flex Viewer terminology) is only downloaded when it is needed.  However, while this is good for desktop applications which starts by downloading the application (all of it, or as needed), the case for native apps is different. Native apps are already installed on the device, so downloading-as-needed doesn't make as much case.  In fact, it is not even allowed/possible.

AaronNash1 · Answer

Jose,

I am not from ESRI, but I have done both. I can say that developing in Flex is a little easier, if you are not a java developer. Building a Flex mobile app using Flash Builder is pretty easy to do and there is a built in emulator to test on. There are some limitations to Flex, one being not complete integration with the device. You are limited as a developer in that aspect, but there has been some progress in developing native extensions for air which extend the mobile integration in flex. Here is a mobile project that should help to get you started in Flex.

Aaron