Apps Best Way to Develop A Simple App?

[daniel178]

Hello,

I am a total novice. However, I'd like to develop a simple timecard app for Android, specifically targeted like the apps below.

Wrap Time - Time Card for Film Crews iPhone App Download on Appato
Crew Time Card - iPhone App

These only exist for Apple products, though. What is the easiest, most straight-forward (Windows-based) software for creating such an app? I've heard of something called Eclipse...? Or there's something from Google?


Thanks!

 

[meganeura]

I've heard of something called Eclipse...? Or there's something from Google?

Eclipse is an development environment. Google offers an Android plugin for Eclipse. Have you any experience with programming? If not, App Inventor would be the better solution for you.

 

[daniel178]

meganeura, I have not really had experience with programming (well, a bit of C++ back in college, and I AM computer-savvy, but no Android dev knowledge). Google's App Inventor seems VERY basic... can it make an app like those timecard apps? And how steep is learning something like Eclipse? Is there something easier than Eclipse but still not as basic as App Inventor?

 

[jonbonazza]

An inbetween for app inventor and straight programming is Phonegap. It's not quite as limiting as app inventor, but not quite as powerful as full-on programming.

 

[daniel178]

jonbonazza, Phonegap seems more like a compiler (at least just from watching their video on their site)... do you use it for authoring too? It seems like it requires a fair amount of coding knowledge. I'm looking for whatever is simplest, most graphical.
(the app is going to be doing a lot of math itself, so I think that will be a lot to wrap my head around as it is).

 

[jonbonazza]

Phonegap is a framework for developing cross platform mobile applications using html5 and javascript.

 

[daniel178]

what about Flash? I've watched a couple of video tutorials on using Flash 5.5 and up to create Android apps, and it seems pretty graphical-only (no or less coding -- keep in mind my app is very simple). Would this be a viable option?

 

[HIGHSCORE]

We work with XNA and MONO

 

[StevenHu]

Not all Android devices will work with Flash.

There is no "simple" way when it comes to building an app, especially if you have no coding knowledge. Without coding, there is no "simple" or quick and easy. Go the long road and start learning HTML, CSS, and Javascript, and get back to us in a year with your question, or hire a programmer for your project.

There drag-and-drop online programs to build apps, they are very limited in their functionality.