Define "mobile."
If you mean WML/WAP I don't know about that.
But if your goal is to reach PDAs, then yes, it's the same as developing for the desktop except you have to:
- accommodate small screens (240 and 320 px minus on-screen controls so I just go with making sure it can work in 200px),
- minimize/eliminate graphics as non-3G devices will really be slow otherwise
- assume there's no cookies, no javascript, and no ajax, or at least make the app work well without them.
Stick to well structured HTML and minimal CSS requirements, and it's pretty easy.
-- gw
Greg Willits wrote:
I have just started coding in rails... wanted to know if I could
code an application for a mobile device in RAILS...
But if your goal is to reach PDAs, then yes, it's the same as
developing for the desktop except you have to:
- accommodate small screens (240 and 320 px minus on-screen controls
so I just go with making sure it can work in 200px),
- minimize/eliminate graphics as non-3G devices will really be slow
otherwise
- assume there's no cookies, no javascript, and no ajax, or at least
make the app work well without them.
Stick to well structured HTML and minimal CSS requirements, and it's
pretty easy.
ok so what you are saying is that its the same as developing an
application for the desktop but just take care of these specs you
mentioned...
Yes -- for any phone/PDA that uses an HTML "browser" (i.e. BlackBerry, Treo, and many other nowadays).
also what do u suggest... aobut WAP... should i bother much
about it.. or just leave it out... basically this application is for
personal use...
If "personal use" really means just for you, and you have an HTML-capable phone, then you don't need to have anything to do with WAP/WML at all.
If "personal use" means any user for non-business purposes, then whether you want to address WML is up to you comes down to understanding your target audience and how prevalent those phones would be -- and how suitable your app is the WML environment.
I got curious. You can google for 'ruby rails wml' and get a few hits. It appears it can be done.
-- gw