120: Buffet Style Show

09/23/24 • 66 min

In this episode, Jon and Allan discuss various topics, including listener feedback, using SQLite for local data storage, changes in Android's page size, creating a personalized video for a Disney trip, and working on a marketing app with custom requirements. In this conversation, Jon and Allan discuss the challenges and best practices of using collection views and bindable layouts in mobile app development. They caution against nesting collection views and bindable layouts within each other, as it can lead to performance issues and difficulties with recycling views. They also emphasize the importance of using cancellation tokens to properly handle asynchronous operations and avoid memory leaks. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the EmbedIO plugin, which allows developers to host a local web server within their mobile apps.

Takeaways

Listener feedback is important and should be addressed in future episodes
Using SQLite for local data storage can be a simple and efficient solution
Android's change in page size will require rebuilding native libraries
Creating a personalized video for a Disney trip can be a fun and memorable experience
Working on a marketing app with custom requirements can be challenging but rewarding Avoid nesting collection views and bindable layouts within each other to prevent performance issues and difficulties with view recycling
Use cancellation tokens to properly handle asynchronous operations and avoid memory leaks
Consider alternative approaches, such as lazy loading or logical collapsing, when dealing with large datasets or complex UI structures
The EmbedIO plugin allows developers to host a local web server within their mobile apps

People

Hosts: Jon Dick, Allan Ritchie
Audio/Video Engineer: Jim Heath

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Listener Feedback
03:47 Using SQLite for Local Data Storage
12:11 Android's Change in Page Size
16:17 Creating a Personalized Video for a Disney Trip
20:12 Working on a Marketing App with Custom Requirements
31:11 Authentication Flows and Security
49:03 Challenges with Collection Views and Bindable Layouts
53:11 Avoid Nesting Scrolling Views
01:01:25 Exploring the EmbedIO Plugin

YouTube: https://youtu.be/MH4bwX3JsNY

Links:

unosquare/embedio: A tiny, cross-platform, module based web server for .NET

Takeaways

Listener feedback is important and should be addressed in future episodes
Using SQLite for local data storage can be a simple and efficient solution
Android's change in page size will require rebuilding native libraries
Creating a personalized video for a Disney trip can be a fun and memorable experience
Working on a marketing app with custom requirements can be challenging but rewarding Avoid nesting collection views and bindable layouts within each other to prevent performance issues and difficulties with view recycling
Use cancellation tokens to properly handle asynchronous operations and avoid memory leaks
Consider alternative approaches, such as lazy loading or logical collapsing, when dealing with large datasets or complex UI structures
The EmbedIO plugin allows developers to host a local web server within their mobile apps

People

Hosts: Jon Dick, Allan Ritchie
Audio/Video Engineer: Jim Heath

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Listener Feedback
03:47 Using SQLite for Local Data Storage
12:11 Android's Change in Page Size
16:17 Creating a Personalized Video for a Disney Trip
20:12 Working on a Marketing App with Custom Requirements
31:11 Authentication Flows and Security
49:03 Challenges with Collection Views and Bindable Layouts
53:11 Avoid Nesting Scrolling Views
01:01:25 Exploring the EmbedIO Plugin

YouTube: https://youtu.be/MH4bwX3JsNY

Links:

unosquare/embedio: A tiny, cross-platform, module based web server for .NET

Previous Episode

119: In App Purchasing Pain

The conversation revolves around the challenges and complexities of implementing in-app purchases in mobile apps, specifically focusing on the iOS and Android platforms. The hosts discuss the history of in-app purchases, the revenue cut taken by app stores, the introduction of subscriptions, and the implementation details and testing process involved. They also touch on the limitations and changes in the APIs provided by Apple and Google, as well as the importance of proper testing to ensure a smooth user experience. The conversation discusses the challenges and frustrations of dealing with payment processors, specifically in the context of mobile app development. The hosts express their dissatisfaction with the complexity and lack of flexibility in existing payment systems, such as Apple's StoreKit and Google's Play Billing. They highlight the difficulties of implementing and maintaining payment functionality, including handling subscriptions, refunds, and different transaction states. The hosts also mention RevenueCat as a potential solution that abstracts away the complexities of payment processing and provides a more streamlined experience for developers. The conversation revolves around the challenges and frustrations of implementing in-app purchases in mobile apps. The hosts discuss their personal experiences with app stores, subscription management, and revenue cat. They also touch on the complexities of handling transactions, storing subscription data, and the limitations of the current in-app purchase systems.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/cI0vf--ZQqY

Takeaways

In-app purchases have evolved from one-time consumables to recurring subscriptions, allowing developers to generate continuous revenue.
App stores like Apple and Google take a percentage cut from in-app purchases, which can impact the profitability of developers.
Implementing in-app purchases involves dealing with complex APIs, handling subscription renewals, and validating transactions.
Testing in-app purchases is crucial to ensure a seamless user experience and avoid revenue loss.
The APIs and implementation details for in-app purchases differ between iOS and Android, with each platform having its own challenges and limitations. Existing payment processors for mobile apps, such as Apple's StoreKit and Google's Play Billing, can be complex and inflexible to work with.
Implementing and maintaining payment functionality, including handling subscriptions, refunds, and transaction states, can be time-consuming and challenging for developers.
RevenueCat is a potential solution that abstracts away the complexities of payment processing and provides a more streamlined experience for developers.
Having a backend service like RevenueCat handle payment processing can free up developers to focus on providing value to their users.
Simplifying the payment process and providing clear documentation and examples can greatly improve the developer experience. Implementing in-app purchases can be challenging and frustrating
App stores have complex rules and limitations for in-app purchases
Subscription management and revenue cat can help simplify the process
Handling transactions and storing subscription data require careful consideration

People

Hosts: Jon Dick, Allan Ritchie
Audio Engineer: Jim Heath

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
03:05 The Evolution of In-App Purchases
05:57 Implementing In-App Purchases: Challenges and Complexity
10:00 The Importance of Proper Testing
12:57 Differences in iOS and Android In-App Purchase APIs
24:58 The Complexity of Payment Processors
27:15 The Cost of Subscription Business
29:11 The Complexity of API Configuration
34:03 RevenueCat: Abstracting Payment Processing
36:09 Simplifying the Developer Experience
44:31 The Challenges of Implementing In-App Purchases
50:01 Simplifying Subscription Management with Revenue Cat
52:39 Handling Transactions and Storing Subscription Data

Links:

Next Episode

121: Jon tries Mediator! Copilot != Autopilot, and the Best iPhone ever!

In this episode of Gone Mobile, Jon and Allan discuss a variety of topics ranging from sports team loyalty to the intricacies of app development. They delve into listener feedback about coding with AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot, share insights on navigating iOS and Xcode updates, and explore new features in the iPhone 16. The conversation also covers updates in Maui and .NET, the importance of staying current with technology, and Jon's personal project of creating a snack app for Disney World. They conclude with a discussion on building a content button in Maui and the challenges of cross-platform development.