Blog

To get a good start for the coming year, we’ll be rolling out a new release for this month. What will be in it?

Cordova Update

• We will add two new libraries, JQM 5 and Angular 2.0, so it’s a big deal.
• Now you will be able to export sources that are 100% compatible with Android Studio and xCode.
• And even more: the structure of generated sources is even closer to that of Cordova than before.

iOS11 Support

Nothing to add here. Just enjoy.

Cordova Hooks Now Available

By popular demand, we have added support for Cordova hooks. If you are still not aware of just how useful this feature is, check this link.

Bug Fixes

We work hard every day on bug fixes to make the platform a smoother, more comfortable, and reliable place to work in. So, stick with us, and see you in the next year.

Happy Holidays!

Here are some highlights of what’s coming in our next platform update that rolled out on October 29th.

New API Express Components

We are happy to present two new components to make your work with API Express more efficient: LDAP and Email.

LDAP stands for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. It is an application software protocol for enabling anyone to locate organizations, individuals, and other resources such as files and devices in a network, whether on the public Internet or on a corporate intranet.

The Email component allows you to send an email via API Express without using 3rd services.

Check back soon. Our documentation will be updated with more information and examples.

Maintenance Mode for Server Code and Database

From now on, when you need to upload or change some data in your database connected with your popular app built in Appery.io, you can simply turn on Maintenance Mode. You make changes while your users see a predefined message instead of a spinner.

You can find it on the Settings tab of the database. And the same feature is available for the Server Code too.

Import Big Database

And, while we’re talking about databases, now you can import and export much larger database collections!

Base64 Type for End Component

End Component has a new field, “Response type”, with three values: JSON, Binary, and Binary base-64. When you choose Binary base-64 for a component, the value of the Use as response field is a string in base64. Component End converts a base64 string into binary if Binary base-64 is selected.

Favicon

We know, some of our customers make apps not only for mobile devices but for publishing them on the Internet. Since our next release, you can add a favicon to your apps!

Bugs (less of them)

What update goes through without fixing bugs? So, yes. We fixed a large number of big and small bugs to make the platform better.

A top-notch asset management company with offices based in Asia, Europe, and the Americas cares about its over 20,000 employees. To translate into action its corporate social responsibility policy statements, the company wanted a mobile app to ensure comfortable and hassle-free in-door navigation across multi-story building facilities for its professionals with these requirements:

1. Get real-time directions from the employee’s current positioning within a facility
2. Browse floor maps while offline
3. Find the closest facility

This global financial organization selected the Appery.io cloud platform to develop and launch this hybrid mobile app. Picking Appery.io was bolstered by the platform’s rich built-in functionality as well as the efficient teamwork in working with Appery.io.

Architectural pillars

The Appery.io mobile app architecture took into account overcoming GPS signal attenuation, possible Wi-Fi signal fluctuations, and local magnetic field deviations by implementing a combination of Wi-Fi, GPS, and magnetic positioning approaches. The app also used the offline synchronization supported by Appery.io API Express (built into the platform). In addition, the app brought together flat floor plans and geo-coordinates into navigable 3-axis maps.

Never get lost

The app was first distributed to the global asset management organization’s employees in Boston, MA, where it was a great success, enhancing the working environment in the office. And now, Global adoption by all the company’s offices is very near.

iOS 11 came out of beta on September 19^th. But, don’t worry. The Appery.io team is close to putting the final touches on our full support for the new version of the iOS. As soon as it’s ready, we will be announcing it here. Stay tuned!

We are now using MongoDB v3.2 Geo 2dsphere indexes (instead of 2d), which corresponds with MongoDB documentation and requires stricter validation. More information can be found in the section on the GeoPoint data type of our reference. Also, check out these examples.

Another month, another platform update! Here’s what’s on for the coming August update coming in a few days.

New Android Cordova Library

We have updated our Android Cordova library version to 6.2.2. This version will be selected automatically in new projects.

Also, we now support Android SDK tools 26.0.1. This means more features, more plug-ins available to import, and being able to export
Appery.io projects to the latest Android Studio.

Adding Limits on the Request Body Of Custom And Generated Services

Until now API Express services didn’t have a limit on request size, but we know that some of you really need this option. In this release, you’ll see this message if the body of the request is more than 5 MB:

{
"code": "AE018",
"message": "Body request max size is exceeded",
"status": "REQUEST_ENTITY_TOO_LARGE"
}

Ability to Order JS and CSS Files Inclusion

In previous releases of Appery.io JS and CSS files were executed by creation date. Yes, this was really annoying in some cases. Now you can go on the App settings tab, open Resources, and select the order of these files. For instance, simply drag the CSS3 file and drop it on the top of the list and this file will run before the CSS1 file if you like.

Extended Database Statistics

There are are a lot of different stats you might want to know about a database: longest requests, successful requests, error requests, information about collections with issues, selected operation, and much more! All of this data is now available on the Statistics tab of your database. Just look at the screenshot:

Ability to Create an Index for System Fields

Our users can already use system fields in their queries (a really useful capability). So for better performance, we have added a possibility to create indexes for system fields. Check it out!

Multi-Language Support Updated

In Appery.io, you can easily build an app that provides a UI that switches among several languages with the updated and improved i18next plugin.

Bugs (Less of Them)

A large number of bugs were fixed by our development team. You’re gonna like it!

Get in Touch

As always, we want to get your feedback. You can always email us (support@appery.io) or post on our forum.

This blog post supplements “OAuth Login with Google App” in the Appery.io documentation.

Since April 20, 2017, all OAuth requests through InAppBrowser are blocked (see http://blog.ionic.io/google-oauth-changes/ for details). Now it’s necessary to use the Google Sign-In Cordova/PhoneGap plug-in.

So, first of all, download the plug-in and add it to the project (more details on this).  When ready, you can proceed with specifying the settings for iOS or Android apps. We’ll describe both ways and then show you how to set up your app at the end.

Google setting for iOS projects

1. On the Google project page, go to the Credentials tab and select Create credentials > OAuth client ID: 
2. In a new window, select iOS.
3. Define the Bundle ID (you can get it from App settings > iOS binary > Bundle ID).
4. Click Create.
5. Now, copy the iOS URL scheme from the created Client ID:
   
6. Add the iOS URL scheme as the REVERSED_CLIENT_ID parameter of the Google Sign-In plug-in and save:
   

Ready!

Google setting for Android projects

1. On the Google project page, go to Credentials and select Create credentials > OAuth client ID: 
2. In a new window, select Android.
3. You will need the SHA-1 fingerprint of the certificate that you are using for signing up your app to link the client ID to the app. To get it, export your certificate (Resources > Certificates) and run the following command in the console:

   keytool -exportcert -keystore path-to-debug-or-production-keystore -list -v

   keytool is a key and certificate management utility.

   It is included in the jdk, you can install either jdk or download the keytool utility.

4. The obtained SHA1 code should be added to the Signing certificate fingerprint.
5. Insert the Package name (App settings > Android binary > Package name).
6. Click Create.

Changes to make to the Appery.io project

1. Add the button Login with Google on Device on the LoginWithGoogle page.
2. Add the following JavaScript code to the click event:

   window.plugins.googleplus.login(
       {
         'scopes': 'https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive' // optional, space-separated list of scopes, If not included or empty, defaults to `profile` and `email`.
       },
   function (obj) {
           Apperyio.storage.token.set(obj["accessToken"]);
           Apperyio.navigateTo("WelcomeOnDevice");
       },
       function (msg) {
         alert('error: ' + msg);
       }
   );

3. Duplicate the Welcome page and rename it to WelcomeOnDevice.
4. Remove the JavaScript code from the Page show event (leave only Invoke service there).

Please note that the selected Android certificate will only work with the release option enabled.

Here are some highlights of what’s coming in our June platform update rolling out on June 25th.

New Ionic Component

We have added a new component for the Ionic palette in Appery.io, the Slide Box. It’s a simple component that allows you to create a pretty handy little widget for your mobile application. The Slide Box lets you embed a set of images (or random HTML) and then display them one item at a time.

Importing Cordova Plug-ins from GitHub

Now you can grab Cordova plug-ins directly from GitHub, which is faster and easier. Just find the plug-in you want on GitHub, click the Clone or Download button and copy the plug-in’s URL.

Then, in Appery.io, go to the Resources tab and find the new Cordova Plugins tab. In the tab, click on the green Import Cordova Plugins button, select the From Git tab in the dialog box, and paste the link to the plug-in that you copied from GitHub.

From now on, when you open your projects you’ll see this plug-in among the imported plug-ins.

Panels Changes

We received a few requests to make work with panels more comfortable. So, we have added a close button on the Outline and Palette panels. Also, you can easily switch now between normal and small buttons. Hope you like it.

Database Export

The issues we had with database export were annoying, but we have good news. We have fixed this critical bug.  And even more… Now you can export individual collections from your database. Hope, you’ll find this useful.

Server Code Statistics

We know you want to know more about your Server Code script usage, and now you get this option. Select your Server Code, click on the Statistics menu item, and you’ll see the new tab called Reports. There you can find information about your Server Code activities filtered by date.

And More Changes

New Google Map Component

The Ionic and Bootstrap Google Map component was updated. Now we use the more stable version 2.1.6, Errors in the previous version have been fixed.

Android SDK

Most of you have Facebook accounts and want to have Facebook integration in your apps. With the latest Android SDK version included in this release, you’ll find that the Facebook4 plugin is supported.

More Image Formats

Now SVN and ICO images are supported by our Media Manager. More pictures in your apps!

SHA1 and SHA256 Certificates

Now, when you download your certificates from Appery.io, you’ll find SHA1 and SHA256 certificates in the exported zip file. These would be useful for Firebase integration.

Bugs (Less of Them)

No update is complete without bug fixes. So, yes, we fixed a great number of large and small bugs to make the platform better.

Get in Touch

If you run into any hiccups with this release (Hey, we aren’t perfect.), please reach out to us via the forum or by sending us an email (by signing into the platform and clicking the Get Help link at the top).

Being able to send Push Notifications to users is one of the fundamental capability in an enterprise mobile app. Appery.io platform comes with Push Notifications component out-of-the-box and allows you quickly to send targeted messages to iOS and Android devices. In this blog post we will show the four ways to send a Push Notification message to a user:

1. Push Notifications Console.
2. Server Code Push Notifications API (server-side).
3. Push Notification REST API.
4. Customer Console.

Push Notifications Console

This first option is probably the simplest way to send a Push Notifications once you have installed an app on a device. Select device types, enter the message and send. The Push Notification message should arrive on the registered device instantly.

Push Notifications console

Read the rest of this entry »

Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency and a digital payment system with 5.8 million users. In this blog post, you will learn how easy it is to build an Appery.io hybrid app to accept payments in bitcoins. It just takes a few simple steps to build the app and ready the payment ecosystem.

First, you need to get a merchant sandbox account on the BitPay server at https://test.bitpay.com/get-started. There are other payment servers, but BitPay currently is the largest and oldest bitcoin payment processor in the world, serving industry-leading merchants on six continents.

Next. You need to import a plug-in that will be the prebuilt (mostly prebuilt) client app. To do this, when the App Builder loads, choose the creation From Plugin option and check the BitPay App plug-in. (Learn more details about how to build an Ionic app in Appery.io.)

Then, you need to add one more piece to Appery.io, the BitPay Cordova plug-in. Go to https://github.com/bitpay/cordova-sdk and save this repository as a ZIP file. Upload this file to Appery.io to install this plug-in. (Please read this for more information about installing Cordova plug-ins into Appery.io.)

Next, Generate a BitPay API token with point-of-sale capability without client authentication at https://test.bitpay.com/api-tokens. With this done, get back to your app to set the token value. At this point, a distribution certificate should be associated with your app as described in https://docs.appery.io/docs/appexport-certificate-management.

Finally, as a customer making purchases with BitPay App, you need a bitcoin wallet installed on your phone. A bitcoin wallet is an app that lets you receive, hold, and spend bitcoins. This list shows bitcoin wallets supported by BitPay.

And, one more thing. After all of this is done, please make sure you switch to a merchant production account on the BitPay server at https://bitpay.com/get-started.

That’s all.  Now your app is ready to take bitcoin payments.