A third-party solution can be ideal for cross-platform development.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images
The official iPhone software development kit requires a Mac running OS 10.5 or 10.6. However, there are third-party programs designed to allow iPhone app development on Windows. Some of these programs are designed for development of multiple mobile platforms, including the iPhone. It's important to map out exactly what you want your app to do before choosing a platform. The third-party solutions don't always support all the features of the official iPhone SDK, be sure to match your needs to the solution before deciding on one.
Step 1
Upload your source code to Nitobi's PhoneGap Build service. PhoneGap's development program is Mac-only, but the PhoneGap Build service can be used from any platform. Write your app using any combination of HTML, CSS and JavaScript and then upload the code to the PhoneGap Build service. Select iPhone as the target platform. The PhoneGap Build service provides compilation for iOS, Android, Palm, BlackBerry and Symbian. Use the same source code for all the platforms. The service will compile it with the specific features required by the target platform.
Step 2
Download XMLVM and write your app in Java. XMLVM cross-compiles Java code to the Objective-C code used by the iPhone. This provides a compatibility advantage with Android apps written in Java. You can write the code once and use it on both platforms. The disadvantage is debugging a new application. Since the code is cross-compiled from Java, it may not be immediately apparent if a bug is due to XMLVM's implementation methods or a bug in the actual code. A good way around this is by debugging the app in Java or on the Android platform first.
Step 3
Purchase and download the Airplay SDK. The Airplay SDK allows you to program in Visual C++ and compile for iOS, Android, Symbian, webOS, Windows Mobile, Samsung Bada, Brew and Maemo. The debugging process is the same as a normal application and occurs in your Windows development environment. Use the ARM processor emulator included in the SDK to test for responsiveness on a mobile platform. After you've debugged, compile the same code for any or all of the supported platforms without additional steps. It's a good idea to try a trial version of the SDK before purchasing to be sure it fits your needs.
Photo Credits
- Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images
