Key Takeaways
- AppGyver, a team involved in hybrid mobile apps, has introduced Steroids2 and Supersonic, platforms for building apps rooted in HTML5, AngularJS, and web components, promising a blend of HTML5 with native components.
- AppGyver offers two methods to build apps: Steroids, a combination of a Command Line Interface (CLI) and a web app, and Composer, a completely visual, browser-based tool. The platform also facilitates easy distribution of apps through AppGyver’s Scanner App, and easy deployment to app stores.
- Despite a few limitations in visual control and error handling, AppGyver is leading in hybrid app innovation, offering impressive data integration, easy build distribution, and native-like performance. The platform is currently free, but there’s a potential risk of pricing changes in the future.
In the world of hybrid mobile apps, the team at AppGyver is doing some innovative work. They recently released Steroids2, their platform for building apps, along with Supersonic, a UI framework rooted in HTML5, AngularJS and web components. With the promise of performant hybrid apps blending HTML5 with native components, I was anxious to tryout AppGyver’s latest offerings.
Getting Started
AppGyver offers two options when building apps, Steroids or Composer. Steroids is a combination of a Command Line Interface (CLI) and a web app to generate, manage, compile and distribute projects. Apps can be setup as single or multi-page (i.e. multiple HTML files). Steroids generates new projects using a boilerplate setup or you can load their “Kitchensink” app which, you guessed it, includes all the bells and whistles from their Supersonic UI framework. From there, using your preferred IDE, you can modify and build on the boilerplate using your own code or loading available web components using a package manager like Bower. Running as a local server, Steroids detects app changes and will reload your app on a device or within a local iOS or Android emulator.
Composer is a completely visual, browser-based tool to bootstrap apps. While it has limitations, it excels at building apps quickly, with virtually no coding experience necessary.
I began by creating an AppGyver account and installing the Steroids Tooling. I was impressed at how smooth the process was. Steroids is compatible with numerous JavaScript frameworks such as AngularJS, Backbone, Ember and others. While it’s offered as a JS MVC agnostic platform, it’s written with AngularJS as its preferred front-end framework.
After verifying some dependencies (Node, Git, Xcode), I was able to dive into coding in about 10 minutes.
If you’re fluent in Angular and web components, working with Steroids should feel natural.
For development, I stuck to AppGyver’s getting started tutorials. Not being well versed in Angular, I was limited in my ability to do anything outside the realm of AppGyver’s tutorials, but again, one isn’t forced to use Angular.
Composer
After playing with Steroids I decided to give Composer, AppGyver’s visual app builder, a whirl. Composer is intuitive and has a low learning curve. It comes with a library of common UI components such as form elements, images, panels, lists, buttons and the ability to add custom HTML. These components come to life via a visual logic editor where many interaction controls and conditional logic can be configured. One only needs a basic understanding of programming principles to create some relatively complex logic. Composer uses the same data integration tools as Steroids, with the added convenience of binding data to its library of components.
Distribution Made Easy
Using AppGyver’s Scanner app (for iOS and Android), they’ve made it easy to share apps with others. Each app comes with a QR Code accessible via the web. Scan the code and the Scanner app acts as a wrapper to load the app on your device. No need to use Apple’s TestFlight or a service like Crashlytics to distribute pre-release builds to stakeholders, test users or clients.
Deployment
When you’re ready to push to app stores, AppGyver has also made it a simple process. After entering the necessary information (certificates, icons, splash screen creative, etc.), their cloud based deployment service will generate a build ready to submit to the App Store or Google Play.
The Good
Having been a lead strategist and project manager for both native and hybrid app initiatives using numerous frameworks, I believe AppGyver is leading the pack in hybrid app innovation. Notable benefits:
- Data Binding. Steroids’ handling of data integration is impressive. Using the web-based app, Steroids has out-of-the-box support for built.io, Parse or integration with any REST API, all with a point-and-click UI. AppGyver also offers a sandbox data service for bootstrapping your apps.
- Build Distribution. As mentioned earlier, distributing pre-release builds is easy. If you have non-technical test users, you’ll have them setup and running in no time.
- Not just a framework or a compiler. Most other hybrid app solutions are either UI frameworks or platforms with a concentration on native API support and compiling. AppGyver is a well-conceived, language-agnostic platform with considerations for UI, data integration, distribution and deployment with considerable support for bolt-in components and plug-ins.
- Native Performance. Hybrid apps are often criticized for lacking both native feel and performance, especially when dealing with transitions between views and animations. I find Steroid apps to be performant and nearly indistinguishable from native. You can see for yourself by looking at their directory of user-submitted apps or via AppGyver’s curated showcase.
- Seamless hand-off between Composer and Steroids. All code generated with Composer is downloadable and conforms with Steroids.
The Bad
I don’t have a lot of criticism of AppGyver. Where the platform lacks polish it makes up for in functionality. A few thoughts:
- Visual limitations in Composer. If you’re obsessive about visual control, Composer is somewhat limiting. That stated, it’s one of the nicest GUI based apps builders I’ve ever seen.
- Error Handling. Logs are captured via the browser-based management part of Steroids. While presented well, I hope AppGyver concentrates on improving warnings, errors and debug logs to be more developer-friendly and easier to pinpoint why something might not be working.
- Everything is free—for now? AppGyver’s Platform is completely free. They offer add-ons and cloud services for $199 a year, including integration with services such as Facebook, Urban Airship push notifications, Oauth and GPS. Should they need to pivot on their pricing model it may mean the platform ceases to be free or some features will be removed as premium add-ons. Of course, this is the risk of using any free platform.
Conclusion
If you’re fluent in AngularJS or another JS MVC, you’ll feel right at home with AppGyver. If not, Composer is a viable option—either as a way to bootstrap your app idea and finish it off using Steroids, or to build your app idea from concept to finished product. With a short setup time, formidable data handling, easy distribution and native-like performance, there’s no reason not to give AppGyver’s offerings a try.
Frequently Asked Questions about AppGyver and Hybrid App Development
What makes AppGyver different from other hybrid app development platforms?
AppGyver is a low-code platform that allows developers to build apps for all form factors, including mobile, desktop, browser, TV, and others. It stands out from other platforms due to its visual development environment and its proprietary programming language, which allows developers to create complex logic visually. It also offers a high degree of customization, allowing developers to create unique user interfaces and experiences.
How does AppGyver integrate with Firebase?
AppGyver provides seamless integration with Firebase, a popular backend service. This integration allows developers to leverage Firebase’s capabilities, such as real-time database, authentication, and cloud storage, within their AppGyver apps. This integration can be set up through the AppGyver console, and there are numerous tutorials and resources available to guide developers through the process.
Is AppGyver suitable for beginners?
Yes, AppGyver is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to beginners. Its visual development environment allows users to create apps without needing to write code, making it a great choice for those new to app development. However, it also offers advanced features and customization options that experienced developers will appreciate.
Where can I find documentation and resources for AppGyver?
AppGyver provides comprehensive documentation on their official website. This includes a quick start guide, detailed tutorials, and a community forum where users can ask questions and share their experiences. These resources are designed to help users get the most out of the platform and overcome any challenges they may encounter.
Can I use AppGyver to develop apps for multiple platforms?
Yes, AppGyver allows you to develop apps for a wide range of platforms, including iOS, Android, Web, and even Smart TVs. This cross-platform capability is one of AppGyver’s key strengths, as it allows developers to create a single app that works seamlessly across multiple devices and operating systems.
Is AppGyver free to use?
AppGyver is free to use for developers and small businesses. It offers a free tier that includes access to all of its core features, with no limitations on the number of apps you can create or the number of users you can have. However, for larger businesses and enterprises, there are paid plans available that offer additional features and support.
How does AppGyver compare to traditional coding?
AppGyver offers a visual development environment, which is a significant departure from traditional coding. Instead of writing code line by line, developers can create apps by dragging and dropping components onto a canvas. This approach can be more intuitive and faster than traditional coding, especially for those without a background in programming.
Can I customize the look and feel of my AppGyver app?
Yes, AppGyver offers a high degree of customization. You can customize the user interface of your app by choosing from a variety of pre-built components, or you can create your own custom components. You can also customize the behavior of your app by creating complex logic visually, without needing to write code.
What kind of apps can I build with AppGyver?
With AppGyver, you can build a wide range of apps, from simple utility apps to complex business applications. Its powerful features and flexibility make it suitable for a wide range of use cases, including e-commerce, social networking, productivity, and more.
How can I get started with AppGyver?
To get started with AppGyver, you can sign up for a free account on their website. From there, you can access the AppGyver Composer, which is the platform’s visual development environment. There are also numerous tutorials and resources available on the AppGyver website to help you get started.
David Albert is the author of Tapping In - 21 Viral Strategies For Building Viral Mobile Apps People Will Love and a co-founder of Greygoo, a digital product development firm in Chicago.