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Android

Posted by Suli S
Suli S
1,475 Points

Case study: native app for a website?

Assume that someone has a website and he wants to develop a native app for android devices and this app requires connecting to database for example. What technologies do I need to know before developing such aspp. Is Java will be enough? or do I need to know PHP for example or Ruby for the backend?

2 Answers

RJ McCollam
RJ McCollam
16,823 Points
RJ McCollam
RJ McCollam
16,823 Points

I am not an expert at this myself, but have worked on a team that has developed a web app and has talked about making a mobile app as well. Our web app is built using Java so my very simple understanding would be that you could use Java for both your mobile app and to power the backend of your web app.

Ben Jakuben
STAFF
Ben Jakuben
Treehouse Teacher
Ben Jakuben
Ben Jakuben
Treehouse Teacher

Hi Suli,

First things first, you'll need to clarify all the pieces in your mind so you know what you're up against. The database and other guts of the web app are the "back end", and the website itself is one "front end." An Android app would be another front end, and iOS app another, etc. However, the backend for a website might not be configured at first to be easily accessible by other frontends. Often times the first backend/frontend combo will be built in such a way that they are tightly integrated. They can be separated, though, or services can be added to the backend that allow other frontend clients to access it.

We discussed this kind of stuff a while back in the Forum. Check out that thread and then pop back in here with any other questions. :)