Books

Do you want to build your own mobile application but don't know where to start?

Confused about the different technologies available and how they all fit together?

Need to understand how an application is built from initial idea right through to App Store submission?

Want to learn from a developer who's worked with clients ranging from Virgin Media, EDF Energy & Evans Cycles to the British Science Association, Ben & Jerry's and Shelter?

With over 15 years experience building web and mobile applications I know how confusing it can be to begin developing your own ideas - especially if you are new to the industry.

That's why I've published Mastering Ionic : Building a Real World Application- my latest e-book packed with best practice advice, industry insights and statistics as well as an in-depth exploration into each of the different aspects of developing a mobile application using the popular Ionic Framework.

What to expect

Mastering Ionic : Building a Real World Applicationguides you through the different stages of how a live application was designed, developed, tested and eventually submitted to the Google Play and Apple App Stores.

From exploring initial ideas and considerations including design assets, structuring the application and legal concerns to in-depth coding examples, remote content integration and App Store submissions I'll walk you through developing a real world application with best practice advice on what to do, when to do that and what to avoid.

With full coverage of the exact same codebase* used in a real-world, live application you'll see how each and every stage of the planning and development lifecycle fits together.

What's included

Key areas covered in the e-book include:

• Integrating PHP/MySQL with Ionic
• Managing dedicated tasks with Angular services & Ionic Native plugins
• Using SQLite as a local storage solution
• Synchronising remote content with an Ionic application
• Design considerations and pre-development issues to be aware of
• Implementing In-App Purchases for iOS & Android
• Measuring user engagement
• Unit testing an Ionic application
• Creating custom themes
• iOS & Android codesigning
• Handling Google Play & Apple App Store submissions
• Marketing your application

No matter what your development experience you'll benefit from seeing how a real world application is developed, including designing & planning, optimising code for maximum performance, marketing advice and a heads up on common pitfalls and how to navigate your way around these.

If you're serious about application development then this book was written with you in mind!

*Specific details (such as, but not limited to, In-App product identifiers and App Store account credentials/details) have been omitted, obscured or changed, where necessary, purely for security reasons

Table of Contents

Introduction

• Overview
• Prerequisites
• Why Ionic?
• My background
• Support
• Conventions used in this book
• Before we go...play fair, play nice

Introducing the application

• The application itself
• Home screen
• Daily Misfortune Cookie screen
• Share the Wisdom screen
• Get in Touch screen
• Legal screen
• Next steps

Before development

• Overview
• Choice of platform
• Which category
• Free, paid or Freemium?
• Driving and measuring user engagement
• Application lifecycle

Designing the application

• Overview
• Application imagery

Getting started with Ionic

• Overview
• The benefits of Ionic
• Installing Ionic
• Managing Native Plugins
• The architecture of an Ionic project
• Using the Ionic CLI

Configuring the Misfortune Cookie App

• Overview
• Revisiting the App
• Tools & Technologies
• Creating the foundations
• Generating components
• Generating services
• Rooting the application
• Lazy loading the page components
• Setting the root page
• Summary

Bootstrapping the application

• Overview
• Assets and their implementation
• Loading the application JSON files
• Summary

Storing App Content

• Overview
• The logic behind the Misfortune Cookie message
• Database overview
• Setting up the Service
• Database Setup
• Implementing the Cookie Quotes table
• Implementing the Limited Cookie Quotes table
• Managing the previous cookies functionality
• Managing In-App Purchases
• Table management
• DatabaseProvider service in full
• Summary

Uploading App Content

• Overview
• The Ionic aspect
• The PHP aspect
• In closing
• Summary

Managing In-App Purchases

• Overview
• getProducts
• purchaseInAppPurchaseProduct
• restoreAllInAppPurchaseProducts
• determineProductsToEnable
• Summary

Tracking App Usage

• Overview
• Caveat Emptor
• The AnalyticsProvider service
• In closing
• Summary

Managing the App experience

• Overview

Managing App Utilities

• Overview
• In closing

Validation

• Overview
• Summary

Rating the App

• Overview
• In Closing
• Summary

Building the HomePage Component

• Overview
• In-App Products
• Restoring In-App Purchase Products
• The Home Screen UI
• Coding the component class
• Templating the Home page
• In Closing

Building the CookieQuote Component

• Overview
• Retrieving the daily misfortune cookie message
• Sharing the daily misfortune cookie message
• Lazy loading the component
• The cookie quote logic
• The CookieQuote template

Building the Modal form for sharing the Cookie Quote

• Overview
• Setting up the HTML
• Lazy loading the Modal component

Building the Feedback and Legal Page Components

• Overview
• Staying lazy
• In closing
• Staying safe
• Templating the Component
• Enabling lazy loading of the component

Custom Theming the App

• Overview
• Home
• Cookie Quote
• Legal
• Summary

Testing

• Overview
• Take your pick
• Unit testing
• In testing you Jest
• Setting the environment
• Configuring the project
• Mock your code
• Writing the tests
• In closing

Adding launch icons & splash screen images

• Overview
• Summary

Configuring In-App Purchases & Products

• Overview
• Creating/managing In-App Purchases in iTunes Connect
• Adding In-App Products on the Google Play Store
• Summary

Codesigning the application for iOS & Android

• Overview
• Code Signing for iOS
• Creating a CSR (Certificate Signing Request) file
• Generating the Development and Distribution Certificates
• Adding iOS Devices
• Creating App ID's
• Generating provisioning profiles
• Code Signing for Android
• Summary

Submitting the application to the Apple App Store

• Overview
• Creating an app listing on the App Store
• Features
• TestFlight
• Activity
• Submitting the App using Xcode
• Testing the App with TestFlight
• Summary

Submitting the application to the Google Play Store

• Overview
• Creating a Play Store listing
• Uploading the application release build
• Summary

Remote Development

• Overview
• Working with the online database
• Implementing the update mechanism
• Sharing Misfortune Cookie messages
• Displaying shared cookie messages
• Receiving user feedback
• In closing
• Summary

Marketing applications

• Overview
• App Store Optimisation
• Website promotion
• Social media marketing
• E-mail marketing
• E-mail signature
• Putting together a Press Kit
• Encouraging users to rate/review your app
• In closing

Versioning

• Overview
• Backing up
• Version Control
• Ignorance is bliss
• In closing

Parting words

Author Biography

Index

December 18th 2017

Updates for the following chapters to reflect recent changes with Angular 4.3+ and the HttpClient module (and how this affects the supply and retrieval of data from PHP):

• Configuring the Misfortune Cookie App
• Bootstrapping the application
• Storing App Content
• Updating App Content
• Building the Feedback and Legal Page Components
• Remote Development

October 9th 2017

Updates for the following chapters were made:

• Marketing Applications
• Versioning

E-book is now completed.

October 2nd 2017

Updates for the following chapters were made:

• Submitting the application to the Apple App Store
• Submitting the application to the Google Play Store
• Remote Development

September 25th 2017

The following additional chapters for the e-book were published:

• Adding launch icons & splash screen images
• Configuring In-App Purchases & Products
• Codesigning the application for iOS & Android

September 20th 2017

The following additional chapters for the e-book were published:

• Building the HomePage Component
• Building the CookieQuote Component
• Building the Modal form for sharing the Cookie Quote
• Building the Feedback and Legal Page Components
• Custom Theming the App
• Testing/Unit Testing

August 13th 2017

The following additional chapters for the e-book were published:

• Tracking App Usage
• Managing the App experience
• Managing App Utilities
• Validation

August 2nd 2017

The following additional chapters for the e-book were published:

• Updating App Content
• Managing In-App Purchases

July 25th 2017

Following chapters of e-book published:

• Introduction
• Exploring the application
• Before development
• Designing the application
• Getting started with Ionic
• Configuring the Misfortune Cookie App
• Bootstrapping the application
• Storing App Content

** JANUARY 2019 - NOW UPDATED FOR IONIC 4 NEUTRONIUM **

Do you want to develop your own mobile apps for iOS & Android? Are you looking for a low-cost solution that will give you the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve this? Unsure of which tools and resources to use? Bewildered by the range of options available?

Then let me help you.

With over 5 years experience of using open-source software tools to develop and deliver applications for iOS & Android I can guide you through the steps involved in developing your own mobile applications.

Whether you’re an absolute beginner or a seasoned veteran I’ve put together an e-book: Mastering Ionic that's packed with practical knowledge and development insights geared towards helping you master the framework that businesses and developers all over the world are raving about: Ionic.

What to expect

Mastering Ionic takes you through working with the Ionic framework on a step-by-step basis from basic concepts and core technologies through to developing fully functional apps with 3 complete case studies.

Featuring lots of mini-projects and in-depth resources in an easy to read format you'll build your knowledge and skills in no time and understand why millions of developers worldwide love working with the Ionic framework.

Some of the topics covered in the book include:

• Working with Ionic UI components
• Implementing Angular services
• Theming your Ionic applications
• Handling and parsing data
• Configuring forms using 3 different approaches
• Integrating SQLite and NativeStorage
• Using Apache Cordova/Ionic Native plugins
• Code signing apps for iOS & Android
• Troubleshooting common (and not-so common) Ionic bugs
• Submitting apps to the Apple App & Google Play Stores

Additionally you'll get access to ALL of the code samples used in each chapter and for the 3 complete case studies absolutely FREE!

On top of this you also gain access to support and further resources listed in the Introduction to the e-book so whichever way you cut it you're on to a great deal!

So whether you're a novice or a veteran developer Mastering Ionic will give you the tools and knowledge you need to hone your mobile app development skills and take them to the next level.

Table of Contents

 - Introduction

 - The last decade

 - Changes from previous versions of Ionic

 - Core tools & technologies

 - The Ionic ecosystem

 - Configuring your environment

 - Beginning Ionic development

 - The architecture of an Ionic App

 - Decorators & Classes

 - Ionic Navigation

 - Templates

 - Theming Ionic Apps

 - Plugins

 - Loading Data

 - Forms & Data Input

 - Data Storage

 - Animations

 - Troubleshooting your Ionic App

 - Debugging & Profiling Apps

 - Documenting your code

 - Preparing apps for release

 - Code signing for iOS & Android

 - Submitting your iOS App to the Apple App Store

 - Submitting your Android App to the Google Play Store

 - Case Study #1 - Movies App

 - Case Study #2 - SoopaDoopaGames App

 - Case Study #3 - Appy Mapper App

 - In Closing

 - Author Biography

 - Index

 - Project download links

January 26th 2019

Updated the following chapters with new or additional information:

• Introduction
• The Ionic ecosystem
• Configuring your environment
• Beginning Ionic Development
• The architecture of an Ionic App

January 22nd 2019

Fixed issue with non-functioning chapter and case studies code download URLs

November 4th 2018

Updated the following chapters to cover changes with Ionic 4 beta release:

• Changes from previous versions of Ionic
• Core tools & technologies
• The Ionic ecosystem
• The architecture of an Ionic App
• Decorators & Classes
• Ionic Navigation
• Templates
• Plugins
• Forms & Data Input
• Data Storage
• Animations
• Debugging & Profiling Apps
• Documenting your code
• Case Study #1 - Movies App
• Case Study #2 - SoopaDoopaGames App
• Case Study #3 - AppyMapper App

February 18th 2018

Updated the following chapters to reflect changes with Ionic 3.19.1:

• Introduction
• Changes from Ionic 1
• Core tools & technologies
• The Ionic ecosystem

November 28th 2017

Updated the following chapters to reflect changes with Ionic 3.19.0:

• Changes from Ionic 1
• Configuring your environment
• Beginning Ionic development
• The architecture of an Ionic App
• Decorators & Classes
• Ionic Navigation
• Templates
• Theming Ionic Apps
• Plugins
• Loading Data
• Forms & Data Input
• Data Storage
• Animations
• Troubleshooting your Ionic App
• Debugging & Profiling Apps
• Documenting your code
• Movies App Case Study
• SoopaDoopaGames App Case Study
• AppyMapper App Case Study

July 10th 2017

Additional Ionic CLI commands added to the Beginning Ionic Development chapter

May 27th 2017

Updated the following chapters to reflect recent changes to the Ionic CLI:

• Changes from Ionic 1
• The Ionic ecosystem
• Configuring your environment
• Beginning Ionic development
• The architecture of an Ionic App
• Decorators & Classes
• Ionic Navigation
• Templates
• Plugins
• Loading Data
• Forms & Data Input
• Data Storage
• Animations
• Troubleshooting your Ionic App
• Debugging & Profiling Apps
• Documenting your code
• Movies App Case Study
• SoopaDoopaGames App Case Study
• AppyMapper App Case Study

April 30th 2017

Updated the Troubleshooting your Ionic App chapter to provide details on resolving the IonicNativePlugin error with recent releases of the Ionic Framework

April 13th 2017

Following chapters updated to reflect recent changes with release of Ionic 3:

• Changes from Ionic 1
• The Ionic ecosystem
• Configuring your environment
• Beginning Ionic development
• The architecture of an Ionic App
• Decorators & Classes
• Ionic Navigation
• Templates
• Plugins
• Loading Data
• Forms & Data Input
• Data Storage
• Animations
• Troubleshooting your Ionic App
• Debugging & Profiling Apps
• Documenting your code
• Movies App Case Study
• SoopaDoopaGames App Case Study
• AppyMapper App Case Study

March 29th 2017

• Updated information regarding how Ionic Native plugins are installed as of Ionic Native 3.x
• Updated code examples to reflect changes in how plugins are installed

March 16th 2017

• Added examples of implementing Ahead-of-Time rendering for Ionic project builds for ALL code examples on both iOS & Android
• Corrected some minor errors and omissions in the Case Study #2 chapter

February 6th 2017

• Beginning Ionic development chapter updated with details of the Ionic build process and Ionic serve functionality
• The architecture of an Ionic app chapter updated to include recent file changes in final release of Ionic
• Decorators & Classes chapter updated to fix some code typos
• Ionic Navigation chapter updated to fix some code typos
• Templates chapter updated to reflect recent changes to using the Slides component API
• Forms & Data Input chapter updated to fix some code typos
• Data Storage chapter updated to fix some code typos
• Animations chapter updated to fix some code typos
• Movies App Case Study updated to fix some code typos
• SoopaDoopaGames App Case Study updated to fix some code typos
• AppyMapper App Case Study updated to fix some code typos

December 30th 2016

• Updated forms section to cover alternate FormControl syntax in HTML field
• Added note to The Ionic white screen of death section in Troubleshooting your Ionic App chapter

December 1st 2016

• Updated content to reflect changes in Ionic RC3
• Added further links to file downloads

November 25th 2016

• Resolved some page formatting issues
• Changed URL's for fiel downloads

November 23rd 2016

• Mastering Ionic published