Low Code Archives

How to Build Apps for Barcode Scanners

October 1, 2024/in App Development, apps, Low Code, Mobile /by Erin Cavanaugh

Handheld barcode scanners are indispensable in many sectors today, from retail and logistics to healthcare, shipping, and manufacturing. These devices play a critical role in capturing real-time data, such as inventory updates, order tracking, and customer details. However, integrating scanned data seamlessly into backend systems is just as important as collecting it. Barcode scanner apps can bridge the the gap with the ability to transfer scanned information to databases and business systems.

While the need to integrate barcode scanner data into mobile apps is a common requirement, building scanning apps is often a challenge. Traditional development methods require specialized expertise and can take too long, especially in industries that demand rapid deployment.

Support for connecting to barcode scanners in Altova MobileTogether changes all of that. With this low-code app development framework, you can create, test, and deploy barcode-scanning solutions in a fraction of the time compared to conventional coding approaches.

A worker in a warehouse scanning a barcode to send data to a tablet

New in MobileTogether 10.0

September 24, 2024/in App Development, Low Code, Mobile /by Erin Cavanaugh

The latest version of Altova MobileTogether introduces frequently requested support for building apps that connect to mobile barcode scanners. This addition makes the low-code development framework even more useful for creating solutions across industries that rely on barcodes and QR codes to update data in real time.

Version 10.0 also includes a new Styles Inspector in the app simulator, new controls, options for boosting flexibility and performance, and more.

Here’s a look at the highlights.

working in a warehouse scanning boxes with a handheld barcode scanner

Build an MQTT-enabled App

January 23, 2024/in App Development, Low Code, MQTT /by Erin Cavanaugh

As IoT adoption continues, smart devices are driving efficient automation in our homes, in offices, and at scale in myriad industrial applications. Communication protocols play an increasingly pivotal role in ensuring seamless connectivity between devices used in these scenarios. One such protocol that has gained widespread adoption for its efficiency and lightweight nature is MQTT.

MQTT’s flexibility allows app developers to implement it in various scenarios, from small-scale projects to enterprise-level applications. Whether it’s a simple office automation system or a complex industrial network, MQTT provides reliable, efficient communication between smart devices in real time.

Altova MobileTogether includes comprehensive support for building MQTT-enabled apps for iOS, Android, and Windows devices. Its low-code, RMAD approach to cross-platform app development gets those apps out the door in record time.

Let’s see how it works.

MQTT in an industrial automation scenario

Tags: mobile development

MobileTogether 9.0 with MQTT Support and More

January 16, 2024/in App Development, Low Code, Mobile /by Erin Cavanaugh

Version 9.0 of MobileTogether, Altova’s low code app development framework, is now available with new features including comprehensive MQTT support, support for new gestures, drawing barcodes and QR codes, dark mode, and much more.

Here’s a look at all the highlights.

Image showing a drawing of a factory setting using MQTT messages

Building Apps with an Intelligent Database Wizard

March 20, 2023/in App Development, Database, Development, Low Code /by Erin Cavanaugh

Data-driven solutions like database and enterprise apps rely on connection to, and interaction with, backend databases. Backend relational databases, however, store data in tables that reflect complex data relationships. This provides numerous advantages for effective data management and data integrity but can make it difficult to access and work with the data stored therein in new ways. App developers need to have a comprehensive understanding of database design principles and the SQL query language just to get started.

In contrast, real world data relationships most often represent parent-child relationships or even deeper hierarchical structure. As such, working with hierarchical data where relationships can be visualized in a tree structure can be much simpler and more flexible, leading to faster development. This approach is also more accessible to developers without extensive SQL expertise.

To make building apps that connect to the backend relational databases that are ubiquitous in today’s enterprise easier, faster, and available to a wider range of developers, Altova MobileTogether takes an entirely unique approach. Its visual Database Wizard lets developers easily build a query that returns hierarchical data, work with that data in the app, and then easily save the data back in hierarchical form, letting MobileTogether take care of normalizing the data and writing it back to the corresponding linked tables. Let’s take a look at how it works.

Scripting App Behavior

February 17, 2023/in App Development, Low Code, No Code /by Erin Cavanaugh

The low code approach to app creation has been very effective at decreasing the complexity and learning-curve associated with building custom apps in response to quickly changing business requirements. Low code tools do the heavy lifting for developers and system administrators, freeing them to focus on business needs and rules rather than writing complex code.

To be truly successful, any low code approach must still include the ability to configure sophisticated app behavior in response to user input. This can be a challenge to implement with visual tools.

Altova RecordsManager offers a low code approach to creating database apps, with a built-in scripting editor that is purely visual. This offers the best of both worlds: easy app creation and sophisticated functionality customized for data-centric applications. Let’s see how it works.

People working on computers in an office

How to Build an Online Database – Without Coding

July 6, 2022/in App Development, Low Code, No Code /by Erin Cavanaugh

Backend databases are the lifeblood of enterprise and records-driven apps, but database development is time and resource intensive. Developers and administrators need easy tools for defining online databases to power the custom apps their businesses require to remain productive and competitive.

Altova RecordsManager offers an entirely visual approach to building sophisticated database apps without any coding or backend database development required. You can quickly define a simple or complex online database using an easy-to-use, entirely visual interface. Let’s see how it works.

Decorative image: woman typing on a laptop

MobileTogether Gets a Major Update

June 1, 2022/in App Development, Low Code, MobileTogether /by Erin Cavanaugh

Version 8.0 of MobileTogether adds several exciting new features to the innovative platform for building enterprise and mobile apps, giving existing customers a major upgrade and paving the way for new customers to create full-featured apps even faster than before.

Major additions to the platform include a brand new way of interacting with relational databases, support for modularization, and much more.

Version 8.0 also coincides with the launch of Altova RecordsManager, a new offering that gives system administrators a completely no-code option for creating business database apps in MobileTogether Designer.

Let’s take a look at the highlights.

MobileTogether Adds a Full-Featured Debugger

July 14, 2020/in App Development, Low Code, mobile development /by Erin Cavanaugh

MobileTogether is an easy to use, low-code app development framework that allows you to create sophisticated apps for all platforms from a single app design. Because MobileTogether is capable of building highly complex, elegant solutions, developers need the ability to troubleshoot during development to understand and debug app behavior.

In its latest release MobileTogether introduces a brand new, enterprise-grade debugger alongside other new features for defining controls, actions, and UI refinements.

Programming Techniques for Mobile Development

July 1, 2020/in App Development, Low Code, mobile development, Tools /by David McGahey

MobileTogether is an easy to use, low-code app development framework that lets you create sophisticated apps for all platforms from a single design.

Low-code doesn’t mean no code. A database specialist might start with a few SQL queries and use the MobileTogether drag and drop interface to create an app with elegant tables and graphs to report up-to-the-minute enterprise data, while experienced developers often use familiar programming techniques in mobile development to build highly complex, elegant MobileTogether solutions.

Developers define user functions, parameters, variables, loops, or a complex data structure when that’s the right tool for the job. MobileTogether makes it fast and easy to control all the features in the device – camera, microphone, GPS, SMS, handwriting capture, and more. MobileTogether helps you achieve your vision fast and build really cool mobile apps with charisma enough to go viral.

MobileTogether is about getting the work done efficiently, not limiting how you do it. Let’s check out a couple examples of programming techniques in MobileTogether apps.

Accelerate Low Code App Development with MobileTogether 6.0

November 19, 2019/in App Development, Low Code, Mobile /by Erin Cavanaugh

With the right tools, a low code approach to development doesn’t mean a sacrifice of functionality or sophistication of the end result. On the contrary, low code app development frameworks like MobileTogether make advanced programming functionality more accessible and faster to implement.

Whether you’re building apps for iOS, Android, Windows, the web – or all of the above – the latest release of MobileTogether adds a mix of features that elevate programming on the platform to the next level and give developers easy access to the latest mobile device trends.