Outline of Nexacro Platform 17

Nexacro Platform 17 is a software development platform that enables you to write just one set of source code to design, develop and deploy an application applicable to various environments including the Web, mobile devices and non-mobile devices. Using the platform, you can develop an enterprise application running on a web browser for a certain task. If you need the connection with a certain peripheral in Windows, you can easily transform the application into a Windows app and deploy it just by adding a relevant adapter. With just one single versatile tool applied to the entire course from development to deployment, you can respond to differing running environments and various requests from users.

Main features of Nexacro Platform 17

• Development tool (IDE): Nexacro Studio 17 is a development tool that is easy to use for beginner developers thanks to its intuitive editing feature. The tool provides integrated development environment where you can design screens, write code, perform debugging and deploy applications in a continuous process.

• Framework: Unified.js is Nexacro Platform's own JavaScript framework, which is applicable to all operating environments. Developers need to write just a single set of source code without having to consider characteristics of each operating system.

• Runtime Environment: Nexacro Platform-based mobile and desktop apps run on the Nexacro runtime environment (NRE). The NRE consists of a unique render engine and script engine, both developed based on open-source software. The optimal running environment can deal with the massive volume of data and render complicated screens faster than web browsers. Moreover, it provides the connections with APIs offered by various OSes as well as the connections with peripherals.

Web technologies are being standardized more and more, and most of the technologies that used to be implemented using plug-ins are now supported simply by the Web. However, the gap between web technologies and market demand is widening in this era of the fourth industrial revolution as the Web is lagging behind the pace of the technological development in other sectors. The Web has many limitations so that it cannot utilize information collected by devices. Furthermore, it also cannot extend the functionalities of existing services by connecting them with various types of IoT devices. As the concept of a hybrid app emerged to overcome the limitations of the Web, it falls short of responding to diverse operating systems. To provide system that can fit all the environments of users, companies need developers and tools specializing in each environment.

Nexacro Platform uses its own operating environment to secure maximum speed. Moreover, the dedicated framework sets developers free from the struggle caused by the difference in operating systems. Developers do not need to learn programming languages other than JavaScript to build screens, control device APIs and devise algorithms. For the data types, peripherals and IoT devices that are not supported by Nexacro Platform 17, you can develop separate modules or adapters by using third-party products. You can extend functionalities simply by installing such a module on a project.

Nexacro Platform 17 does not require a separate server for rendering screens. You can manage web, mobile and desktop applications all together just by using Nexacro Studio to create necessary files and uploading the created files onto the existing web server. You just need to add relevant libraries to a server to support the data transactions with back end system or to use push message system. In this way, you can use an existing server framework.

Programming language

Nexacro Platform programming is divided into two parts - one to define user-visible screens visible and a second used for the scripts that implement business logic. Additionally, Nexacro Platform provides capabilities for applying and managing styles and themes in screens.

Form (screen) definition language (FDL) is XML-based and describes information such as each component’s properties, binding, and events. FDL is used to describe the multiple layouts created using the Adaptive Visual Editor. Lastly, FDL includes a separate file structure that documents environment information needed to run apps.

The following table identifies files created when developing apps using Nexacro Platform (note that these are all development-time files that are not necessarily included in the app at run-time):

As part of the build process, code written in Nexacro Studio will be converted to JavaScript. At run-time, it is the JavaScript code that will run.

Development Environment

Nexacro Platform includes Nexacro Studio, Nexacro's integrated development environment (IDE), which includes a WYSIWYG interface. You can develop apps on Nexacro Studio without being concerned about the operating environment. Code created will be saved in Nexacro Platform formats and languages.

Although Nexacro Studio runs only on Microsoft Windows, apps developed using Studio may be run under any operating system or device with a web browser that supports HTML5.

With the App Builder, you can create and deploy an app that is compatible with iOS/iPadOS, macOS or Android by adjusting settings simply.

Implementation Environment

Nexacro Platform runs apps through the Nexacro Framework and provides an optimized structure for each supported operating environment.

To begin, implementation environments are divided into the desktop and mobile environments. Another categorization is based on operating mechanisms—Nexacro runtime environment (NRE) and web runtime environment (WRE). Apps can use additional features depending the latter categorization. In the Android and iOS/iPadOS NRE, for example, apps can use camera, address book, SMS and other features that are provided by mobile devices.

The below table summarizes the implementation environments for Nexacro Platform.

Deployment Environment

Deployment refers to the tasks required to install an app and the resources on which it depends. Depending on the user's environment and app, you may need to download apps and modules developed using Nexacro Platform and install them on the user's device (whether mobile, laptop or desktop).

Nexacro Platform-based apps run on client machines that the user will work on. The apps may need to communicate with a web application server (WAS) for tasks such as data processing, which can be performed by using the X-API module. Where real-time data must be processed on the client machine, an additional module, X-Push, may be used.

For basic deployment tasks, HTTP is the simplest protocol to use. In environments where Internet access is unavailable, you may need a separate medium to distribute resources and apps.