Nexacro Platform provides a unified framework with JavaScript-based components to support a wide range of devices and operating environments. With a single set of source code, Nexacro Platform can be used to develop applications for any environment.
Nexacro Platform Unified Framework
Nexacro Platform Unified Framework is the conceptual map of the Nexacro Platform, enabling cross-platform application development using a single code base. Under the Unified Framework, components are created with JavasScript, assuring identical behavior regardless of environment.
unified_framework
Component | Description |
|---|---|
Unified Framework | Provides a basic framework for application configuration and development, enabling tasks including data communication/format (XML, CSV etc,) and inter-screen/inter-form communication. Also supports UI styles and themes. |
UI Components | Collection of UI and dataset controls including: - UI Components: Button, Calendar, Checkbox, Grid, etc. - Basic Components: EditBase, FormBase, FrameBase, ScrollBar, etc. - Objects: Dataset |
Unified Framework API | Enables applications to behave identically whether implemented as HTML5 or Hybrid applications. Developers can write code that is independent of the implementation architecture that will eventually be used. Functions supported by the API are implemented in C for Hybrid applications and JavaScript for HTML5. All code will access functions through JavaScript calls. |
Device API | Enables access to various hardware capabilities that may be present on a device (e.g. camera, GPS, compass, phone, biometrics, accelerometer, etc.) - In general, browsers and devices prohibit the use of the Device API from HTML5 applications. |
Local Database | Supports local data persistence when required by mobile applications. Supports SQLite and can be used by desktops and mobile applications. - Not supported for HTML5 applications |
Binary Data Communication | Both Hybrid and HTML5 applications support communication using XML-, CSV- and SSV-formatted data. In addition, Hybrid applications can communication using binary data. |
Nexacro Platform Components
Nexacro Platform is composed of four elements. The programming language and development environment are identical regardless of the application's implementation architecture; although, the distribution environment may differ.
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 applications.
The following table identifies files created when developing applications using Nexacro Platform (note that these are all development-time files that are not necessarily included in the application at run-time):
Item | File Name (extension) | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
Nexacro Platform project | *.xprj | • Project Information • TypeDefinition • Global variable • ADL (application definition language) |
Nexacro Platform application definition | *.xadl | • Application operating environment • TypeDefinition • Global variable • Theme Information • Frame properties • Screen Info |
Nexacro Platform form definition | *.xfdl | • Screen layout • Screen formproperties • Component properties • Additional layout • Script |
TypeDefinition | default_typedef.xml | • Module • Component • Service • Update |
GlobalVariable | globalvars.xml | • Global variable |
Theme | *.xtheme | • Style Sheet (Frame, Form, Component etc.) • Image |
As part of the build process, applications built with Nexacro Platform 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 applications 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, applications developed using Studio may be run under any operating system or device with a web browser that supports HTML5.
Depending on the run-time environment, you may need to perform additional work using different development tools andseparate authentication. For example, you may need an Xcode environment to distribute an iOS-based app.
Implementation Environment
Nexacro Platform runs applications through the Unified Framework and provides an optimized structure for each supported operating environment.
Nexacro Platform supports a Hybrid and an HTML5 run-time environment. The Hybrid environment offers an operating environment optimized for the operating system. As new operating systems or operating system versions are introduced, Nexacro Platform can readily be extended with APIs. The HTML5 version runs through standard capabilities provided by web browsers.
The architecture of the run-time environment is diagrammed below:
XP13_Frame_Summary
The Hybrid implementation includes Nexacro Platform Runner which implements an optimized rendering engine. For this reason, hybrid applications deliver faster, more reliable performance than HTML5 applications.
Even in hybrid applications, operating systems may impose restrictions.. For example, an app running on iOS must use an object called UIWebView. Although the app makes use of the same framework, under the operating system manufacturer's policy, it must be encapsulated with the UIWebView object.
The Run-time Environment
Distribution refers to the tasks required to install an application and the resources on which it depends. Depending on the user's environment and application, you may need to download applications and modules developed using Nexacro Platform and install them on the user's device (whether mobile, laptop or desktop).
Nexacro Platform applications run on client machines that the user will work on. The application may need to communicate with the Nexacro Application Server 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 distribution 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 applications.
Additional steps may be required depending upon the run-time environment of the application. For further details on distribution and other issues, please refer to the Nexacro Administrator Guide.
XP13_Application_flow
X-PUSH is compatible only with hybrid applications.
The installation modules are distributed as part of the execution environments for hybrid applications.
When you use a theme provided by Nexacro Studio, a theme file is converted from the basic theme.
System requirements
The environments in which Nexacro Platform applications can work are as follows:
Runtime
Item | Specs | Windows | Android | iOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CPU | Minimum | Intel® Pentium® 4 1.4GHz | ARM Cortex-A8 600 MHz | ARM Cortex-A8 600 MHz |
Recommended | Intel® Core™ i3-330M 2.13GHz | ARM Cortex-A8 Over 1 GHz | ARM Cortex-A8 Over 1 GHz | |
Display | Minimum | - | HVGA | HVGA |
Recommended | - | HVGA or higher | HVGA or higher | |
Memory | Minimum | 1GB | 256M | 256M |
Recommended | 4GB DDR3 | 512M | 512M | |
HDD(ROM) | Minimum | 8GB | 4M | 4M |
Recommended | 30GB - 5400rpm | 10M | 10M | |
Platform | Windows XP SP3 or later Windows 10 V1703 (10.0.15063.413) or earlier | Android 2.3 or later Android 7.0 or earlier | iOS 4 or later iOS 10.1 or earlier | |
Devices capable of supporting Nexacro Platform are as follows:
The following devices have been verified by us and are supported without special request from customers
• Android Smart Phone
Samsung Electronics
- Galaxy S3 (Android 4.1.2)
- Galaxy S4 (Android 4.2.2)
- Galaxy Note 8.0 (Android 4.1.2)
- Galaxy Note 10.1 (Android 4.1.1)
LG Electronics
- Optimus G2 (Andriod 4.2.2)
- Optimus Vu2 (Andriod 4.0.4)
SHARP
- Aquos Phone (Andriod 4.0.4)
• Android Tablet
Samsung Electronics
- Galaxy Tab 10.1 (Android 3.2)
Fujitsu Mobile
- Arrows Tab Wi-Fi FAR70A (Android 3.2)
• iOS
iPhone5 (iOS 6.0.1)
iPhone5s (iOS 7.1)
iPad2 (iOS 7.1.1)
iPad4 (iOS 7.1.1)
iPad mini (iOS 6.0.1, 7.1)
HTML5
Web browser | Minimum specs | Recommended specs | Latest specs |
|---|---|---|---|
Google Chrome | 10.0.648.127 | 22.0.1229.79 | Latest version |
Firefox | 8.0.1 | 14.0.1 | Latest version |
Internet Explorer | 8.0 | 10.0.9200.16521 | 11.0 |
Edge | 25.10586.63.0 | 25.10586.63.0 | Latest version |
Opera | 11.0 | 12 | Latest version |
Safari | 4 | 6.0.2 | Latest version |
Mobile Web browser can only support the following browsers .
• Android default browser
• Android Google chrome browser
• iOS default browser
Mobile Web browser | Minimum specs | Recommended specs | Latest specs |
|---|---|---|---|
Android default browser | Android 2.3 default browser | Android 6.0 default browser | Android 7.0 default browser |
Android Google chrome browser | Android Chrome (Android 4.0) | Android Chrome (Android 4.4) | Android Chrome Latest version |
iOS default browser | iOS 4 default browser | iOS 6.0.1 default browser | iOS 10.1 default browser |