I know you want them to tell you, but I'll tell you a bit. HTML5 isn't downloaded, it's just like HTML with some extra features that are now supported by browsers (Canvas tag, local storage, audio/video) that you actually don't have to use. You can continue to use whatever web frameworks you want, and unfortunately the way they want you do it is however you want to do it.
Sorry if my tone wasn't clear. I know html5 isn't something you can "download".
I'm just comparing a beginner developer experience for iOS/Android/Firefox OS.
iOS -> download Xcode, install, new project, build and run.
Android -> download Android SDK installer, install eclipse plugins, install eclipse, install current SDK, create new device for emulator, create new project, run on device.
Firefox OS -> ??? google "html5"
I would like to see them field a framework along with their OS. Even if it just means partnering with an existing framework. Make it a 1st class citizen on the OS so you don't need to include your own copy of all the .js files.
If that's not possible, even a simple "here are frameworks we like for Apps: x,y,z Games: j,k,l" would help set people on the right path.
There is a Open Web App Bootstrap that is being used by Mozilla to develop web applications. They are of course open source and you can grab them yourself. If you had read my previous comment, you would have seen it by now.
"This is a basic template that includes jQuery, require.js, volo, Mozilla Marketplace libraries, and other helpful things. A game template and others will be available soon."
Thanks for providing those links! I work on mortar and wrote the weatherme tutorial.
We just released a new version of mortar on Friday, with all new templates that should be easier to use. I'll be updating the tutorials soon.
The developer hub will be the place devs go to learn about building apps for Firefox OS. We know it's just HTML5, but we are also aware there are many other questions regarding app development, so we fully intend to fill those gaps. It's not quite as simple as "just" building an HTML5 site.
> iOS -> download Xcode, install, new project, build and run.
Oh, come on. You're seriously joking, right?
How about paying the $99 fee, otherwise you won't see it in action on your own phone? How about figuring out how to issue and install those damn certificates for your phone? How about learning Obj-C, a programming language that's only used on Apple's OS X and iOS? How about having to own a computer running OS X to be able to do anything?
This doesn't even factor in the cost of learning yet another UI framework. My first mobile app was built for Android (because I don't have any OS X computer) on top of PhoneGap, because I only wanted to display a bunch of simple dialogs and item lists and I couldn't be bothered to learn Android's flavor for UI. And I already know HTML and Javascript.
Making an app for any platform has a learning curve. If you know Objective-C, learning iOS programming is an easy jump. If, as in your case, you know HTML+javascript, making a PhoneGap / Firefox OS app will be an easy jump. If you learned Java in school, Android will be an easy jump. If you know none of these they're all going to be approximately equally difficult.
# Cost:
iOS - $600 Mac Mini + $300 iPod Touch + $99 developer account
Android - ~$350 PC + $300 Nexus 4
Firefox OS - ~$350 PC + $300 Samsung Galaxy S2 (?)
iOS is a bit pricier to get started on. No question.
# Provisioning and Certificates:
Yeah these are some annoying bullshit. I agree 100% on this point.
It's not the price of a Mac Mini that I care about. I already have a Mac Mini.
The thing is, my workstation is Ubuntu. I feel comfortable with it, all my tools are here within reach, its setup is streamlined to get out of my way, etc...
To develop for Windows or for iOS, I have to go out of my way and use another environment in which I don't feel comfortable.
I don't get why Microsoft and Apple don't release cross-platform SDKs. I don't really care about XCode or Visual Studio, I just want a bunch of tools with which I can compile and publish projects from the command-line. Actually, I only care about publishing on my own personal phone and I don't really need an emulator either, as my own phone can substitute for that (provided it has a way to get some logs and stack-traces back). Apple makes this especially difficult, since you can't (legally) run OS X in a virtual machine (this was true last time I checked and the VMWare instance I managed to setup was extremely unstable).
So that's why I brought up the OS X argument. Monetary cost is not the only cost. Google did a smart thing with Android, because even though you have to endure Eclipse, at least it doesn't pull you out of the environment you use daily.
Also, developing with HTML and Javascript is even more kickass, because you can start mocking / messing around with just a browser like Chrome or Firefox with Firebug installed or something similar.
There is a clear framework for existing mobile platforms, but IMO the whole process is WAY more frictionless with the web (FFos) side.
>download Android SDK installer, install eclipse plugins, install eclipse, install current SDK, create new device for emulator, create new project..
It is easy to forget once you have done it, but that is a pretty daunting process for a newcomer.
In reality the web side will evolve, starting with editing some existing files in notepad-- much lower barrier to entry. Not to mention that they will have the established webdev community to draw on.
