Applin – define mobile UI in server code

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Hi HN, I'm a backend engineer who made an app and didn’t like the tools. Then I made the thing I needed: a mobile app toolkit for backend engineers. I'm calling it Applin™. :) https://www.applin.dev/ How it works: You make an HTTP server that returns JSON objects that define page content. Then you make a mobile app that calls the server and renders the pages using native widgets. Applin is the server and client libraries that make this easy. Server libraries: Currently there's Rails https://rubygems.org/gems/applin-rails and https://github.com/leonhard-llc/applin-rails-demo . Which languages shall I add next? Client libraries: Currently there's iOS https://github.com/leonhard-llc/applin-ios . Which platform shall I add next? They say, if you're not embarrassed by the quality, then you're launching too late. Applin is usable and not yet pretty and not yet comprehensive. I need customer feedback on priority and requirements. To try it out right away, use https://apps.apple.com/us/app/applin-tester/id6464230000 and tap the rails-demo link. The hardest part of this project was making the client update the page without losing keyboard focus and scrolling to the top. To do that, the code must pick the correct existing widgets for each new version of the widget tree. The current (working) version performs five passes over the widget tree: first picking focused widgets and their ancestors, then focus-able widgets, then other stateful widgets, then widgets with matching attributes (label, URL, etc.), and finally former siblings of the correct type. Then it creates any new widgets. Now that it has widgets for the new tree, the code updates the widget tree without removing any sub-widget that will be added again. This prevents losing keyboard focus and prevents resetting scroll positions. Here's the code: https://github.com/leonhard-llc/applin-ios/blob/main/Sources/ApplinIos/page/widget_cache.swift Please try out Applin, use it at your company (buy a license), and let me know what features to build first! Post a comment here, add a GitHub issue, or email me at michael@leonhardllc.com . To get updates, join https://groups.google.com/g/applin-announce . Thanks for reading! :) --Michael

Visit product View on Hacker NewsSep 15, 2023

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Product HuntOn track for Day 1 leaderboard · Strong signals: apple, google, apps · Missing: mac, agents, macos

84%84% predicted probability of success on Product Hunt, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

best fitHighest predicted score across all platforms for this description.

Indie HackersFits the IH revenue-focused audience · Strong signals: ios · Missing: supports, reddit linkedin, podcasting

81%81% predicted probability of success on Indie Hackers, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

TrustMRRLess likely to generate early MRR · Strong signals: ios, apps, google · Missing: mobile apps, personal, entrepreneurs

49%49% predicted probability of success on TrustMRR, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Hacker NewsMay not resonate with HN audience · Strong signals: exist, existing, 000 · Missing: https docs, excited, just released

46%46% predicted probability of success on Hacker News, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

nativeThis product was originally launched on this platform.

AppSumoMay struggle as an AppSumo deal · Strong signals: platform, calls · Missing: plus, intuitive, reviews

41%41% predicted probability of success on AppSumo, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Acquire.comPre-revenue stage for this audience · Strong signals: arr · Missing: mrr, revenue, profit

16%16% predicted probability of success on Acquire.com, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

BetaListMay not resonate with beta-testers · Missing: web3, chat, crypto

0%0% predicted probability of success on BetaList, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Correct prediction on native model

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