Custom Applications
description
Transcript of Custom Applications
Custom ApplicationsFOR LIBRARIES
Joshua Zehner
Who am I?• Name: Joshua Zehner• Occupation: Mobile Software Engineer, ExactTarget• School: Purdue University, Computer Science• Library:
Former Assistant System Admin at Fulton County Public Library• Hobby: Learning new technologies
Objective• What is a custom app• Why custom apps• Details about development
So what is a custom application• A custom application is a piece of software developed to
complete a specific task for a business or user.
Can be anything from a web application, full fledged desktop application or even a mobile app.
The Custom App InvestmentThe Good The Bad
Enhances the data collection Huge initial investment
Custom data views Need someone to support
Central location of all data Infrastructure to support
Integrations Cost
Permissions
Instant
Time Savings
How I have used custom apps• Fulton county public library• Summer reading program• Allowed all staff at FCPL to participate in
data collection• Improved amount of time it took to
formulate reports• Better tracking of prizes• Data was shared across all branches
• ILL item tracking• Replaced an Excel sheet• One click weekly reports for state library
Custom Apps Development
Initial thoughts• Not an easy task• But lots of help available
• Will take time to learn• Very frustrating at times• Huge rewards when you figure it out
Yes! I am invincible!
Software Stack• Frontend• Client application• Web page
• Middleware• Service that collects data from frontend and gives to backend
• Backend• Usually a database
Software OptionsFrontend
Backend
So many options…• Choose a stack• Free and easy stack (Beginner)• jQuery, PHP, MySQL
• Free and harder stack (Intermediate) • AngularJS, node.js, MongoDB
• Micro$oft stack (Advanced)• WPF, WebAPI, SQL Server
Or mix and matchThese are more common stacks, but there are many many more options available.
What can you do with this technologies?• Make very awesome web applications.• Database stored• Run reports, reuse data, single location, create stats
• Fully customized to your needs• Can be accessed at different levels• Make portions of the data viewable or updatable by your patrons
Tools of the trade – Design
Tools of the trade – Programming• JetBrain’s WebStorm• Advanced IDE focused on web technologies
• Notepad++• Very basic text editor that has nice syntax highlighting
• Microsoft Visual Studio• Very advanced IDE that is more focused on .NET programming
• Adobe Brackets• New free IDE focused on web development
Tools of the trade – Server tech• Web server• While developing, you can just use your own PC.• MAMP or WAMP
• Production run of app• Hosted on server or if feeling really daring, AWS or Azure
DemoFULTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SUMMER READING PROGRAM
FCPL SRP• HTML & CSS• Presentation layer
• Javascript• Presentation layer
logic• PHP• Server side
processing• MySql• Log term storage
Lets code!• Code can be found at https://github.com/jzehner/
litd2014
Resources• Codecademy• w3schools• Stack Overflow• Google
QuestionsName: Joshua ZehnerEmail: [email protected]