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Unit 5

The document discusses web services, instant messaging, and app versioning. Web services allow communication between apps and servers, while instant messaging enables real-time text communication. The document also covers best practices for versioning mobile apps during development and release.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

50 views7 pages

Unit 5

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prac

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Unit 5:

Android Web Services: web services provide a powerful mechanism

for communication between your app and external systems over the
internet. They act as intermediaries, allowing your app to exchange
data with remote servers and access functionality offered by those
services. Here's a breakdown of web services, SOAP, and RESTful
web services:
Definition: A web service is a software system designed to support
interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network. It
provides a standard way for different software applications to
communicate with each other over the internet.

Key Points:

o Interoperability: Web services allow applications written in

different programming languages, running on different
platforms, to communicate with each other.
o Standardized Protocols: Use standard protocols like HTTP,
XML, SOAP, and REST for communication.
o Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA): Web services are often
built following the principles of SOA, where services are
loosely coupled and independently deployable.
o Types: Two common types of web services are SOAP (Simple
Object Access Protocol) and REST (Representational State
Transfer).

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol):

Definition: SOAP is a protocol for exchanging structured

information in the implementation of web services. It uses XML
for message formatting and relies on other protocols such as
HTTP, SMTP, or TCP for message transmission.

Key Points:
XML-Based Messaging: Messages are formatted using XML,
making it platform-independent.
WSDL (Web Services Description Language): Provides a standard
way to describe web service capabilities and requirements.
Security: Supports advanced security features like encryption
and digital signatures.
Complexity: SOAP can be more complex compared to REST due
to its rigid messaging structure and additional overhead.
RESTful Web Service (REST: Representational State
Transfer):
Definition: REST is an architectural style for designing networked
applications. It relies on a stateless, client-server communication
protocol, most commonly using HTTP. RESTful web services are
based on REST principles.

Key Points:

Stateless Communication: Each request from the client to the

server must contain all necessary information, and the server
does not store any client context between requests.
Resource-Based: Resources are identified by URIs (Uniform
Resource Identifiers), and CRUD operations are performed on
these resources using standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT,
DELETE).
Lightweight: Uses JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) or XML for
data exchange, resulting in lightweight messages.
Scalability and Performance: RESTful services are highly scalable
and performant due to their stateless nature and cacheability of
responses.
Simplicity: REST APIs are generally simpler and easier to
understand compared to SOAP APIs.
Example Usage:

SOAP: Often used in enterprise environments for complex

integrations where security and reliability are critical, such as in
banking or healthcare systems.
RESTful: Widely adopted for building web APIs for web and
mobile applications, as it provides a simpler, more lightweight
approach to communication.

What is Instant Messaging (IM)?

Definition: Instant Messaging (IM) is a form of real-time

communication between two or more people based on typed
text. It enables users to exchange messages instantly over the
internet or a network, facilitating synchronous communication.
Key Components:
User Interface (UI):

Provides a platform for users to compose, send, receive, and

manage messages.
Includes features such as contact lists, message history, and
notifications.
Message Delivery:

Messages are sent and received in real-time, allowing for instant

communication.
Delivery confirmation and read receipts may be included to
indicate message status.
Networking:

Relies on internet connectivity to transmit messages between

users.
Uses various networking protocols and technologies such as
TCP/IP, HTTP, WebSocket, or custom protocols.
Security:

Encryption and authentication mechanisms are implemented to

ensure the privacy and security of messages.
End-to-end encryption may be used to prevent unauthorized
access to message content.
Features:
Text Messaging:

Basic feature allowing users to exchange text-based messages.

Supports features like emojis, formatting, and hyperlinking.
Multimedia Messaging:

Allows users to send and receive multimedia content such as

images, videos, audio clips, and documents.
Group Chat:

Enables multiple users to participate in a single conversation,

fostering collaboration and communication among teams or
communities.
Voice and Video Calling:

Provides real-time voice and video communication between

users, enhancing the richness of interaction.
Presence Indicators:

Shows the online/offline status of users and their availability for

communication.
Push Notifications:

Alerts users about new messages or events even when the app is
not actively in use.
Message History:

Maintains a record of past conversations, allowing users to

review previous messages and recall important information.
Platforms and Applications:
Mobile Apps:
Popular IM apps include WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger,
Telegram, Signal, and WeChat.
Available on iOS and Android platforms, providing seamless
communication across devices.
Desktop Clients:

Some IM services offer desktop applications for users to access

their messages from computers.
Web-Based Interfaces:

Allows users to access IM services through web browsers,

eliminating the need for installation.

App Versioning:

Understanding Versioning:

Version Code: An internal integer (e.g., 1, 2, 3) used by Google

Play to track updates. It should always be unique and
incrementing with each new version (1.0 -> 1.1 -> 1.2).
Version Name: A human-readable string (e.g., 1.0.0, 1.0.1)
displayed to users in the Play Store listing. It reflects changes or
additions in the new version (e.g., "Bug Fixes" or "New Feature:
Dark Mode").
Setting Version Numbers: Define version codes and names within
your app's build.gradle file using the versionCode and
versionName properties. Here's an example:

Gradle
android {
defaultConfig {
versionCode 1 // Version code starts at 1 and increments
versionName "1.0.0" // Human-readable version name
}
}
Publishing Your App on Google Play:

Google Play Developer Console: Create a developer account and

set up a project within the console
(https://play.google.com/console/about/). This is your central
hub for managing your app on Google Play.

App Release Creation: Within the console, create a new release

for your app version. Here's the workflow:

Go to the "Releases" section of your project.

Click "Create new release."
Upload the compiled app bundle (.aab file) containing your app's
code and resources.
Specify the version code and name assigned to your app. Ensure
the version code is higher than any previously published
versions.
Publishing Options: Choose between:

Staged rollout: Publish to a limited audience for testing before a

wider release.
Full rollout: Publish the update to all users at once.
Review Process: Google Play reviews your app to ensure it
complies with their policies. This typically takes a few days.

3. Monitoring Your App:

Google Play Developer Console Analytics: The console offers

built-in analytics that provide insights into:
App installs and uninstalls

User demographics (age, location)

In-app activity (if you implement relevant tracking)
Crash Reporting and Analytics Integration: Integrate services like
Crashlytics or Firebase Analytics for more comprehensive
monitoring: