Desktop web app on iPad .. OR .. iPad app on desktop browser?

[Robster]

Hi all,

Just downloaded the trial of Architect, it's looking like the tool of choice. Quite impressed.

I'm a bit perplexed I have to say. Currently we make a desktop app for windows using Visual Studio, C#, etc. We want to move it to the web so it can be used on iPad, Android, etc as well as our current clients being able to use it on their existing Windows machines via the browser.


So the question is, and I'm a bit stumped:

Q: Do we make a Sencha Touch app and somehow dynamically change its size (assuming this can be done), or do we make a Sencha desktop app and again, change its size for the tablet users?

What are your recommendations? We'd really appreciate your feedback.

Regards,

Rob

[mitchellsimoens]

For a desktop app, you should use Ext JS. For a mobile app, you should use Sencha Touch.

[suzuki1100nz]

Hi,

There are some other posts relating to the correct framework to use for a tablet app.

http://www.sencha.com/forum/showthread.php?191678-Sencha-Product-development


Depends on how big/complex your app is (widget wize) and whether you are looking at delivering a true desktop app on tablet or your happy with a modified mobile app on tablet.

Key issues are lack of touch events in ExtJS and lack of advanced widgets in Touch
e.g. Grid, tree, re-sizable containers etc....

Another thing to consider are the devices and their browsers, unfortunately Android browsers struggle in comparison with "others".
Because of dom weight and rendering performance issues in ExtJS when used on a tablet we decided to use the Touch framework.
Touch is lightweight in comparison to ExtJS (doest have to cater for legacy IE) and it uses far more CSS3 and webkit tools. This means it doesn't require a Javascript based layout manager and tends to perform well.

I read posts where community members have used ExtJS for tablet on relatively simple apps and it has performed sufficiently well.
There are some nice UX extensions for the Touch framework - Mitchells touch grid being a good start for grid and tree, and I'm sure Sencha will add more advanced widgets to the Touch framework as demand rises.