Mobile development kit
Mobile development kit enables developers and technical business users to build native mobile applications in a highly productive environment. The tool provides a cross platform native experience so users build the app once and deploy to iOS and Android devices.
Mobile development kit enables developers and technical business users to build native mobile applications in a highly productive environment. The tool provides a cross platform native experience so users build the app once and deploy to iOS and Android devices.
Getting Started
Customize Native Mobile Applications Delivered by SAP Mobile Development Kit | Technical Overview
Discover Mobile development kit
Some of the main capabilities are listed below.
iOS & Android Clients
The clients run applications online and offline, displays native controls to end-users, and displays the latest Fiori look and feel for iOS/Android. The client supports internationalization to meet user requirements and improve app adopter. Extensibility features allow for app updates without users needing to take any actions.
Development Editor
Application development is web based via an editor, a plugin for SAP Web IDE. Development is visual using drag and drop UI elements and wizards. The editor consists of a page editor to easily create and manage pages, action editor to create and manage navigation, data, message, push, barcode scanning and more, a rule editor to create business logic, and an object browser to find and access all your data, actions, rules, and other objects.
Offline
Mobile development kit leverages Offline OData and uses an offline store so that end users can interact with data anywhere. Developers can add offline capabilities to their application by simply adding actions and MDK takes care of the rest. Offline features include list page, media upload/download, change sets, and transaction merging.
Reusable Components
Developers and Partners can create reusable components that can customize or extend existing MDK applications. Reusable components are stand-alone applications that can include pages, actions, rules and global variables. As stand-alone apps, they can be built, tested and updated separately from the main or primary MDK application. This provides an easy way for developers to customize, add-on, or extend existing application without touching the primary application.
Extension for VS Code
This extension is designed to assist MDK app developers throughout the development lifecycle to build and debug MDK apps quickly and efficiently in a local environment. It connects directly to a emulator to help with debugging or view app changes immediately.
Cross Platform Native
Mobile development kit provides the power and performance of a native application. By generating metadata and JavaScript in the editor which is translated to native code at runtime, the app developer builds the app one time, deploys to Mobile Services, and the end-users get a native iOS or Android application based on their device.
Under the Hood
Application development is web based, and the mobile development kit framework utilizes
1) the Editor which is a standard SAP Web IDE plugin
2) Mobile Services which provides enterprise services such as on-boarding, authentication, and lifecycle management, and
3) the Client which is a native application that runs on the device. Apps are developed visually in the editor, then published to Mobile Services, and the client automatically downloads updates and offline data store.
Features
| Category | Feature | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Development | App Store Application |
Download the SAP Mobile Services Client application from the Apple Appstore. Once installed, try the demo & link to a specific MDK/Mobile Services app by onboarding via QR code or email. |
| Mobile Development | Native Cross Platform |
Build applications once and deploy to Apple iOS and Google Android (early adopter) devices. Add device features such as barcode scanning, camera attachments, notifications, and app integrations like phone, email, video calls and location. |
| Mobile Development | Offline |
An offline store is created so that end users can interact with data anywhere. MDK eliminates the need to code Offline OData features such as smooth scrolling lists, media upload/download, change sets, and transaction merging. |
| Mobile Development | Push Notifications |
Supports APNS & FCM for real time push notification. Configure push notifications for the application in the MDK editor. Works with Mobile Services push notification service. |
| Mobile Development | Lifecycle Management |
App definition updates are sent to SAP Cloud Platform Mobile Services and synced with device clients without the user needing to take any action. |
| Mobile Development | Security & Authentication |
The mobile development kit ensures that data is managed securely every step of the way. All network communication is encrypted with TLS. OAuth handles authorization from client to Mobile Services and backend. |
| Mobile Development | Reporting & Logging |
Gain sophisticated insights into your mobile landscape. Send logs directly from mobile device to Mobile Services |
| Mobile Development | Extensibility |
Add custom UI controls using SWIFT and JAVA and bring them into editor to use just like any other control. App extensions and customizations can be added as reusable components. Reusable components are built, tested, and updated separately from the main application. This simplifies management of components during MDK release updates, main application updates, and component updates. |
| Mobile Development | Sample OData service |
Use the sample OData service to validate your settings, create proof-of-concepts or just for learning purposes. |
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
App Store Application |
Download the SAP Mobile Services Client application from the Apple Appstore. Once installed, try the demo & link to a specific MDK/Mobile Services app by onboarding via QR code or email. |
Native Cross Platform |
Build applications once and deploy to Apple iOS and Google Android (early adopter) devices. Add device features such as barcode scanning, camera attachments, notifications, and app integrations like phone, email, video calls and location. |
Offline |
An offline store is created so that end users can interact with data anywhere. MDK eliminates the need to code Offline OData features such as smooth scrolling lists, media upload/download, change sets, and transaction merging. |
Push Notifications |
Supports APNS & FCM for real time push notification. Configure push notifications for the application in the MDK editor. Works with Mobile Services push notification service. |
Lifecycle Management |
App definition updates are sent to SAP Cloud Platform Mobile Services and synced with device clients without the user needing to take any action. |
Security & Authentication |
The mobile development kit ensures that data is managed securely every step of the way. All network communication is encrypted with TLS. OAuth handles authorization from client to Mobile Services and backend. |
Reporting & Logging |
Gain sophisticated insights into your mobile landscape. Send logs directly from mobile device to Mobile Services |
Extensibility |
Add custom UI controls using SWIFT and JAVA and bring them into editor to use just like any other control. App extensions and customizations can be added as reusable components. Reusable components are built, tested, and updated separately from the main application. This simplifies management of components during MDK release updates, main application updates, and component updates. |
Sample OData service |
Use the sample OData service to validate your settings, create proof-of-concepts or just for learning purposes. |
| Media Type | Name | Description | Duration | Size | Information Step | Link Step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File | Mobile development kit client | The Mobile development kit, a feature of SAP Cloud Platform mobile services, enables developers and business experts to develop native complex applications using an end-to-end metadata-based platform. The mobile application may be updated and tailored for your business needs in a highly productive development environment. The Mobile development kit client, built using the SAP Cloud Platform SDK for iOS, interprets your metadata-based application into a native iOS user experience and uses OData capabilities for secure data storage and integration into your backend system. The feature was formerly known as SAP Enterprise App Modeler. |
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
The Mobile development kit, a feature of SAP Cloud Platform mobile services, enables developers and business experts to develop native complex applications using an end-to-end metadata-based platform. The mobile application may be updated and tailored for your business needs in a highly productive development environment. The Mobile development kit client, built using the SAP Cloud Platform SDK for iOS, interprets your metadata-based application into a native iOS user experience and uses OData capabilities for secure data storage and integration into your backend system. The feature was formerly known as SAP Enterprise App Modeler. |
| Name | Description | Duration | Next Step |
|---|---|---|---|
The Mobile development kit, a feature of SAP Cloud Platform mobile services, enables developers and business experts to develop native complex applications using an end-to-end metadata-based platform. The mobile application may be updated and tailored for your business needs in a highly productive development environment. The Mobile development kit client, built using the SAP Cloud Platform SDK for iOS, interprets your metadata-based application into a native iOS user experience and uses OData capabilities for secure data storage and integration into your backend system. The feature was formerly known as SAP Enterprise App Modeler. |