How to Build Mobile Applications on Microsoft Azure.

Microsoft Azure is usually defined as having “infinite Potential”. But how can we make a mobile application with Microsoft Azure?

A mobile app under the Azure services provider platform for application development by combining backend Azure-hosted services with device-side development tools that facilitate backend service integration.

Mobile Apps allows developers to create apps for a range of platforms, including native iOS, Android, and Windows apps, as well as cross-platform Xamarin and Cordova apps.

Now lets first start with the basics:

What is the Microsoft Azure?

Source: Google

Azure is a Microsoft cloud computing platform and web portal that enables you to access and manage Microsoft’s cloud services and resources. Depending on your needs, these services and resources can store and alter your data. All you need is a working internet connection and the ability to connect to the Azure portal to gain access to these resources and services.

Let’s see how to build the Mobile app on Microsoft

1. Determine the target device platform
2. Make sure your development environment is ready.
3. Create an Azure Mobile App Service instance and deploy it.
4. Create a configuration for the Azure Mobile App Service.
5. Setting up the client application.
6. Authentication/authorization, offline data sync, and push notification capabilities can all should be added to your project.

Source: Google

1. Determine the target device platform:

Determine if you want to develop an android app, native app, Native iOS, Cordova windows, Xamarin Android, Xamarin iOS, etc.

2. Make sure your development environment is ready:

The requirement for development decides the device platforms for development. E.g., iOS uses MAC.

3. Create an Azure Mobile App Service instance and deploy it.

For the azure Mobile App Service, you need to follow the below steps:

• Select +Create on the Azure portal and search for Mobile App and click Create.
• You need to Fill in the name, service plan, subscription, and resource group.
• Click on the Create for more

4. Create a configuration for the Azure Mobile App Service.

1. After the deployment of the mobile app, you need to follow these steps:
2. You need to open your mobile app in the Azure portal and need to select QuickStart in the deployment menu.
3. Now you need to click on “You will need a database to complete this quick start.” Click here to create.
4. Click on +Add to create a new SQL database on the data Connections blade
5. Choose backend language for e.g: C+
6. Unzip the zip file you downloaded.
7. Compile and deploy the application to your mobile app to Azure.
8. Click on Publish and then select your previously created Mobile App to deploy your app right-click on the project in Visual Studio and then select your previously created Mobile App by clicking select Existing in the Azure App Service tab.
9. After the deployment, the browser opens, and it displays that your Mobile app is running.

5. Set up the client application.

You can also build a new app from the Quickstart blade or by connecting an existing application. For downloading the template application, click on Create a new app and then download under section 3 Configure your client application on the Quickstart blade.

6. Authentication/authorization, offline data sync, and push notification capabilities can all be added to your project.

Create a new ASP.NET MVC project from the template in Visual Studio if you don’t understand how the Authorize attribute works. It’s there, and you can see how using this attribute on an action or controller leads the user to the login page.

Add Offline syncing to a mobile app.

Offline data synchronization is enable via a combination of client-side SDK and service-side capabilities. Support for conflict detection when the same record is modified on both the client and the backend, for example, is one of these functionalities, and it allows to handle conflicts.

You’ll need a table that uses Mobile App simple tables on the service side to resolve the conflicts. There is typically a SQL database that Mobile Apps expose using the OData interface.

Add Push notifications to a mobile app.

You can send app-specific messages to your app operating on various platforms via push notifications. Azure Notification Hubs enable push notification features in Azure Mobile Apps. Notification Hubs remove the difficulties of dealing with the numerous push notification systems (PNS) that are specific to each platform from your application. Notification Hubs allow you to deliver notifications to Apple, Google, Windows, and Amazon’s most popular push notification systems.

You need to follow all of these steps to build a mobile application on Azure.

You can also rely on WebClues Infotech for your overall Microsoft Azure app development. They deliver personalized app development services and solutions for businesses using Microsoft’s flagship languages, the Microsoft Azure toolchain, and dev community resources. Their development team encompassed certified Azure platform experts who have end-to-end information and experience of one of the most sought-after Web and Desktop app development technologies.