Installing node.js

The FeedHenry CLI tool, fhc, uses node.js on your local machine. To setup node.js use the installer. http://nodejs.org/#download

Installing or Updating the FeedHenry CLI Tool, fhc

Use the Node Package Manager (npm) to install or update fhc, the CLI tool.

$ sudo npm install -g fh-fhc

(the optional prefix “sudo” gives permission to install system-wide in a Unix style environment).

To test fhc is installed correctly and see the version you have installed, use:

$ fhc -v

The CLI tool fhc has some built-in documentation; use fhc help for general help, or fhc help [command] for help on a specific command.

Logging in using your Cloudfoundry.com credentials

To get started with the CLI tool you need to login to the FeedHenry platform using your Cloudfoundry.com credentials. This will automatically create a FeedHenry account at mobilecf.feedhenry.com.

$ fhc target https://mobilecf.feedhenry.com

$ fhc login <your CloudFoundry.com email> <your CloudFoundry.com password>

In the next 3 simple steps, we will illustrate how to create a HTML5/JS app with an instant backend in cloudfoundry.com

1. Forking a template app in github (code)

To edit/modify the template app, login to github, and fork the app to your personal account.

Get the read-only git identifier for your cloned app.

Now create an app in the FeedHenry platform linked to your fork of the template app in github.

If using a secured repository, please check out the documentation docs.feedhenry.com for generating and uploading public/private keys.

2. Staging the backend to Cloud Foundry

Staging to Cloud Foundry requires the use of the unique app identifier <APP-ID> that can be acquired by listing the active FeedHenry apps.

The staging can be done to the debug environment or the live environment. The former hosts the server-side for “debug” apps, and the latter for “release” apps. Separating these allows developers to exercise functionality separately in testing before deploying to production.

or

To ensure that the app has indeed staged correctly use the Cloud Foundry CLI tool (vmc).

We have just staged the cloud code from our forked app. Each app contains three directories: client, cloud, and shared. The client directory is for the client-side HTML5/JS app, the cloud directory is for the server-side Node.js code (this is what has been staged). The shared directory is in both. Check out the documentation for more information on using the shared directory.

3. Building the Android client

To generate an Android debug build of the app:

 The appropriate files are gathered, bundled and dispatched to the FeedHenry build farm. The resulting binary file, for Android, an .apk file, is returned and can then be downloaded to your desktop. You can preview the app using the FeedHenry studio at mobilecf.feedhenry.com.

Load the app onto the phone using email or Dropbox

That’s it – you have built and staged an app in 3 easy steps.

Note: Editing the code in the git repository can make changes to the server-side and the client-side functionality. Those changes can be uploaded to FeedHenry via a git pull request. The updated server-side code can be re-staged, and the updated client-side code can be used to build a new version of the app. To find out more about this template app, App-Anatomy, see FH App-Anatomy in the References.

To get started go to https://mobilecf.feedhenry.com

Additional information

Installing vmc: http://start.cloudfoundry.com/tools/vmc/installing-vmc.html

Installing Node.js: http://nodejs.org/#download

Installing npm: http://npmjs.org/

Installing fhc: http://docs.feedhenry.com/our-tools-for-developers/fhc-command-line/

Cloning an app: http://docs.feedhenry.com/training-labs/fhc/creating-an-app-from-github/

FeedHenry App-Anatomy: http://docs.feedhenry.com/training-labs/app-labs/app-anatomy/

FeedHenry Android Build: http://docs.feedhenry.com/training-labs/fhc/creating-an-android-debug-build/

FeedHenry Staging to Cloud Foundry: http://docs.feedhenry.com/training-labs/fhc/creating-an-android-debug-build/#step3

Signup for Cloud Foundry today, and start building your own mobile app!

Boston, MA and Waterford, Ireland – March 06, 2012 – FeedHenry, (www.feedhenry.com), provider of enterprise mobility solutions for the development, deployment and management of mobile apps has just launched its Mobile Application Platform on Cloud Foundry

The majority of new application development is being done “mobile-first”. However, developers are building mobile frontend applications separately, and integrating with backend services manually. To leverage the benefits of PaaS for mobile applications, developers need a way to develop, deploy and scale these cross-platform applications on the PaaS in a seamless manner.

FeedHenry’s mobile application platform is the only cloud-based mobile application solution that allows developers to build HTML5, JavaScript and CSS apps with a fully integrated Node.js backend on Cloud Foundry.Developers can now use the FeedHenry solution to build and deploy mobile applications for many smartphones and tablets with backend functionality hosted on their CloudFoundry.com account.

“We are seeing a shift to mobile-first development within enterprises, which requires their PaaS solution to provide an integrated mobile development and deployment platform,” said Jerry Chen, vice president of cloud and application services at VMware. “FeedHenry’s cross-platform mobile development solution can make it easier and faster for Cloud Foundry™ developers to build and deploy these applications.”

“Mobile apps are transforming how and where information is being consumed and how customers interact with organizations”, said Cathal McGloin, CEO, FeedHenry. “FeedHenry and VMware have partnered to bring a valuable solution that can enable developers speed of deployment, instant scalability, device and cloud independence with the ability to easily integrate to backend information.”

Developers can start building mobile applications today on the FeedHenry platform at mobilecf.feedhenry.com. New Cloud Foundry members can register and enter promotion code “feedhenry” while existing members gain immediate access from their account. All CloudFoundry.com developers will receive a free account on the FeedHenry platform, and have access to the FeedHenry web-based AppStudio development environment.  Cloud Foundry developers can download the FeedHenry Command Line tool to use all of the features of the FeedHenry platform. The platform allows the use of any third party JavaScript library on the client side and any Javascript Node.js modules on the server-side.  The server-side business and integration logic is developed using JavaScript and developers can use any of the standard FeedHenry APIs for integration, caching, storage and encryption.

About FeedHenry

FeedHenry provides cloud-based Mobile Application Platform solutions that enable the development, deployment, integration and management of secure mobile apps for business. This mobile platform-as-a-service allows apps to be developed in HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS and deployed across all major mobile devices from a single code base. The node.js backend service offers a complete range of APIs designed to simplify and secure the connectivity of mobile apps to backend and third party systems.

About Cloud Foundry

Cloud Foundry is an open platform as a service, providing a choice of clouds, developer frameworks and application services. Initiated by VMware, with broad industry support, Cloud Foundry makes it faster and easier to build, test, deploy and scale applications. It is an open source project and is available through a variety of public cloud instances, including CloudFoundry.com.

VMware and Cloud Foundry are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. The use of the word “partner” or “partnership” does not imply a legal partnership relationship between VMware and any other company.

Contacts:

FeedHenry
Leonie Tierney
Marketing Manager
+1 781 799 8764
leonie.tierney@feedhenry.com