Application components

Application components are reusable libraries we can add to the applications you develop. An application component can be a client-side library or a server runtime block. Typical libraries might handle basic functions such as login or payments. They can also contain various elements such as non-visual runtime objects, visual components, integration adapters, and user interface screen packages.

Consider the example of a banking application. The application might require an image-processing library for processing checks, a non-visual runtime object, and an integration adapter to connect to the banking system for verification. A developer might consider assembling these reusable building blocks into application components, and then add them to multiple MobileFirst projects to accelerate the development of applications for a range of different devices.

An application component can help simplify and speed up the delivery of high quality mobile applications across multiple devices. An application component can also help developers in their interactions with customers, can provide value-added services, and can help developers understand how consumers use their mobile applications.

• Create application components from MobileFirst projects
  We can create an application component based on a MobileFirst project. You define metadata information, such as the name of the component and its version number, and you select the project resources to include in the application component.

• View the contents of an application component
  We can open an application component to view its contents using a file compression tool.

• Add hooks to an application component
  You add hooks to an application component to facilitate automation when the component is added to a MobileFirst project. These additional hooks are optional.

• Validating application components
  After creating an application component and adding hooks, we must validate the component.wcp file to ensure that it conforms to the correct syntax.

• Add application components to MobileFirst projects
  After we have created and validated application components, we can add them to the project..

• Remove application components from MobileFirst projects
  We can remove application components from a MobileFirst project if they are no longer required.

• Troubleshooting adding and removing application components
  Whenever we add or remove an application component, the existing MobileFirst project files are backed up.

Parent topic: Accelerating application development by reusing resources