1 Installing Mobile Application Framework with JDeveloper

This chapter describes how to install JDeveloper and the Mobile Application Framework (MAF) extension for application development.

This chapter includes the following sections:

1.1 Introduction to Installing the MAF Extension with JDeveloper

The development of MAF applications requires that you install Oracle JDeveloper and the MAF extension. Also configure additional development tools for the platforms on which you intend to deploy the applications.

The first step in starting with MAF application development is to install Oracle JDeveloper and the MAF extension.

Install JDeveloper, and then install the MAF extension in JDeveloper.

Following the installation of the MAF extension in JDeveloper, configure additional development tools for the platforms where you intend to deploy your MAF application. See Setting Up the Development Environment .

Before you create a MAF application using the MAF extension in JDeveloper, ensure that you have the third-party software that is required to develop applications for the platform on which you intend to deploy your MAF application.

Note:

You can deploy a MAF application to all supported platforms without changing any code. You need the third-party software to test, debug, and deploy the MAF application on the target platform.

1.2 Installation Requirements for MAF Applications to be Deployed to the iOS Platform

In addition to a computer running Apple Mac OS X and installations of JDeveloper and MAF, you need Xcode, iOS SDK, JDK1.8 to develop applications and deploy them to the iOS platform.

To develop a MAF application for deployment to the iOS platform, you require the following:

Before you deploy an application to a development environment, see Getting Started with MAF Application Development. Opt for deployment to a mobile device or its simulator. If you want to use a simulator, see How to Set Up an iPhone or iPad Simulator. If you want to use a mobile device, ensure that in addition to the components included in the preceding list, you have the following available:

1.3 Installation Requirements for MAF Applications to be Deployed to the Android Platform

In addition to installations of JDeveloper and MAF, you need Android SDK Manager, JDK1.8, and an Android-powered device to develop applications and deploy them to the Android platform.

To develop a MAF application for deployment to the Android platform, you require the following:

Before you deploy an application to a development environment, see Getting Started with MAF Application Development. Opt for deployment to a mobile device or its emulator. If you want to use an emulator, see Setting up Development Tools for the Android Platform. If you want to use a mobile device, ensure that in addition to the components in the preceding list, you have the following:

1.4 Installation Requirements for MAF Applications to be Deployed to the Universal Windows Platform

In addition to a computer with x86 architecture running the Windows 10 OS and installations of JDeveloper 12.2.1.0.0 and MAF, you need Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 and JDK 1.8 develop applications and deploy them to the Windows platform.

To develop a MAF for deployment to the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), you require the following:

  • A computer with x86 architecture running the Windows 10 operating system

  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 (Enterprise, Professional, or Community edition)

  • JDeveloper 12.2.1.0.0

  • JDK 1.8

  • Oracle JDeveloper extension for MAF

After you have installed JDeveloper and the MAF extension, perform the tasks listed in Setting Up Development Tools for the Universal Windows Platform.

1.5 Setting Up JDeveloper

Follow the steps in the tasks to install JDeveloper on computers running the Windows or the Mac OS X platforms.

To develop Mobile Application Framework (MAF) applications, you need to install Oracle JDeveloper and its MAF extension.

To install JDeveloper from CLI on a computer running the Windows platform:

  1. Create an installation folder.

  2. Within the installation folder, place the folder that contains the JDeveloper jar files and the folder containing JDK 1.8.

  3. Right-click the folder with the JDeveloper jar files, and click CMD Prompt Here As Administrator.

    The Command-line interface (CLI) opens.

  4. Invoke the JDeveloper installer with the following command:

    \PathtoJDK8\bin\java.exe -jar jdev_suite_xxxxxx.jar

    For example: D:\jdevInstall\jdk1.8.0_51\bin\java.exe -jar jdev_suite_122100.jar

    The JDeveloper installation wizard is launched.

See Installing Oracle JDeveloper.

To install JDeveloper on a computer running the Mac OS X platform:

  1. Open a Terminal window.

  2. Set the JAVA_HOME to Java 1.8 by running the following command:

    export JAVA_HOME=$(/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.x_x.jdk/Contents/Home)

  3. Verify that Java 1.8 is used by running the following command:

    java -version

  4. Using the same Terminal window, install JDeveloper by executing the following:

    java -jar <JDEV_12.2.1_jar>

See Installing Oracle JDeveloper.

To verify the installation of JDeveloper:

  1. Check the <JDEV_HOME>\jdev\bin\jdev.conf file and confirm that the SetJavaHome property points to JDK 1.8.
  2. Start JDeveloper and select the Studio Developer (All Features) role when prompted.
  3. Click Help, About, and then Version to view the versions of the JDeveloper and JDK that are installed.

1.6 Installing the MAF Extension in JDeveloper

Download and install the MAF extension using the Check for Updates menu in JDeveloper.

Once you have installed the MAF extension, you need to configure additional development tools for the platforms on which you intend to deploy your MAF application. See Setting Up the Development Environment .

Note:

Close any existing MAF applications you have open in JDeveloper before you install a newer version of the MAF extension. Do this to make sure that MAF migrates your existing application to successfully use the new version of MAF. Verify that the application no longer appears in the Applications window of JDeveloper. For more information about migrating a MAF application, see Migrating Your Application to MAF 2.3.3.

To download and install the MAF extension:

  1. In JDeveloper, select Help, and then Check for Updates.

    Note:

    You might need to configure proxy settings on your development computer. On Windows, select Tools and then Preferences from the main menu, and then Web Browser and Proxy from the tree on the left of the Preferences dialog. On Mac OS X, this option is accessed by selecting JDeveloper and then Preferences.

  2. On the Select update source page that Figure 1-1 shows, select Official Oracle Extensions and Updates under Search Update Centers, and then click Next.

    Figure 1-1 Checking for Updates in JDeveloper

    This image is described in the surrounding text

    Alternatively, if network access is unavailable, select the Install From Local File option. In this case, you need to point to the MAF extension file that you already downloaded to a directory on your development computer.

  3. In the Select updates to install dialog, select the Mobile Application Framework update.
  4. On the License Agreements page, review The Oracle Technology Network License Terms for Oracle Mobile, and then click I Agree.

    Note:

    You must comply with all the license terms and conditions with respect to the Oracle Mobile Application Framework Program. See http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/indexes/downloads/index.html.

  5. Click Next, and then click Finish.
  6. Restart JDeveloper.
  7. Check whether MAF has been successfully added to JDeveloper:

    • Select File, then New, and then From Gallery from the main menu to open the New Gallery dialog.

    • In the Categories tree on the left, expand the Client Tier node to check if it contains Mobile Application Framework (see Figure 1-2).

    Figure 1-2 Verifying MAF Installation

    This image is described in the surrounding text

    To verify whether you have installed the correct version of MAF, in About Oracle JDeveloper, click Help, and then About. Click Extensions, and search for Mobile Application Framework in the extension list entries. Select the Version column for inclusion in the table so that the table displays the version number of the MAF extension.

In addition to the preceding steps, the development environment must be configured for target platforms and form factors. See Setting Up the Development Environment .