Re:Ask HN: What is the best way for kids to build a mobile app?
by brudgers on Wednesday December 05, 2018 @12:09AM
(#18605814)
The easiest way to run code on a mobile device is to serve it as HTML. A simple way to do this is from a laptop over the local LAN with Python's simpleHTTPServer or Python3's http.server. Any mobile (or non-mobile) device can connect to the 192.168.XXX.XXX:port so long as it has a web browser.
This avoids a dependency on the app store, complex tooling, emulators, fees, registrations, etc. It touches on many topics more practical and widely applicable than the iOS ecosystem...and a Hello World can be up and running in a few minutes. Short feedback loops are great...even for children.
A hack, no doubt, but does everything important except tick the "built an iOS app" box on a future college education.
This avoids a dependency on the app store, complex tooling, emulators, fees, registrations, etc. It touches on many topics more practical and widely applicable than the iOS ecosystem...and a Hello World can be up and running in a few minutes. Short feedback loops are great...even for children.
A hack, no doubt, but does everything important except tick the "built an iOS app" box on a future college education.
Good luck.