Azure Mobile App: Overview and Development Guide

Overview of Azure Mobile Apps

Azure Mobile Apps is a service that allows developers to deploy mobile backend services on Azure, enabling seamless communication between mobile applications and various Azure services. By leveraging Azure Mobile Apps, you can enhance your mobile applications with robust backend capabilities.

Key Features and Services

1. Data Storage:
   • Store and access data using Azure SQL Database, Azure Table Storage, Azure Blob Storage, and Cosmos DB.
   • Implement offline sync features for mobile applications, allowing users to work without an internet connection.
2. Client-Side Development:
   • Microsoft provides various client SDKs for different platforms (iOS, Android, etc.) to consume mobile backend services easily.
3. Authentication and Authorization:
   • Integrate with multiple authentication providers, including Azure Active Directory, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, and Twitter.
   • Authentication can be implemented with minimal coding effort.
4. Connectivity:
   • Connect mobile apps hosted in a virtual network using point-to-site VPN or deploy mobile app backend services within an App Service Environment for automatic connectivity.
5. Availability Service:
   • Use Azure Traffic Manager for higher resilience during data center failures and enable auto-scaling to handle increased user load.
6. Notification Hub:
   • Utilize Azure Notification Hub to send push notifications across different platforms.
   • Employ mobile engagement tools to analyze user interactions with the app.

Creating Mobile App Backend Development

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Create Azure Mobile App Backend

1. Log In to Azure Portal: Access the Azure Portal.
2. Create New Mobile App: Click on Create a resource, search for Mobile App, and follow the prompts to set it up.

Step 2: Configure the Mobile App Backend

• Set up the necessary configurations, including database connections and authentication settings.

Step 3: Define a Table Controller

• Create a table controller that will handle CRUD operations for your data model.

Step 4: Create the Data Transfer Object (DTO) Class

• Define a DTO class to represent the data structure that your mobile app will use.

Step 5: Configure Table Reference in Mobile DbContext Class

• Set up the table references in your application’s DbContext to enable data operations.

Step 6: Create a Table Controller

• Implement a controller that manages access to your data tables, ensuring it adheres to your application’s logic.

Step 7: Define a Custom API Controller

• If additional functionality is needed beyond the standard CRUD operations, create a custom API controller.

Mobile Client-Side Development

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Download Client-Side SDK

• Depending on your mobile operating system (iOS, Android, etc.), download the appropriate client-side SDK.

Step 2: Reference SDK in Client Code

• For iOS, reference the MicrosoftAzureMobile library in your project.

Step 3: Create MSClient Reference

• Instantiate the MSClient object to connect to your mobile backend and start accessing data.

Step 4: Invoke Custom APIs

• For custom API calls, use MSClient.invokeAPI to interact with your backend services.

Mobile Offline Data Sync

Overview

Offline data synchronization allows your mobile applications to function without a network connection, ensuring a seamless user experience.

Sync Table

• Azure Mobile Client SDKs provide an interface for accessing the /tables endpoint using MSTable.
• For offline use, leverage the sync table APIs, such as MSSyncTable, which allow CRUD operations at a local store.

Local Store

• The local store acts as the data persistence layer on client devices, using SQLite for Windows, Xamarin, and Android, and Core Data for iOS.

Synchronization Options

• Synchronization can include various methods such as:
  • Push: Send local changes to the server.
  • Pull: Retrieve updates from the server.
  • Implicit Pushes: Automatically push changes during sync.
  • Incremental Sync: Sync only the changes made since the last sync.