This document discusses some of the challenges with using HTML5 for mobile apps. It notes that while HTML5 promised to allow one codebase to work across platforms, the fragmentation of WebKit browsers and lack of access to native device features have made that difficult to achieve. It also warns of potential security and performance issues when attempting to create native-like experiences with HTML5 alone. The document advocates for either hybrid approaches that combine HTML5 and native code, or limiting HTML5 to content-heavy rather than performance-critical applications.

1. Ugly Truth about
HTML5 for mobile Apps
10:45 - 11:15
Robert Virkus, CEO
@robert_virkus
@EnoughSoftware

2. Enough Software
A Team of Mobile Enthusiasts
Headquarter: Bremen, Germany
Customer base: worldwide

3. 2005
-3 M
Stone age
-4,600 M -3,500 M -2,000 M -225 until -65 M
Earth forms Life forms Complex life forms Age of dinosaurs

5. Non-Profit Project
Mobile Developer’s
Guide to the Galaxy
The popular, and free, handbook for developers
and decision makers
Community-driven, objective, and non-profit
45,000 hardcopies distributed,
over 100k in downloads

6. The Holy Grail

7. The Promise
- One code to rule them all
- Easy access to native features
- Like a native app but simpler
- Almost everyone can write HTML
(many cheap developers!)

8. ANNO 2011

9. ANNO 2011
Source: http://app.ft.com

10. “I think the biggest
mistake we made
as a company is
betting too much
on HTML5
as opposed to
native.”
Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jjcolao/2012/09/19/facebooks-html5-dilemma-explained

11. Beyond Grail
The Holy the Hype

12. WebKit
Browser Marketshare Q4 2012
Android 27%
Safari 23%
- around 72% market share Opera 18%
for mobile (Q4 2012) Nokia 10%
UC 9%
NetFront 4%
- rendering engine for Safari, BlackBerry 4%
Dolfin 1%
Chrome, BlackBerry, Nokia Internet Explorer 1%
Series 40, UC Browser, Firefox 1%
Samsung 1%
NetFront, and soon Opera
Chrome 1%
Source: www.quirksmode.org/blog/archives/2013/02/browser_stats_f_6.html

13. WebKit Fragmentation
Nitro
- Subversion
- 8 build systems Safari
• XCode -> Mac
• VCProj -> Win, WinCairo
• CMake -> WinCE, EFL
• QMake -> Qt
• MakeFile -> Gtk
WebKit
• GYP -> Chromium
• Android.mk -> Android
• wx
Chrome
- OS and closed Forks
- Complex build options
e.g. Gamepad API V8
Source: trac.webkit.org/wiki/Unifying%20the%20build%20system

14. WebKit Fragmentation
Source: www.quirksmode.org/webkit.html

15. WebKit Fragmentation
Source: www.quirksmode.org/webkit.html

16. H TM L5
&

17. Security
Source: www.filldisk.com

18. Security
“If a security researcher is looking for a
path to exploitation on iOS, they need to
look no further than WebKit. Just look
for a vuln that has been patched in
Chrome, see that it hasn't been patched in
iOS and then get 'cracking' on what you
want to do.”
Sean Michael Kerner | September 24, 2012
Source: www.internetnews.com/blog/skerner/why-is-open-source-webkit-the-weak-link-in-apple-security.html

19. Beware of the
Uncanny Valley
Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Repliee_Q2.jpg

20. Beware of the Uncanny Valley
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Mori_Uncanny_Valley.svg

21. Beware of the Uncanny Valley
Sources: http://snippetspace.com/portfolio/iwebkit/
http://www.jqtouch.com/
http://itabbar.com/

22. Performance
Native App Web App
Source: adventuresinspeechpathology.wordpress.com

23. Where is it?
Plateau of Productivity

24. Native HTML5
Past Now / Soon

25. New APIs
Battery API
WebRTC
Ambient Light Sensors
Bandwidth detection

26. HTML for:
Content Heavy

27. HTML for:
Content that needs freedom
(or direct updates)

28. Hybrid
Super Power

29. Thanks! Questions?
Sögestr. 70
28195 Bremen
www.enough.de
twitter: @enoughsoftware
Robert Virkus
twitter: @robert_virkus