Porting HTML5 apps to Firefox OS training outline

This is a training outline for the invite-only workshops to port existing HTML5 apps to Firefox OS. They will be held in Mountain View on 4-5 January, 2013 and London on 18-19 January.

Before the Event: Prerequisites

Briefing e-mail to attendees with:

• Goals
• Agenda
• What to bring
• How to set up development environment
• Pointers to other resources

Day 1: Setting the stage and sharing knowledge

09:00 Breakfast and networking

09:30 Introduction

Speaker: Technology Evangelist (Chris Heilmann)

• Introducing the agenda of the event
• Explanation of facilities - getting people connected, ensuring power
• Who are you, optionally what app are you building

10:15 - 11:15 Presentation: Firefox OS

Speaker: B2G Engineer (Mountain View: Philipp von Weitershausen 'Philikon', Friday only; London: TBC; Tom Curtis of TEF is willing to assist)

• Quick introduction to the architecture of the Firefox OS, why we do it and where to find information and help.
• Introduction of the communication channels in case you need information after the event
• How to get your hands on Firefox OS
  • Building it yourself
  • Emulation / r2d2b2g
  • Introduction of test devices and how to test on Firefox OS (keys, handling)
  • How to get apps onto device

11:15 - 12:15 Presentation: Web APIs

Speaker: Technology Evangelist (Robert Nyman)

• Overview of all the Web APIs supported in Firefox OS
• MozApps API overview
• Demo code, examples of how to get them to work
• Where and how to file bugs

12:15 - 13:00 Lunch (either provided or getting people out to hunt squirrels)

13:00 - 13:45 Presentation: What makes a good Firefox OS app

Speaker: Technical Evangelist or Apps/Dev Ecosystem Engineer (Mtn View: Potch, London: James Long, Mortar dev )

• Explanation of the must haves of a good Firefox OS app:
  • Device specific handling (touch vs. mouse)
  • Offline capability, atomic updates and quick first load experience
  • Full screen
  • Good UI patterns (lists, panels, visual feedback, fingers not covering important parts)
  • Performance Tips & Tricks
  • Guided tour of built-in app
  • Detailed information on the manifest format

13:45 - 14:45 Presentation: Infrastructure

Speaker: Marketplace Engineer or Product Lead (Mtn View: Bill Walker, London: James Hugman - Friday only / TBC Apps & Marketplace)

bill's notes

• Explanation of the Firefox marketplace and how to submit apps
• Detailed explanation and demo of how an app submission works
• Introduction to payment systems
• Updating your apps in the future
• Introduction to the idea of findable apps on the web

14:45 - 15:45 Presentation: Pitfalls and helpers

Speaker: Technology Evangelist (Rob Hawkes)

• Introducing gotchas of HTML5 app development (broken AppCache issues)
• Introducing helper libraries and tools to use (Lawnchair for local storage, Gecko-friendly libraries (Modernizr))
• Other helpers: AppCache generator, etc.

15:45 - 16:00 break

16:00 - 17:00 Problem Round Table

Speakers: experts from earlier in the day

• Talk about what problems you've experienced or anticipate and discuss workarounds

17:00- 18:30 Workshop: Installing development environments and getting to know Firefox OS

Speakers: Technology Evangelists

• Helping all the people who came to install their dev environment, distribute phones and show how to test on them

18:30 - 19:00 Group organisation - partnering Mozilla people with teams and planning the next day activities in groups

19:00 Dinner and merriments

Day 2: Pencils down, roll up sleeves

09:00 Breakfast and networking

10:00 Introduction

Speaker: Technology Evangelist (Chris Heilmann)

• Introducing the agenda of today
• Explanation of facilities - who is where, how to get what

10:30 - 13:00 Group work

13:00 Lunch

14:00 - 16:00 Group work

16:00 - 17:00 Results and findings presentations

Speaker: Technology Evangelist (Chris Heilmann)

• Quick presentations by each team about what they achieved and where they got stuck
• Presentation of ways to work around issues encountered
• Target date for submission; inducements for meeting target

17:00 - 17:30 Keep in contact presentation

Speaker: Technology Evangelist

• Explanation of the ongoing ways to contact the team and get help
• Explanation on how to contribute to B2G and Web APIs
• Introduction of other schemes planned for developers
• Go-to resources for issue resolution

17:30 Off to the pub/food