Ubuntu Touch SDK beta

Today we are announcing the Ubuntu SDK Beta. The SDK provides a set of APIs that includes the UI toolkit, enabling developers to create responsive and interactive applications with a native Ubuntu mobile UI. Qt Creator is an IDE with a visual interface for writing, testing and deploy applications; its API documentation and a developer site full of resources and tutorials make it easy to produce quality applications.

Together with a vibrant and ever-growing community of app developers, Ubuntu and the SDK provide the best ecosystem for your apps to thrive.

New features

The beta release includes several new key features:

• Cordova Ubuntu HTML5 app template – leverage the Apache Cordova APIs to write Ubuntu apps with web technologies: HTML, JavaScript and CSS. Write your first HTML5 with the Cordova Ubuntu tutorial.

• Ubuntu SDK HTML5 theme – a companion to all HTML5 apps: stylesheets and JavaScript code to provide the same look and feel as native apps

• Responsive layout – applications can now adopt a more natural layout depending on form factor (phone, tablet, desktop) and orientation

• Scope template – Scopes enable operators to prioritise their content, to achieve differentiation without fragmentation. Now easier to create with a code template

• Click packaging preview – initial implementation of the Click technology to distribute applications. Package your apps with Click at the press of a button

• Theme engine improvements – a reworked theme engine to make it easier and more flexible to customise the look and feel of your app

• Unified Actions API – define actions to be used across different Ubuntu technologies: the HUD, App Indicators, the Launcher, the Messaging Menu

• U1DB integration – the SDK now provides a database API to easily synchronise documents between devices, using the Ubuntu One cloud

Why develop on Ubuntu

The beauty of developing on Ubuntu is that you have access to the latest release at all times; as a truly open-source OS you don’t need to wait for the typical six to eight months release cycles.

To leverage the full power of the phone and tablet, the Ubuntu SDK supports native applications developed using Qt/QML and OpenGL ES. HTML5 is also a first-class citizen, unleashing the full power of ubiquitous web technologies to create cross-platform apps.

Easy to use

Ubuntu supports the most productive and advanced application development technologies, whether that’s entry-level QML and HTML5 applications or others using the strength of the fully native C++ language. The API documentation and the active community behind Ubuntu are always there to keep developers productive.

Get started – guide to installing the SDK

To get started with the Ubuntu SDK, including easy installation instructions, tutorials and detailed API documentation, visit developer.ubuntu.com/get-started

To help you design and build beautiful apps, the App Design Guides include everything you need to know about UX and visual design best practices. Find them at design.ubuntu.com/apps

You can keep your development phone up-to-date with the latest build by following the instructions at wiki.ubuntu.com/TouchInstallProcess