An overview of client-server architecture with respect to mobile and web apps. This discussion weighs tradeoffs between thin and thick client approaches.

1. Building Networked Apps
Slice Technologies at Dubhacks
Seattle, WA
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2. Networked Apps
Client-Server
Ok, great. Now what?
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3. Architecture
• Building software = weighing tradeoffs
– Ultimately depends on requirements
• Networked apps
– Do work on client?
– Do work on server?
Thin vs. thick clients
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4. Thin Client
More work on server
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5. Thick Client
More work on clients
Careful: sync is hard!
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6. Most apps are hybrid
Web apps
E-commerce (Amazon)
Social (Facebook)
Productivity (Evernote)
Games (Single-player)
Utility (Camera) Thick
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Thin

7. Which to choose?
• Trend towards thinner clients
– Networks are much better
• Have your own server?
• Or using a third-party API?
• Start thin, add on thick features
• Keep your network layer separate!
Let’s take a look at Slice…
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8. Slice App
• Loads all user purchases
• Search, totals, and trends
• Problem: latency
– Sluggish interface
– Slow start-up time
Solution?
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9. Fatten up!
• Local database
– Data persistence
– Indexed search
• Simplified refresh
– First import, then update
• Don’t want to solve sync yet
– Synchronous edit
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10. Image Search
• Product images
• Done on client to avoid rate limits
• Complex and distributed logic
Search “Steve Jobs” book
Web iOS Android
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11. Slim down…
• Centralize logic
• Search triggered by apps, done on server
• Consistency between platforms
• Some downsides
– Extra cost
– Throttling
– Ok at our scale
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12. Takeaways
• Spend a little time on architecture
• Start thin, add on thick features
• Keep your network layer separate
• Weigh thin vs. thick clients
– Application needs
– Network
– Development time
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