Create a Loomio App for Android

Let me point out that I own a Drupal development company, which builds tons of web apps, and very few mobile apps. Even though they're easy to run off a Drupal data back-end, it's always hard to talk clients into paying to build native apps.

React Native, if it does what it says, is actually exactly backwards to what I'd want to see. I'd want the UI declared like a MOBILE APP. As I see it, that's the majority of the problem - so UIs that are built out of JavaScript will still have the same performance and usability problems as Loomio currently has.

Just my two cents. I like your mission and generally, your execution, a lot. It just naturally feels to me like it should be a mobile app, not a web site.

@kellybell Loomio is an open source project. Nothing stopping you or your company from checking out the source code from GITHub and using it as a reference to build your proposed app yourselves. I'm sure the Loomio devs would love that, but it appears they have other priorities for their dev time right now (see the new Angular interface mentioned by @robertguthrie ).

Also, if you look at where the rest of the tech is heading, separate apps for net-dependent services seem to be on their way out. They're being replaced with web services that can detect and serve to specific form factors. Two examples have already been mentioned; the RESTful approach of Drupal 8 and FB React Native, but there's also Twitter's BootStrap (MIT license), which has been used in the CommunityWeaver 3.0 timebank platform.

Brazenly generic here: There's undeniable value to be found in optimizing an app for a given operating system and, for that matter, a given community. In some cases, that value could arise from a practically 'ground-up' customization instead of a clearly modular approach. However, such customization can deeply impair 'cross-fertility' (and shared updates) with code sources. This can result in accidental or intentional competitions between richly financialized walled gardens and their open and inclusive alternatives.

I don't mean to imply that Apple or any other corporate ecosystem could ever capture the heart of the Loomio community and, by extension, its developmental resources. Such things happen, but economic forces rarely resolve that crudely. More often, a focused and sustainable effort is enervated-- sometimes to the point of instability-- by trying too hard to please too many interest groups. This can be avoided. Ideally, all interest groups develop complementary relationships with their source community.

More practically speaking, I'm guessing that the Loomio team could enthusiastically support and assist any well-funded effort to optimize the Loomio experience on iPhone and/or Android.

Also speaking pragmatically (it's basically the only language I speak, at least online), it would be tough to imagine a scenario where an Android / iOS app gets serious traction from within the Loomio team over the next couple years. However, I think if someone really wanted to make it happen, we'll be ready with a robust and reliable API in the near term, and I'd be happy to support an external development effort in that direction.

https://estimatemyapp.com/

My point of view is that it's really easy to talk "android vs ios" or whatever, then name that one or the other should be built. but really the work is in uncovering an amazing UX. Is it texting a decision to your friends? How can we unlock the power of mobile decision making? The tech will follow.

Don't care about texting. Care about not having to click every link 2-3 times to get something done. Just basic UX. As I mentioned in my OP. UX is currently slow and clunky on mobile.

Kelly Bell
Founder and CTO
Gotham City Drupal
917.446.1555

I'm just saying that people in my group are having a pretty miserable user experience using their phones with Loomio. Do with that what you will. It certainly makes me dread having to use it too, I'll say that.

And yes. Thoroughly familiar with decoupled/headless w/RESTful + Angular Drupal in both 7 and 8. My company has been building them for over a year. We are trying to get D8 out the door and catch up on contrib modules; can't build your app right now, little busy.

Kelly Bell
Founder and CTO
Gotham City Drupal
917.446.1555

hi again Kelly — dread's not a feeling we're aiming for! :) Have you tried out the new interface? Does it do the many-clicks thing?

Has the interface been totally updated in the last 24 hours? If not, then yes I've used it. Unless you're keeping it somewhere not on your normal web site.

Kelly Bell
Founder and CTO
Gotham City Drupal
917.446.1555