SDK Development
Background & brief
AirTurn wanted third party App developers to be able to easily integrate support for AirTurn devices into their Apps. This required a user interface and connectivity framework for connecting to the devices, checking if updates to the devices are available (and directing the user to the official App to perform the update), and notifying the App of AirTurn events.
In addition, in order to support AirTurns that act like Bluetooth Keyboards, the SDK also needs to detect keyboard events (something iOS makes quite difficult to achieve), and attempt to display the virtual keyboard when required (normally hidden due to the external “keyboard” AirTurn).
The SDK also requires documentation and simple deployment to AirTurn’s servers, CocoaPods, and nuget (for Xamarin).
Our Approach
NRB Tech has developed and maintained AirTurn’s iOS SDK since 2012, through many product developments, iOS and Xcode changes.
When a new feature is under development, we create wireframes ahead of implementation to get consensus with the team on how a feature should work and what the user interface should look like.
When a new version of iOS is in testing, we keep up to date with the changes Apple are making, and ensure we make the necessary changes in the SDK ahead of a new iOS release. Where possible we also adopt new iOS technologies to improve integration, performance or usability.
The solution
The AirTurn iOS SDK is split into two parts – the direct connection component (AirDirect) and support for keyboard AirTurns. Although both components work in different ways, they are both managed within the same user interface, allowing the user to toggle between them depending on which device they have.
The SDK checks for firmware updates, and if one is found it alerts the user and offers to take them to the AirTurn App to update.
Documentation is provided containing setup and troubleshooting steps and a complete SDK reference.
NRB Tech also built a SDK download portal where developers can get the latest version of the SDK and view the documentation. Developers get their own set of log in credentials to access the portal. We built an administration backend for AirTurn staff to add or remove developers, and manage a select number of beta testers. This connects to Mailchimp to manage the developer mailing list when adding or removing developers.
SDK build and deployment is automated by scripts which build the SDK and its documentation, package them, and deploy to AirTurn’s servers, CocoaPods, and nuget (for Xamarin).
Benefits
Developers can easily add support to AirTurn to their Apps
Users see a common user interface for connecting to AirTurn across several third party Apps
Users are notified when an update is available for their device without going in to the main AirTurn App
Deploying SDK updates is a simple, automated process
AirTurn can keep developers informed about the latest SDK updates through MailChimp
Developers can seek support for using the framework and resolving issues directly with NRB Tech staff
Customer Testimonial
“NRB Tech has developed our iOS SDK for several years, maintaining it when Apple release an iOS update and adding new features as needed. Third party developers are pleased with how easy integration is, and the SDK is now in over 100 apps in the App Store”
– Lester Karplus, CEO AirTurn Inc.
“I purchased the iOS SDK and integrated basic support into our app. I have to say, I'm very impressed with the experience. First of all, I'm happy that the demo compiled in Xcode right out of the box. That's surprisingly rare among the SDK packages I've tried out over the years! Also, the documentation is concise and extremely helpful. I'm only somewhat familiar with Objective-C (I'm a C++ guy, and like any new language it's easy to read but much harder to write) - and the docs made it as simple as the promo material said it was. Please pass my appreciation along to your developers and documentation writers!”
– Third party developer