[Solved] Self-Hosting HTML5 Site

[Joel Palmer]

For context, I am an XAML programmer meaning, I've worked extensively with WPF and have Silverlight experience.  I've never been a "web" programmer so I'm struggling if I even want to go down this path.  Stop me up front if you don't see the ability to provide a stable environment to my users.

I have an application that needs to work in a disconnected state.  Everything seems to be going the way of HTML5 but I don't want to install IIS on the client.  So, I'm looking for a solution where I can have a HTML 5 UI but save the data into Isolated storage.  Then, when the device comes into WIFI range it'll connect and upload the data.

It seems that hosting the HTML 5 site in the ASP.NET Development Server (similar to how you host your demos) might do the trick but I don't know its limitations.  Telerik has gone down this path a long time ago so I'm looking for your insight.  Can someone from Telerik let me know if this is a good option and other options that exist?  Also, any idea if there is a similar utility that lets me host this native to Windows 8?  Meaning, can I take this approach on a Windows Surface (not pro)?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Joel

[Tsvetina]

Hi Joel,

Thank you for contacting us.

If your main goal is to implement such functionality in a Windows 8 environment, you can go for a Windows Store application using HTML/JavaScript.
The pros are:
- Native Windows 8 application.
- Does not require the user to enable additional services.
- HTML 5 based.

Cons are:
- If you need to support users not running Windows RT or Windows 8, you would need to create a second cross-platform application. However, you will be able to reuse a considerable amount of the code.
- If you do not want to release the app to the Windows Store, you would need to sideload it on the target devices. For more info, check: Private Enterprise App Deployment for Windows 8

You can achieve your requirements using a local database like SQLite (an implementation for WinJS is available here) to store the files on the user machine until you detect connection and based on its type, upload the information/files, using either the WinJS.xhr function or Background transfer.

As for ASP.NET Development server - unless the application is ran from inside Visual Studio, you cannot use it. It is only available in the Visual Studio development environment. So, if you cannot have IIS installed on the user machines using ASP.NET offline is not an option. 

This being said, if all users are running Windows 8 (any version) and HTML 5 is a requirement, you can develop a native ( Windows Store HTML/JavaScript) application.

Kind regards,
Tsvetina
the Telerik team

[Joel Palmer]

Thanks for your thoughtful response.  At this point, my plans were to apply my current knowledge of XAML to creating Windows 8 apps.  The requirement for an app to work disconnected gives me headaches... but keeps me employed.  :) 

I'm sure some day my customers will give me a direct requirement to go with HTML5 but until then... nope.

[Zeeshan]

Thanks Joel for sharing great informaiton

[Zeeshan]

Thanks Joel for sharing great informaiton