Release History

By product

AppBuilder v2.5

September 11, 2014

Release Notes

NEW

New features and updates in this AppBuilder (formerly Icenium) release are grouped as follows:

  • General: New features and updates across all AppBuilder clients, tools, and services (formerly Icenium)
  • In-Browser Client: New features and updates in the AppBuilder in-browser client (formerly Icenium Mist)
  • Windows Client: New features and updates in the AppBuilder Windows client (formerly Icenium Graphite)
  • Extension for Visual Studio: New features and updates in the AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio (formerly Icenium extension for Visual Studio)
  • Command-Line Interface: New features and updates in the AppBuilder command-line interface
  • Sublime Package: New features and updates in the AppBuilder package for Sublime Text
  • Companion App: New features and updates in the AppBuilder companion app

For a list of issues you need to be aware of in this release, see Known Issues.

General

This section contains features and updates across all AppBuilder clients and tools (formerly Icenium).

Frameworks

  • Introduced support for Apache Cordova 3.5.1
    You can now target Apache Cordova 3.5.1 when developing for Android. This update introduces an important security bug fix. For more information about the bug fix, see Apache Cordova Android 3.5.1.

Apache Cordova Plugins

  • Updated support for the SQLite integrated plugin
    The SQLite integrated plugin has been updated with an important bug fix. For more information about the bug fix, see Update SQLitePlugin.java.

Tools and Services

  • Improved building of application packages for the App Store
    The publish operation has been improved to reduce build and upload times to iTunes Connect.
  • Improved LiveSync for Android devices
    You can now deploy your app and LiveSync changes on Android devices without an SD card.

In-Browser Client

This section contains features and updates in the AppBuilder in-browser client (formerly Icenium Mist).

Apache Cordova Plugins

  • Introduced integration with the Telerik Verified Plugins Marketplace
    You can now import custom plugins from the Telerik Verified Plugins Marketplace in the AppBuilder in-browser client. In the Project Navigator, right-click the project node and select Manage Packages. Go to the Plugins Marketplace tab, select the plugin that you want to import, and click Install.
  • Introduced support for plugin variables
    You can now configure the plugin variables for the Apache Cordova plugins in your project. For more information about working with plugin variables, see Configure Plugin Variables.
  • Improved visibility of the Apache Cordova plugins used in your project
    You can now see a list of the currently used Apache Cordova plugins, including custom plugins, in the Plugins tab in the Project Properties.

Tools and Services

  • Improved loading of the UI Designer tool
    The loading of the UI Designer tool has been improved to increase performance and reduce load times.
  • Introduced syntax highlighting for Kendo UI in HTML files
    The AppBuilder in-browser client now applies syntax highlighting to Kendo UI markup in HTML files.

Usability

  • Improved the Configure Remote Repository dialog
    You can now quickly copy the URL of the remote repository for sharing with your collaborators. Run Configure Remote Repository and click the copy icon next to the URL to copy the address of the remote repository to the clipboard.
  • Introduced indentation configuration for the code editor
    You can now choose how to indent your code in the code editor. You can choose between tabs and spaces and you can set the size of tabs. To configure indentation in the code editor, click the cogwheel icon and select Options. In the Options dialog, select Code Editor and modify your settings.
  • Improved selection of operating system in the device simulator
    The device simulator now shows the currently selected version of the operating system for the simulated device.
  • Improved the Output pane
    You can now easily collapse and expand the Output pane.
  • Improved error reporting
    The AppBuilder in-browser client now shows a badge in the Output tab to indicate than an error has occurred.
  • Improved filtering of Bower packages in the Manage Packages wizard
    The AppBuilder in-browser client now shows packages as listed on the Search Bower packages page and does not show duplicate packages.
  • Improved file tabs in the code editor
    The AppBuilder in-browser client scrolls into view the tab for the currently active file.

Windows Client

This section contains features and updates in the AppBuilder Windows client (formerly Icenium Graphite).

Apache Cordova Plugins

  • Introduced integration with the Telerik Verified Plugins Marketplace
    You can now import custom plugins from the Telerik Verified Plugins Marketplace in the AppBuilder Windows client. In the Project Navigator, right-click the project node and select Manage Packages. Go to the Plugins Marketplace tab, select the plugin that you want to import, and click Install.
  • Introduced support for plugin variables
    You can now configure the plugin variables for the Apache Cordova plugins in your project. For more information about working with plugin variables, see Configure Plugin Variables.
  • Improved visibility of the Apache Cordova plugins used in your project
    You can now see a list of the currently used Apache Cordova plugins, including custom plugins, in the Plugins tab in the Project Properties.

Tools and Services

  • Introduced integration with the native emulator from the iOS SDK
    You can now run your app in the iOS Simulator from the AppBuilder Windows client. For more information about working with the native iOS Simulator from the AppBuilder Windows client, see Run Your App in the Native iOS Simulator.
  • Improved integration with the native emulator from the Android SDK
    When you select to run your app in the native emulator for Android, the AppBuilder Windows client now automatically launches the selected virtual device, deploys your app and runs it. You no longer need to manually deploy the app in the native emulator.
  • Improved integration with the native emulator from the Windows Phone 8 SDK
    When you select to run your app in the native emulator for Windows Phone 8, the AppBuilder Windows client now automatically launches the selected virtual device, deploys your app and runs it. You no longer need to manually deploy the app in the native emulator.
  • Introduced the ability to watch variables during debugging in the device simulator
    You can now watch variables in the debug tools in the device simulator. To add a variable to the Watch Expressions list, locate it in the code in the debug tools, right-click it, and select Add to watch.
  • Introduced screen capture in the device simulator
    You can now take screenshots in the device simulator.

Usability

  • Redesigned the Project Properties dialog
    The Project Properties dialog has been redesigned to improve your user experience. For more information about configuring your project properties, see Configuring Your Project.
  • Redesigned the Options dialog
    The Options dialog has been redesigned to improve your user experience when configuring your code signing identities. For more information about configuring your code signing identities, see Code Signing Your App.
  • Improved login
    When you log in the Telerik Platform, the AppBuilder Windows client shows a redesigned login page. When your login session expires, the AppBuilder Windows client prompts you to save changes and log back in.
  • Improved filtering of Bower packages in the Manage Packages wizard
    The AppBuilder Windows client now shows packages as listed on the Search Bower packages page and does not show duplicate packages.
  • Improved dashboard
    Loading indicators for long-running operations have been redesigned to improve your user experience when creating, deleting, filtering, and cloning projects.
  • Improved listing of connected virtual devices
    The list of connected devices has been redesigned to better distinguish between connected virtual devices.

Extension for Visual Studio

This section contains features and updates in the AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio (formerly Icenium extension for Visual Studio).

Apache Cordova Plugins

  • Introduced integration with the Telerik Verified Plugins Marketplace
    You can now import custom plugins from the Telerik Verified Plugins Marketplace in the AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio. In the Solution Explorer, right-click the project node and select Manage Packages. Go to the Plugins Marketplace tab, select the plugin that you want to import, and click Install.
  • Introduced support for plugin variables
    You can now configure the plugin variables for the Apache Cordova plugins in your project. For more information about working with plugin variables, see Configure Plugin Variables.
  • Improved visibility of the Apache Cordova plugins used in your project
    You can now see a list of the currently used Apache Cordova plugins, including custom plugins, in the Plugins tab in the Project Properties.

Tools and Services

  • Introduced integration with the native emulator from the iOS SDK
    You can now run your app in the iOS Simulator from the AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio. For more information about working with the native iOS Simulator from the AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio, see Run Your App in the Native iOS Simulator.
  • Improved integration with the native emulator from the Android SDK
    When you select to run your app in the native emulator for Android, the AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio now automatically launches the selected virtual device, deploys your app and runs it. You no longer need to manually deploy the app in the native emulator.
  • Improved integration with the native emulator from the Windows Phone 8 SDK
    When you select to run your app in the native emulator for Windows Phone 8, the AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio now automatically launches the selected virtual device, deploys your app and runs it. You no longer need to manually deploy the app in the native emulator.
  • Introduced the ability to watch variables during debugging in the device simulator
    You can now watch variables in the debug tools in the device simulator. To add a variable to the Watch Expressions list, locate it in the code in the debug tools, right-click it, and select Add to watch.
  • Introduced screen capture in the device simulator
    You can now take screenshots in the device simulator.

Usability

  • Improved integration with the default themes in Microsoft Visual Studio
    The default Microsoft Visual Studio themes are now applied consistently throughout the AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio.
  • Redesigned the Project Properties dialog
    The Project Properties dialog has been redesigned to improve your user experience. For more information about configuring your project properties, see Configuring Your Project. For more information about configuring Apache Cordova plugins from the Project Properties, see Working with Apache Cordova Plugins.
  • Redesigned the Options dialog
    The Options dialog has been redesigned to improve your user experience when configuring your code signing identities. For more information about configuring your code signing identities, see Code Signing Your App.
  • Improved filtering of Bower packages in the Manage Packages wizard
    The AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio now shows packages as listed on the Search Bower packages page and does not show duplicate packages.
  • Improved login
    When you log in the Telerik Platform, the AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio shows a redesigned login page. When your login session expires, the AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio prompts you to save changes and log back in.
  • Improved automatic updates
    You can now continue working with the AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio if you dismiss the version update notification.
  • Improved listing of connected virtual devices
    The list of connected devices has been redesigned to better distinguish between connected virtual devices.

Command-Line Interface

This section contains features and updates in the AppBuilder command-line interface.

Apache Cordova Plugins

  • Introduced support for the Contacts core plugin in the device simulator for OS X
    You can now test the Contacts core plugin in the device simulator and work with a mock contacts database. For more information about working with contacts in the device simulator, see Simulate a Contacts Database.
  • Introduced support for the File Transfer core plugin in the device simulator for OS X
    You can now test the File Transfer core plugin in the device simulator on OS X systems.

Tools and Services

  • Improved the build process
    By default, the build process excludes any IPA, APK, or XAP files from the bin and obj subdirectories from your application package.
  • Introduced integration with the native emulator from the iOS SDK
    You can now run your app in the iOS Simulator from the AppBuilder command-line interface. For more information about working with the native iOS Simulator from the AppBuilder command-line interface, see Run Your App in the Native iOS Simulator.
  • Introduced integration with the native emulator from the Android SDK
    You can now run your app in the virtual devices managed by the native Android emulator from the AppBuilder command-line interface. While the emulator is running, you can LiveSync changes to the virtual device and debug your app with the built-in AppBuilder debug tools. For more information about working with the native Android native emulator from the AppBuilder command-line interface, see Run Your App in the Native Android Emulator.
  • Introduced integration with the native emulator from the Windows Phone 8 SDK
    You can now run your app in the native Windows Phone 8 emulator from the AppBuilder command-line interface. While the emulator is running, you can LiveSync changes to the virtual device. For more information about working with the native Windows Phone 8 emulator from the AppBuilder command-line interface, see Run Your App in the Native Windows Phone 8 Emulator.
  • Introduced the ability to watch variables during debugging in the device simulator
    You can now watch variables in the debug tools in the device simulator for Windows. To add a variable to the Watch Expressions list, locate in the code in the debug tools, right-click it, and select Add to watch.
  • Introduced console logging in the device simulator for OS X
    You can now use console.log for debugging in the device simulator on OS X systems.
  • Introduced screen capture in the device simulator for Windows systems
    You can now take screenshots in the device simulator for Windows systems.

Sublime Package

This section contains features and updates in the AppBuilder package for Sublime Text.

Apache Cordova Plugins

  • Introduced support for the Contacts core plugin in the device simulator for OS X
    You can now test the Contacts core plugin in the device simulator and work with a mock contacts database.
  • Introduced support for the File Transfer core plugin in the device simulator for OS X
    You can now test the File Transfer core plugin in the device simulator on OS X systems.

Tools and Services

  • Introduced the ability to watch variables during debugging in the device simulator
    You can now watch variables in the debug tools in the device simulator for Windows. To add a variable to the Watch Expressions list, locate in the code in the debug tools, right-click it, and select Add to watch.
  • Introduced console logging in the device simulator for OS X
    You can now use console.log for debugging in the device simulator on OS X systems.
  • Introduced screen capture in the device simulator for Windows systems
    You can now take screenshots in the device simulator for Windows systems.

Companion App

  • Introduced support for Apache Cordova 3.5.1 in the companion app for Android
    You can now test Apache Cordova 3.5.1 projects in the companion app for Android. This update introduces an important security bug fix. For more information about the bug fix, see Apache Cordova Android 3.5.1.
FIXED

This section contains notable resolved issues in AppBuilder.

Mobile Devices and Platforms

This section contains notable resolved issues across all mobile platforms that AppBuilder supports.

  • Apple rejects your app with the following error Missing the required key: CFBundleShortVersionString.
  • When you attempt to upload your app to iTunes Connect from AppBuilder, the operation might time out and AppBuilder might show an error message that the upload was unsuccessful.
  • When you attempt to upload your app to iTunes Connect, AppBuilder shows an error message that it cannot locate an application record in the Waiting for Upload state.
  • On Windows Phone 8 devices, applications that use Kendo UI Professional might not rotate properly.
  • You cannot LiveSync changes via cable connection to Samsung and Google Nexus devices running Android 4.3 and later.
  • When you build and deploy different projects on a Windows Phone 8, the contents of every next project are deployed inside the first deployed app. Every deployment overrides the contents of the previous one.

AppBuilder In-Browser Client

This section contains notable resolved issues in the AppBuilder in-browser client (formerly Icenium Mist).

  • The AppBuilder in-browser client lists maximum 30 remote repositories associated with your account.
  • When you switch between branches, the code editor does not refresh the code in currently open files.
  • When you revert an open file, the code editor does not refresh the code.
  • The AppBuilder in-browser client does not automatically resize icons and splash screens if they do not meet the image requirements of the respective mobile platform.
  • When you delete multiple files at once, the operation is very slow and a memory leak might occur.
  • When you change the target Apache Cordova version from 3.5.0 to earlier, the AppBuilder in-browser client disables the Telerik Mobile Testing integrated plugin.

AppBuilder Windows Client

This section contains notable resolved issues in the AppBuilder Windows client (formerly Icenium Graphite).

  • When you attempt to connect to a git repository for which you are not the owner, the AppBuilder Windows client shows the following error in the log: System.InvalidOperationException: This repository is not part of your GitHub repositories.
  • When you debug in the device simulator and you have set multiple breakpoints, code in the Sources tab might not scroll properly.
  • In the device simulator, localFileSystem.root.getFile does not work properly.
  • When you debug cloud code, the Add to Watch and Evaluate in Console options show incorrect values.
  • In the Configure Remote Repository wizard, you can select a deleted GitHub repository to which to connect.
  • The Configure Remote Repository wizard always pushes your project to the remote repository.
  • The FileTransfer sample app does not run properly in the device simulator.
  • In the device simulator, the AppBuilder Windows client does not load the map in the Geolocation pane.
  • You cannot build and deploy your app if your Windows user name contains characters other than A-Z, a-z, 0-9, _, ., +, -, @, $, &, ;, (, ), space, and comma.
  • When you have enabled writing code with code snippets, the AppBuilder Windows client always indents code using tabs.
  • When you revert the renaming of a project, this might corrupt your project and might no longer be able to open it.
  • When you debug your app on an iOS device and disable and enable debugging again, the Sources tab in the debug tools no longer shows your files and code.
  • In the Kendo UI Core Widgets sample app, after you set the network connection mode to None, the geolocation tab still has Internet access and loads the map.

AppBuilder Extension for Visual Studio

This section contains notable resolved issues in the AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio (formerly Icenium extension for Visual Studio).

  • When you debug in the device simulator and you have set multiple breakpoints, code in the Sources tab might not scroll properly.
  • In the device simulator, localFileSystem.root.getFile does not work properly.
  • The AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio does not respect the TypeScriptCompile build action setting and does not include your TypeScript project in the built application package.
  • The FileTransfer sample app does not run properly in the device simulator.
  • When you log out from one account and log in with another account, the AppBuilder extension for Visual Studio does not log you in properly.
  • In the device simulator, the AppBuilder Windows client does not load the map in the Geolocation pane.
  • You cannot scroll up or down in the list of connected devices.
  • If the .abproject project file for your file is hidden on your file system, you cannot save changes to the project properties.
  • When you debug your app on an iOS device and disable and enable debugging again, the Sources tab in the debug tools no longer shows your files and code.
  • In the Kendo UI Core Widgets sample app, after you set the network connection mode to None, the geolocation tab still has Internet access and loads the map.

AppBuilder Command-Line Interface

This section contains notable resolved issues in the AppBuilder command-line interface.

  • The AppBuilder command-line interface shows incorrect expiration dates for your certificates and might identify a valid certificate as an expired one.
  • When you run appbuilder build <Platform> --download, the AppBuilder command-line interface prints an incorrect file path for the download location.
  • If you disconnect your iOS device while appbuilder device log is running, the AppBuilder command-line interface becomes unresponsive.
  • When you debug in the device simulator and you have set multiple breakpoints, code in the Sources tab might not scroll properly.
  • In the device simulator, localFileSystem.root.getFile does not work properly.
  • If your subscription does not include Telerik AppManager, when you run appbuilder appmanager upload, the AppBuilder command-line interface throws an exception.
  • The FileTransfer sample app does not run properly in the device simulator.
  • Sometimes, when you initialize a project for development, the AppBuilder command-line interface might not recognize the target Apache Cordova version properly.
  • You cannot run appbuilder init hybrid on the same project more than once.
  • By default, the AppBuilder command-line interface suggests September 23, 2033 as the expiration date for Google Play certificates.
  • When you debug your app on an iOS device and disable and enable debugging again, the Sources tab in the debug tools no longer shows your files and code.
  • In the Kendo UI Core Widgets sample app, after you set the network connection mode to None, the geolocation tab still has Internet access and loads the map.

AppBuilder Companion App

This section contains notable resolved issues in the AppBuilder companion app.

  • When you tap and hold with three fingers to LiveSync your changes on Android devices, the AppBuilder companion app reloads the app and navigates back to the homepage.
  • In the companion app for Android, you cannot test the Barcode Scanner plugin.
  • In the companion app for Android, you cannot LiveSync the removal of files. Files remain present and accessible in your app.
  • In the companion app for Android, you cannot take pictures with your app.

UI Designer Tool

  • You can place a Footer element right under the Header element in the device pane.
  • When you delete or paste a design element, the device pane reloads.
CHANGED

Breaking Change

AppBuilder now sets CFBundleShortVersionString for your iOS apps
If you have previously modified your Info.plist, AppBuilder cannot set CFBundleShortVersionString properly and you might not be able to upload your app to iTunes Connect. Verify that the following code is present in your modified Info.plist.

<key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key>
<string>$BundleVersion$</string>