MobiNET: A framework for supporting Java mobile application developers through contextual inquiry

From a developing world perspective, mobile phone is the primary technology for the majority of people and will be for the foreseeable future. It will be their connection to the internet, their communication tool, school book, vaccination report, photo album and many other things. Despite this reality, relatively few mobile applications exist. However, a tool to support the programming of mobile applications can significantly impact and improve programmer's productivity and software quality. In this paper, we develop a concept for a mobile tooling framework that extends the Netbeans integrated development environment (IDE) for mobile programming. Mobile Tools for Netbeans (MobiNET) design would support the development of mobile applications for various mobile phones. We evaluate Netbeans as a development took and drawing from insights gained in interviews with mobile software developers, conceptualize MobiNET. A working prototype is discussed and evaluated.