PubNub Technical Blogs
Realtime messaging and data streaming insights
Android Articles
Technical content focused on Android development
Zebra Articles
Technical content for Zebra Mobility DNA and developer tools
Images in Articles on the Zebra Developer Portal:
Please note that many of the links to developer articles below will take you to the Zebra developer portal. Over the years this portal has undergone many changes, some of which have caused images to be lost through no fault of my own.DataWedge: Introductory Material
Getting Started Tutorial
Entry-point to understand Zebra's DataWedge
- Getting started tutorial for DataWedge covering Java, Kotlin & Xamarin
- Sample apps for the getting started tutorial
- Same content on developer.zebra.com
Old Getting Started Tutorials
Older articles, mostly replaced and superseded by the above tutorial
- Java: Receiving a barcode via Android Intents (Article | Sample app) Old
- Java: The DataWedge Intent API (Article | Sample app) Old
- Xamarin: Receiving a barcode via Android Intents (Article | Sample app) Old
- Xamarin: The DataWedge Intent API (Article | Sample app) Old
DataWedge: Intermediate Material
DataWedge OCR, Workflow and Barcode Highlighting
Deep dive into the workflow plugin and associated functionality
- Sample Application for OCR, Workflow and Highlighting
- Barcode Highlighting blog on the Zebra developer portal
- Free-Form image capture blog on the Zebra developer portal
- DataWedge OCR | What it is and how to control it (Zebra Developer Portal)
- DataWedge OCR | Identity documents it (Zebra Developer Portal)
The DataWedge API
Blogs and sample apps associated with the Intent-based DataWedge API
- Intent API Exerciser Bit out of date
- Notify API for LEDs and sound sample (Sample app | Demo video)
- Intent Article on the Benefits and Challenges of using the DataWedge API Old
DataWedge Best Practices
Miscellaneous DataWedge best practices
- Using DataWedge with multiple Android activities (Article | Sample app )
- Mass Deploy DataWedge Profiles with Auto Import (Article | Sample app )
- RS6000 recommended settings for effective power management
- Moving from EMDK Data Capture profiles to DataWedge Bit out of date
DataWedge Configuration to meet Common Use Cases
How to configure DataWedge to perform commonly requested tasks
- Mimicking field-level profiles with the DataWedge API (Article | Sample app )
- Scanning multiple barcodes with a single trigger pull (Article | Sample app )
- Quickly suspend the scanner (Article | Sample app )
- Using a Bluetooth ring scanner across multiple apps (Developer post | Sample apps )
DataWedge: Advanced Material
Background Scanning
Techniques for scanning when your app is in the background
- Creating explicit broadcast intents (Developer post | Sample app )
- Scan when your app is in the background (Developer post | Sample app )
Tailoring DataWedge to meet Specialized Use Cases
Less common techniques and ways to configure use cases, developed to meet specific customer use cases
- Listening for KeyPress events with DataWedge (Developer post | Sample app )
- Websockets bridge (Developer post | Sample app )
- Controlling DataWedge via Key Presses
- Wedge-like service on non-Zebra devices (Developer post | Sample app )
Mobility Extensions (MX)
General Articles
General articles and best practices associated with Zebra's Mobility eXtensions
- Generate package signatures for MX (Master version | Duplicate content)
- Scoped Storage with Enterprise Applications
- Reducing Outbound Network Traffic from Zebra Android Devices (GMS Restricted)
- Network stats logger, to monitor traffic sent / received by each app (Github | Play Store)
- Disabling GMS features using MX (Article | Sample app) Superseded by Restricted GMS
Enterprise Keyboard / Keyboard Designer
General
General articles and sample apps related to Zebra's Enterprise Keyboard and Enterprise Keyboard Designer
- The Enterprise Keyboard API (Article | Sample app )
- Keyboard Switching at runtime (Portal post | Sample app )
Internet of Things (IOT)
Article Series
Series of articles on Enterprise Android IoT
- Intro: Enterprise Android in a hosted cloud IoT solution
- Part 1: Google Cloud IoT Core Data Processing
- Part 2: Connecting a Zebra device to Google Cloud IoT Core
- Part 3: Amazon Web Services (AWS) IoT
- Part 4: Connecting a Zebra device to Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Part 5: Azure IoT Hub Core Data Processing
- Part 6: Connecting a Zebra device to Azure IoT Hub
- Sample app to accompany this series
Cloud Services Integration
Cloudbase
Information and samples related to using Cloudbase on Zebra devices
- Article on working with Cloudbase on the Zebra portal
- Article on working with Zebra devices, on the Couchbase developer portal
Pushy
Information and samples related to using Pushy on Zebra devices
What's New for Enterprise Developers in each Android Release
Article series
Every year from Android Marshmallow to Android 11, I wrote a long article detailing how the new Android features and API changes affected enterprise developers
- Android 11 and the impact on Zebra developers
- Android 10 and the impact on Zebra developers
- Android Pie and the impact on Zebra developers
- Restrictions on non-SDK interfaces with Android Pie
- Android Oreo and the impact on Zebra developers
- Android Nougat and the impact on Zebra developers
- Android Marshmallow and the impact on Zebra developers
GMS Topics
Play Store
Articles and advice for using the Google Play Store, particularly in the enterprise
- Prevent Play Store apps from Updating Automatically
- Requesting Location access in the background: Play Store Changes
- Targeting Zebra Devices with the Play Store Device Catalogue (Article | Sample app )
- Deploying Your Apps with Android Application Bundles (.aab)
Restricted GMS
Zebra's Restricted GMS feature can disable all GMS applications and services on the device.
- Developer impact of Restricted GMS
- Zebra's GMS Restricted Mode (detailed user facing docs)
- Google Services Check
GMS in the Enterprise
In 2017/2018 I wrote a series of posts detailing how GMS affects enterprise deployments
- Preventing
unattended application
updates
initiated
via the Play
Store Out
of
date
see here for the latest. - Understanding Google's terms of service and privacy policy
- The managed Google Play Store
- Application deltas between Android GMS and AOSP
- GMS Location services and tracking
- Distributing private apps in the Managed Play Store
- Data usage of GMS applications and services
- Factory reset protection
- The setup wizard and how to bypass it
Enterprise Browser / Web Technologies
Framework Support in Enterprise Browser
Using web frameworks and technologies within Enterprise Browser
- JavaScript frameworks and Enterprise Browser: AngularJS, Vue.js, React.js
- JavaScript frameworks and Enterprise Browser: Framework7
- Progressive web applications (PWA) in the Enterprise
Other Enterprise Browser Topics
General articles and apps for Enterprise Browser
Enterprise Mobility Developer Kit (EMDK)
Common EMDK API Use Cases
Common use cases and design patterns when using the EMDK API
- Secure Storage Manager: Data Storage & Retrieval (Article | Sample app )
- Device identifiers (e.g. Serial number, IMEI) on Android 10+
- Article 2: Round-up of all sample apps and blogs Recommended
- Sample 1: Java without Profile Manager
- Sample 2: Xamarin with Profile Manager
Zebra Data Services (Formally known as Savanna)
Workbooks
Colab workbooks to demonstrate Zebra Data Services access via Python
- Full list of workbooks
- Barcode Intelligence
- Blockchain Traceability - Basic
- Printing (currently a prototype API)
Applications
Applications to demonstrate the use of Zebra Data Serivces
Developing with Cross-Platform Frameworks on Zebra Devices
Cordova & Ionic
Articles, best practices and sample apps for developing on Zebra devices with Cordova and Ionic
- Integrating DataWedge into your Cordova app (Article | Sample app )
- Integrating DataWedge into your Cordova-based Ionic app (Article | Sample app )
- Integrating DataWedge into your Capacitor-based Ionic app (Sample app)
- Using Ionic's official Zebra plugin (Sample app )
- Cordova intent plugin (NPM | Github source )
- Cordova plugin that integrates with EMDK (NPM) Not Recommended
React Native
Articles, best practices and sample apps for developing on Zebra devices with React Native and Expo
- Integrating DataWedge into your ReactNative app (Article | Sample app | Deprecated Sample app)
- Integrating DataWedge into your Expo app for Zebra Devices (Article | Sample app )
- React Native DataWedge Intent module (NPM | Github source )
Flutter
Articles, best practices and sample apps for developing on Zebra devices with Flutter
- Integrating DataWedge into your Flutter app (Developer post | Sample app )
Developing with Kotlin on Zebra Devices
Articles & Samples
Articles, best practices and sample apps for developing on Zebra devices with Kotlin
- Developing Kotlin applications for Zebra devices (Article | Sample app )
- Original proof of concept Very Old
- EMDK BarcodeSample1 rewritten in Kotlin (based on EMDK 7.3) Very Old
- EMDK BarcodeSample1 rewritten in Kotlin (based on EMDK 6.9) Very Old
Android background applications and background services
Guidance for background serivces
A very common request was to understand the various power managment changes introduced in Android in each release, and how an application could continue running in the background.
- Keeping your Android application running when the device wants to sleep: Marshmallow, Nougat, Oreo and Pie. Includes Doze Mode & Oreo background restrictions
- Wake lock / WiFi lock exerciser used to test whether an application is running or not
- Application Best Practices for Managing Device Power
- Keeping your Android application running when the device wants to sleep. Testing with an early Pie release Old
Android location
Guidance for Android location APIs and services
Understanding the Android location APIs, services, providers and capabilities across GMS and non-GMS is non-trivial
- GMS Location Services & Tracking (Part of GMS series)
- Location APIs on GMS & AOSP
- Indoor position with Wi-Fi RTT and Google WiFi (Article | Sample app )
- Location API Exerciser. Used to test the different Android location APIs
- Location Logger. Used to log locations to test the accuracy of different location providers (Github | Play Store)
Locking down your device
Guidance for locking down your Android device
Articles and sample apps
- A locked down web browser for dedicated devices (Article | Code in GitHub )
- Techniques to lock down your device (Article)
- LockTaskMode test app
- Test app showing various MX capabilities to lock down the device
Voice Recognition
Offline
Offline voice recognition on Android
- App Actions (Shortcuts) ( Article | Sample App )
- App Actions (Custom Intents) (Article | Sample App )
- Giving context to speech with DataWedge and Voice Input (Article | Sample app )
Online
Using DialogFlow for voice recognition and conversational AI
- DialogFlow V2: Sample app
- DialogFlow V1: "Retail Assistant" demo - (Article | Sample app )
Testing and Emulation
Guidance for testing your application without Zebra hardware
I have lost track of the number of times I have been asked whether there is a Zebra emulator. TLDR there is not but the articles below can provide some alternatives.
Miscellaneous
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Developer Community
Engaging with the Zebra developer community
External Sites
Medium.com. Older content posted on my Medium account