Unit 4: Tooling Up for Development
Web Apps vs. Mobile Apps
In the last lesson, we looked at building a mobile-first app with MIT App Inventor. This time, we’ll explore **web app builders**, which let you create an application that runs in a web browser.
A web app is an excellent alternative because your users don’t need to download anything from an app store. They just need a web browser, and they can access your solution on a laptop, tablet, or phone.
Key Features of Web App Builders
Web app builders are similar to App Inventor in that they use a visual, no-code approach. You typically have:
A Component Palette: A list of elements you can add, like headers, paragraphs, buttons, and images.
A Drag-and-Drop Canvas: A central area where you drag the components to design the layout of your page.
A Properties Panel: A menu to customize each component, such as changing text, colors, or sizes.
Interactive Activity: Build a Web Page!
Let’s simulate a web app builder’s design view. Drag and drop the components from the palette on the left onto the web page canvas on the right to build a simple page layout.
Component Palette
Web Page Canvas
Drag components here
Interactive Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Answer these questions to see how well you understand the difference between web and mobile app builders.
Your Mission
Consider your project idea. Would it work better as a web app or a mobile app? Why? Think about which platform would be easier for your users to access and share, and which one would be faster for you to build as an MVP.
